Dark Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti

Every December, I choose one type of Christmas goody that I can make at home and pass out as Christmas gifts.  And this is usually the week, that I launch myself into overdrive, turn my kitchen into a sugary wonderland, bake mass quantities of the "treat of the year", wrap them up with pretty bows and hand them out to friends. 🎁  Banana bread, chocolate babka, sugar cookies, fancy cakes, the 12 Cupcakes of Christmas, chocolate truffles and hot chocolate bombs are all treats that I've gifted to friends, family, delivery drivers, teachers and neighbors.

Usually around the third day of my Christmas baking extravaganza, I start to ask myself, why in the world did I take on this crazy project?  I mean, what was I thinking when I decided that baking The 12 Cupcakes of Christmas for 24 people, was a good idea? 🤣 🧁 The logistics of baking, frosting and decorating nearly 300 cupcakes over just a few days, is exactly as crazy as it sounds. 😅  #lessonlearned

My goal at Christmas is to show some much needed appreciation by blessing the people in my life with a sweet little treat. #mylovelanguageisfood😅 If you're thinking about making a homemade treat to share with your loved ones, you should consider, easy to make, crunchy biscotti.  Bake up several different flavors or just stick to your most favorite and turn your kitchen into biscotti world for an afternoon.  One recipe makes enough biscotti to share with several families or at least a couple of hungry teenagers.  

​Dark Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti is likely to get labelled as a dessert biscotti with its chocolate bottom and dark chocolate drizzle.  But don't let that stop you from enjoying one for breakfast.  It is a biscotti, after all - which means that it's perfectly acceptable to nibble on one of these decadent cookies with your morning coffee. ☕️😂  Trust me - it's equally delicious as a morning meal as it is when the sun goes down.  

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coarsely crushed hard peppermint candies
​1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate, melted

Cream together sugar, butter and peppermint extract.  Beat in eggs. 

Mix together flour, baking powder and salt. 

Add dry ingredients into butter mixture until just combined. 

Stir in 1/2 cup candies and mini chocolate chips. 

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 10x2" rectangle on a silpat lined baking sheet. ​

Bake 30 minutes at 350.

Cut into 1/2" slices and place on cookie sheet.  

Bake 10 minutes.  Flip.  Bake another 10 minutes. Cool. 

Dip the bottoms of the biscotti in melted chocolate.  Drizzle tops with chocolate and sprinkle with remaining peppermint. 

​Ciao!

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