I love all types of Italian cookies, partially for sentimental reasons because my grandfather’s family is from Sicily, and also because they tend to be just sweet enough without overdoing it. Some of my finest childhood memories are of my grandfather coming to visit. He would always have a box from the Italian bakery with the red and white twine around it and all of my favorite treats inside.
In Italy, many types of cookies are called biscotti . The cookies we know as biscotti in America are actually called Biscotti di Prato, named for the town in Tuscany where they originated in the 14th-century. Traditionally they were made from almonds, which were abundant in the region. The biscotti were baked a second time to draw out excess moisture, making the biscotti hard, sturdy and, most importantly, resistant to mold. Biscotti turned out to be the ideal food to store and travel with, making them a favored provision of sailors, including Christopher Columbus.
My favorite biscotti are those that contain nuts, and with this recipe the opportunity for variation is endless. You can use any type of nuts, dried fruit and chocolate that you like. Some of my favorite combinations are pistachio with orange zest and dark chocolate, chocolate with dried cherries and pecans, and almond with anise.
Gluten-Free Biscotti
Ingredients
- 150 grams butter
- 300 grams sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 4 large eggs
- 530 grams 1:1 gluten-free flour blend
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 1½ cups almonds (or nuts of choice)
- 1½ cups dark or semi sweet chocolate chunks (or chips of choice)
- 1½ cups dried cranberries or cherries (or dried fruit of choice)
Instructions
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and line three baking sheets with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
- Cream butter and sugar together until light.
- Add the vanilla and the almond extract. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Scrape the bowl down well.
- Add the flour and baking powder, and mix until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the fruit, nuts, chocolate, etc., and mix until just combined.
- Set the batter aside to rest for 30 minutes.
- Shape into three logs, approximately 3-inches wide x 1-inch tall.
- Bake for 20 minutes, rotate the pans, then bake for about 20- 25 minutes more, until lightly browned and firm to the touch across the top.
- Remove from the oven, and cool completely before slicing.
- Slice each log into ½- inch wide slices, and arrange cut-side down on cookie sheets. (*If you've never had soft biscotti, steal a few pieces before they go back in the oven for the second time. It's delicious, and kids generally love it at this stage, because it's easier to eat.)
- Bake a second time for approximately more 15 minutes, or until just starting to turn golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition