Tag: Biscotti

Breads · Chocolate · Cookies · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Holiday Fare · Uncategorized

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Biscotti

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This morning, I was looking for another recipe to take to a gathering this afternoon. Rodelle Brownies (they are already posted on the blog) was already in the oven to take, but I wanted something else and since we received a little rain and dark skies this morning, it seemed appropriate that something pumpkin should be made. I googled Pumpkin Biscotti and this recipe sounded just perfect. It turned out great and was so easy. Have enough pumpkin puree left to make another batch and place in the freezer for next weekend when I can take it to a tea.

4 tables softened butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 teas pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teas ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teas baking powder
1/2 teas salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 cups flour
2/3 cup chocolate chips (when the stores begin to get in the cinnamon flavored chips, I will use those instead)
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
Sugar for topping

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or very lightly grease the baking sheet (about an 18″x13″ sheet)

In a medium size bowl, beat the softened butter, sugar, spices, salt & baking powder until smooth.
Beat in the egg and pumpkin puree.
Putting the mixer on low speed, add the flour, incorporating until mixed well.
Add the finely crushed pistachios and chocolate chips to the batter and stir them in well.
Mixture will be sticky.

Divide dough into 2 halves and place on baking sheet. With a little flour on your hands, shape each half into a football shaped log. About 1/2 -2/3″ thick.
Sprinkle a little sugar over the top of each half and place in preheated oven for about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce oven temp to 325. Let biscotti stand for about 5 minutes then using a serrated knife, cut biscotti into 1/2″ to 3/4″ slices diagonally and place each slice down flat on one side. Return to oven and leave in about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, turn over each slice and bake again for about 10 mins. Turn oven completely off, leaving the door ajar and leave the biscotti in to cool completely in oven.
Biscotti can be frozen after completely cooled or stored in airtight container for about 4-5 days.

*taken from King Author Flour recipes

Breads · Breakfast · Chocolate · Cookies · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Uncategorized

Chocolate Peanut Butter Biscotti

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Rediscovering some of my Christmas with Southern Living books (this one was 2001), I found several recipes which I want to make this season. Since it is so much fun to make biscotti and I have a friend who I will not name (but looks like she stuck her finger in a light socket to style her hair), that continues to ask me to bring her more biscotti every time I see her. So Spikey Hair Lady, will try this recipe to see if get meets your approval.
This is my friend who Randy tells her that he has to sit in front of her at church as he can’t see the preacher if he sits behind her. Of course, after she sees this post, we probably won’t be friends much longer and I will get to keep all the biscotti for myself.

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup cocoa
3/4 teas baking soda
1/2 cup finely chopped peanuts (they tested with cocktail peanuts, I will use my Virginia peanuts I buy at Costco)
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
*I deleted the 1/4 teas salt recipe called for since the peanuts were salted

Ingredients for Dipping Biscotti in
1 cup semisweet chocolate mini chips, divided
1 1/2 tables creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 tables shortening

Beat 1/3 cup peanut butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, beating until blended
Stir together the four, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.(if using salt). Add to peanut butter mixture, beating on low speed until blended. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead in peanuts and 1/2 cup mini chips.

Shape dough into a 13′ x 3″ log on a lightly greased baking sheet (or ungreased parchment lined sheet). Bake at 325 for 40 minutes or until firm. Remove to a wire rack to cool for about 20 minutes.
Cut log diagonally into 1/2″ thick slices with a serrated knife using a gentle sawing motion; place slices on uncreased baking sheets. Bake at 325 for 7 minutes; turn slices over and bake an additional 7 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool.
Combine remaining 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 1/2 tables peanut butter and shortening in a small saucepan. Melt over low heat and stir to mix.
Dip one end of each biscotti in chocolate mixture. Place biscotti on wax paper until chocolate hardens.
Yields about 28 slices

Breads · Breakfast · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Fruit · Uncategorized

Almond & Apricot Biscotti

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Have made this twice and each time, it gets great reviews from folks I share it with. Makes great hostess gifts or place in a decorated vase at each end of the dessert table. Great little dessert especially for people who don’t like a lot of sweets, but like just a little something to go with hot tea or coffee.

2 cups flour
4 tables butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 teas salt
2 eggs
2 teas baking powder
1 1/2 teas almond extract
1 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
1 cup sliced (very thin) almonds

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add softened butter,mixing until coarse crumbs form. With mixer on low, add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition; add in almond extract; Stir in apricots and almonds; continue to stir until dough is in ball form, about 1 minute.

On a parchment lined baking sheet, shape dough into two 2″x12″ logs. Bake in preheated oven until dry and set, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and place on wire racks. Let cool completely.
Transfer to a cutting board and with a serrated knife, cut logs on the diagonal into 1/4″ slices. Bake on parchment lined baking sheets until golden, 15-20 minutes, (turn each slice over halfway through baking) and rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool completely on sheets on racks.
Store in air tight container up to 1 week.

I melted vanilla candy melts and drizzled it over each cooled slice.

Breads · Breakfast · Chocolate · Cookies · Desserts

Chocolate Toffee Biscotti

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Am caterning a luncheon for 6 women this week and I thought I would be great to have a little edible gift for each lady to take home. When I saw these in an 2009 Paula Deen Magazine that I was looking through, this seemed to be the perfect little gift to make them.

Makes about 2 1/2 dz

6 tables butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar (light)

2 large eggs

2 3/4 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 teas baking soda

1/2 cup toffee bits

1/3 cup toasted and chopped slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 300. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with mixer until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa and baking soda. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until combined. Stir in toffee bits and almonds.

Shape patter into 2 (91/2×3″) logs on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 min. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 min. Using a serrated knife, cut dough crosswise into 3/4″ thick slices. Place slices, cut side down, on baking sheet. Bake for 15 min. Turn slices over and bake for 15 min longer. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire rack. Serve with coffee or tea or just sit and nibble on them while watching The Voice!

Breads

Parmesan-Pepper Cornbread Biscotti

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What a great little bread stick to have with any soup that you serve. Taken from Southern Living 2011.

2 (6 oz) packages buttermilk cornbread and muffin mix

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

2 teas finely ground pepper

3/4 teas chopped fresh rosemary

1/4 cup cold butter, cut into pieces

3 large eggs, divided

1/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350. Combine cornbread mix, 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and next 2 ingredients in a food processor bowl. Add butter, and pulse 5 to 6 times or until crumbly.

Whisk together 2 eggs and buttermilk. With processor running, gradually add egg mixture through food chute and process just until well moistened. Batter will be thick.

Spread dough into a 12×4″ rectangle on a parchment paper lined baking sheet using lightly greased hands. Lightly beat remaining egg; brush over dough. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until pale golden brown and firm. Let cool on baking sheet on a wire rack 10 minutes.

Reduce oven to 300. Gently slide loaf back onto baking sheet and slice into 1″ slices. Bake an additional 8 minutes per side or until slices are crisp and beginning to brown around the edges. Remove and place on wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 1 1/2 dz.

Uncategorized

Gingerbread Biscotti

Chocolate Castles3 Comments

Since the weather has cooled, it has been delightful to sit down at night and flip through old issues of Southern Living Christmas. This recipe was in the 2006 edition. I can’t believe it had slipped by me in the past. I am trying to stay out of my retired hubbies way, which means more time in the kitchen. Not to say that we aren’t enjoying being together 24/7, 1440 minutes a day, but who is counting! Just like this past Friday, when he called after he got out of men’s Bible study at church. He ask what I was up to and if I was enjoying being at the house by myself. I guess I shouldn’t have said that it was just wonderful and I was loving the quiet solitude, but it slipped out before I realized it. When I responded that I had had my own time of Bible study and had just finished praying for him, that the Lord would give him the desires of his heart (of course I meant him getting a job as that is what he is wanting), he came back with, “so you will be gone when I get home?”  I will be putting more butter and an extra egg yolk, here and there, into his desserts that I make him, we wouldn’t want his cholesterol to get too low, now would we?

So back to this recipe. I am headed to the kitchen as soon as I post this. It sounds perfect to package up and take to friends. It doesn’t have enough butter or eggs for me to give Randy. Oops, did that come out hostile?

These will make an ideal gift, packaged with a pretty Christmas or Thanksgiving bow to take to your hostess..

Preheat oven to 350.

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 up molasses

2 1/2 cup flour

1 teas baking powder

1 teas baking soda

1 1/2 teas ground ginger

1 teas cinnamon

1/2 teas ground nutmeg

1/4 teas ground cloves

1/4 teas salt

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl at medium speed with mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, beating well. beat in molasses.

Combine flour and next 7 ingredients; add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Stir in almonds.

Divide dough in half, using floured hands, shape each portion into a 9″ x 2″  on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 for 28 minutes or until firm. Cool on baking sheet 5 min. Remove to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 300.

Cut each log diagonally into 3/4″ thick slices with a serrated knife, using a gentle sawing motion. Place slices on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, turn cookies over and bake 8 to 10 more min. Cool completely on wire racks.

Makes about 2 dozen

Breads · Chocolate · Desserts

Cherry Almond Biscotti

Chocolate Castles1 Comment

2 c flour

1 teas baking powder

1/4 teas baking soda

1/4 teas salt

1 cup sugar

4 tables unsalted butter

2 large eggs

1 teas vanilla

1/4 teas almond extract (I actually like to use 1/2 teas vanilla and 3/4 teas almond extract)

1 cup almonds, finely chopped

1/3 cup sugar (sugar crystal course)

1 cup dried cherries, slightly chopped

Preheat oven to 350. Place parchment paper on large baking sheet. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

Crack and place eggs in a small bowl. Add vanilla and almond extract. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar together with mixer for 3-4 minutes. Beat in eggs with extracts one at a time until well incorporated, about 30 seconds. Scrap down sides of bowl as needed.

Reduce the mixer speed to low (very important0 and slowly mix in flour mixture until just combined, about 30 seconds. Stir in chopped almond and chopped cherries and incorporated any remaining flour on sides of bowl.

Using floured hands, split the dough in half. On the parchment paper lined baking sheets, press each half of dough into two logs 12-13 inches long and about 3 inches wide. Place logs about 3″ apart. Sprinkle with course sugar crystals and lightly press into loaf.

Bake until the loaves are golden brown and just beginning to crack on top (about 30 minutes). Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking.

Remove loaves from oven and place the baking sheet on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Lower oven temp to 325.

Place the loaf on a cutting board and slice each loaf into 3/4″ thick slices using a serrated knife. Lay the slices cut side down about 1/2″ apart on baking sheet.

Bake 12-14 minutes and then turn the slices over and bake another 12-14 min until slices are crisp and golden brown. Transfer the biscotti to a wire rack to cool completely.

OPTIONAL:

Prepare after biscotti has cooled. In a small saucepan, stir 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips or white chocolate chips with 1 tables shortening until melted.

Dip bottom edge of each cookie into the melted chocolate or drizzle the chocolate over one side of the biscotti. Let stand to set.