She loves biscotti you say…more specifically Almond Biscotti.
My whole biscotti obsession started with this family recipe for Italian Almond Biscotti. Simple and great tasting -it will quickly become one of your favorites.
This recipe was originally published on September 28, 2014 and re-published on October 12, 2017 with updated content, photos and more recently with a video.
Born to Italian immigrants, growing up in Montreal, my definition of biscotti refers to a variety of cookies, which include the twice-baked cookie.
As a kid, I thought this cookie was too hard and looked boring. Whenever I opened the pantry door, there they were again, almond biscotti. I remember thinking why can’t we be like the other kids and have store-bought cookies. It was only as an adult that I came to appreciate this simple cookie which was absolutely created to be dunked.
If you have never ventured into the world of biscotti…you should.
They are truly simple to make, do not require any special cooking equipment (that means manual labor i.e. mixing by hand) and you can easily control the amount of sugar and the flavors (for example, the anise flavor found in this Anise Biscotti can easily be replaced with vanilla flavoring).
Be sure to consult this guide on How to Make Biscotti. It will provide you with all the tips and tricks to make the best homemade biscotti, every single time. This post also includes a recipe for Lemon Biscotti. If you like lemon cookies, you are going to love these!
Once you have combined the ingredients, it’s time to shape this mixture into logs. My method is definitely unconventional, but it works for me. I will use a large serving spoon to scoop out the dough and place it on the parchment-lined cookie sheet. I will then add another scoop adjacent to the batter on the cookie sheet and keep going until I have formed my two logs.
As far as the size of the log is concerned, you can make them as wide or as narrow as you want. I will usually make 3-3½ inch wide logs. Once I have placed the batter on the cookie sheets, I will gently “press” and shape the dough mixture into logs with my damp fingers. Like I mentioned, unconventional and amateurish…but hey, it works!
Once baked, allow them to cool off before attempting to slice them.
Biscotti, as you may know, is Italian for “twice-cooked” – so if you like a bit of a crunch, put those biscotti back in the oven again for the second round of baking. The longer these Italian biscotti stay in the oven, the crispier they will get. Although it is a well-known practice to bake these biscotti cookies twice, personnel preference should dictate for how long, if at all. These Almond Biscotti are fantastic even without the second baking.
Another well-known fact is that biscotti will last forever! Well, maybe not forever… but you get my point. Because they are baked twice, there is little moisture in the dough. Since biscotti are a low moisture cookie, this will allow you to store them at room temperature, where they will keep for a few weeks. It is best to keep them in an air-tight container.
Tips
- Start with ingredients that are at room temperature.
- Once the biscotti loaves are baked, allow them to cool down for at least ten minutes before slicing into them.
How do you cut biscotti without breaking them?
Allow the biscotti to cool down on a cookie rack before slicing into them. Carefully transfer the biscotti loaves to a cutting board. With a sharp serrated knife, slice the loaves at an angle into ½-inch thick slices.
Are biscotti supposed to be hard?
Yes, biscotti cookies are supposed to be hard. The best biscotti recipe will provide you with biscotti that are firm and crunchy. The word “biscotti” means twice baked; in doing so, the moisture is removed from these Italian cookies leaving you with a dry, dunk-able cookie.
How to store
Store your biscotti cookies in airtight containers, but they don’t need to be absolutely hermetically sealed. A slight flow of air will help them stay crispy!
You can store biscotti for up to 3 weeks in a variety of different containers, including glass or ceramics as well as cookie tins. A paper towel placed at the bottom of the container will help absorb excess moisture; making sure they stay crisp. Always store at room temperature -never the refrigerator.
Can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
More biscotti recipes
Biscotti is the perfect snack for any coffee or tea lover, with its crunchy additions of nuts and flavorful add-ins like dried fruit. Some favorites include these festive-looking pistachio biscotti, these earthy pumpkin biscotti as well as these decadent chocolate hazelnut biscotti.
They also make a great addition to any homemade Christmas cookie box.
Recipe origins for almond biscotti
As you can well imagine, every Italian family has “their” biscotti recipe and I have collected quite a few over the years. This is one of my personal favorites. In fact, my whole biscotti obsession started with this recipe. As you may have guessed, this was one of my mom’s recipes.
A simple and great tasting biscotti -I am sure they will quickly become one of your favorites!
I hope you enjoy these biscotti cookies with some Vin Santo, coffee, tea or even milk!
Don’t forget to dunk 🙂
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
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Ciao for now,
Maria
★★★★★ If you have made this recipe for Almond Biscotti, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Recipe
Almond Biscotti
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Ingredients
- 1 cup whole almonds raw
- 2¼ cups all purpose flour 320 grams
- 1½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon pure almond extract
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F/165° C. Position rack in the center.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread almonds on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 12-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt and sugars).
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Add olive oil, extracts, and zest. Whisk lightly together.
- When almonds are toasted, remove them from the oven and coarsely chop.
- Add flour mixture to egg mixture; stir with a wooden spoon until just incorporated.
- Fold in chopped almonds (make sure they have cooled off before incorporating in the batter).
- Use a large serving spoon to scoop out the dough and place it on the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Add another scoop adjacent to the batter on the cookie sheet and keep going until two logs are formed.With damp fingers, shape into a log shape.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown in color and firm. Allow to cool slightly for about 10 minutes.
- Remove from baking sheet and transfer to a cutting board.
- Using a serrated knife, slice cookies at an angle about ½ - ¾ inch thick.
- Place slices back on the baking sheets and return them to the oven for about another 15-20 minutes (the longer they stay in the oven, the crispier they get). Turn them over at the halfway mark.
- Place on a wire rack to cool.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Liezel Gouws
Thank you for sharing this recipe, it is the best biscotti I have ever made! Came out perfect! The taste, the texture… just incredible! The olive oil is a very special addition, I think this is the secret ingredient here 🙂 Blessing from South Africa!
Maria
My pleasure Liezel! Thank you for taking the time to share!
Mary
When I am doing the 2nd bake with Biscotti I stand the slices on their bottoms and that allows both sides to dry at the same time. No bother with flipping hot Biscotti either.
Maria
Thanks for sharing Mary.
Tee
Thank you for a simple and awesome recipe. I made it twice. The biscottis don’t come out as crisp as they should. What am I doing wrong?
Maria
My pleasure Tee. Since every oven heats differently, you might want to consider extending the baking time for the second round of baking.
MH
This biscotti recipe has been no-fail for me!
Maria
So thrilled to read this! Thank you ♥
MamaG
Best Biscotti recipe I have found!
Has really good flavor and texture. Any nut, dried fruit or our favorite, “CHOCOLETE CHIP” will go. I’m giving this cookie to my family and friends for Christmas. This is now in my file of “Favorites”.
Thank you.❤️
Maria
Thanks so much for sharing and your kind words MamaG!
Rose
First time making biscotti, after all these years, so easy and delicious. Will be making these often now, thanks for the recipe.
Maria
My pleasure Rose! Welcome to the wonderful world of biscotti!
william marsano
Looks great but one thing is unclear. In the recipe you say to turn them over halfway through–you mean on theide side, not on their back, right?
Maria
Thanks for you interest William. Sorry for the confusion… I will usually lay the sliced biscotti flat for the second bake. So I basically, turn them over. Hope that helps. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Jennifer
This is by far my favorite! I’ve also added chocolate chunks to this along with the almonds and that’s yummy too. Do you think this recipe be a good base for other flavor combinations?
Maria
Thanks Jennifer. Yes, it is! Enjoy!
Liz Collito
I have made this Almond Biscotti recipe now on repeat!!! They are so delicious that as soon as I run out and need to make more!! I double the batch and only change i made was to add extra lemon zest. Everything else stays the same. I like sharing this with my family and friends and everyone comes back with the same comments…. THESE ARE SO GOOD, I CAN’T STOP EATING THEM!!! This recipe is a keeper for sure.
Maria
Thanks so much Liz! Appreciate your kind words ♥
Francie Stout
This is my go-to biscotti recipe!
Sally mccallum
Better than I’ve made before. Eggs may be the secret to hold them together better..They were REALLY GREAT..
Donna
This is a great Biscotti recipe. I just made it with only a couple of changes:
1. I used the almonds whole after toasting them.as I find them easier to slice through.
2. I cut the olive oil to 1/4 cup
3. I also added some dried cranberries.
I’ve always made my biscotti without any fat added like my Tuscan mother made them. I liked them, but my husband thought they were too hard to eat. So I tried this one and it’s a winner! Thanks Maria.
Maria
My pleasure Donna! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
Aurelia Jewell
I love biscotti and your recipe is my favorite. I thought I’d lost it and was frantically searching my recipes for it and I remembered your story about when you were a kid and that is how I found it. I have made this for Christmas gifts and just for myself when I have afternoon coffee. It is simply delicious and easy to make. Thank you for sharing your recipes.
Maria
I am happy you found the biscotti recipe Aurelia! Thanks so much for sharing your story… it made me smile 🙂