Almond Biscotti

It wouldn't seem like Christmas without a batch of almond biscotti.  Biscotti has become just as much of a Davis tradition as gingerbread house decorating and seven fish dinner for Christmas Eve. 

Dipping an ordinary almond biscotti in dark chocolate just seems to dress it up perfectly for the holidays. 

Adding biscotti to your Christmas menu is easier than you think.  The key is to make it well in advance and tuck it away in your freezer so that you don't have to worry about it when the busy holiday season is up on us.   (Probably should have started on my biscotti last month.)

Almond Biscotti

• 1 and 1/4 cups (175g) whole almonds
  
• 2 cups + 1 Tablespoon flour
  
• 1 cup brown sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  
• 3 large eggs
• 1 Tablespoon canola oil
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• egg wash: 1 large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon (15ml) milk
• 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Put almonds on baking sheet and roast 15 minutes at 300.  Shaking every 5 minutes.

Place almonds in food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.

Remove 1 cup almonds and reserve.  Pulse remaining almonds until finely chopped. 

Whisk together eggs, oil and vanilla.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.  Cut in butter. 

Add dry ingredients to egg mixture.  Add coarse almonds. 

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead until dough comes together.  Divide in half.  (I doubled the recipe so I divided mine into quarters.)

Shape each section into an 8 or 9 inch log.  Flatten to 1/2 inch.   Place on silpat lined baking sheet.

Brush top with egg white and milk mixture.

Bake 25 minutes at 350. 

Cool 10 minutes.  Slice into 1/2 inch slices. 

Bake 9 minutes.  Turn.  Bake 9 more minutes.

Prepare chocolate and finely chopped almonds. 

Dip biscotti into chocolate and sprinkle with almonds.

Who wouldn't love a little bag of these for Christmas?  I bet a know a few teachers, neighbors and  grandparents who would love to get some of these for Christmas.  (And of course - I would too.)

Ciao!

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