Chocolate Almond Biscotti

I hate going to someones place for a visit empty handed, even when it is just for afternoon coffee. I like to makes these yummy treats up in advance. They store nicely in a sealed container for a couple of weeks or freeze nicely for a few months. You can make so many different kinds of Biscotti, but I have found that this simple combination of chocolate and traditional almond go over the best.

overview

• Prep Time: 2 hours 30 min
• Total Time: 3 hr 40 min
• Makes: 24

ingredients

2‑3/4 cups all-purpose flour 

1‑1/2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/2 cup butter, softened 

1 cup sugar 

3 eggs 

3 tablespoons almond-flavored liqueur 

1 tablespoon water 

1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips 

1 cup sliced almonds, toasted and chopped 

Melted semisweet bakers chocolate (optional) 

directions

Place flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; stir to combine.

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in liqueur and water. Gradually add flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended. Stir in chips and almonds.

Divide dough into half. Spread each half evenly down center of waxed paper. Using waxed paper to hold dough, roll it back and forth to form a log. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Unwrap and place each log on prepared cookie sheet. With floured hands, shape each log 2 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick.

Bake 15 minutes. Remove cookie sheet from oven. Cut each log with serrated knife into 1-inch-thick diagonal slices. Place slices, cut side up, on cookie sheet; bake 5 minutes. Turn cookies over; bake 5 minutes or until cut surfaces are golden brown and cookies are dry. Remove cookies with spatula to wire racks; cool completely.

Dip one end of each biscotti into melted milk chocolate, if desired; let stand on waxed paper until completely set. 

tips & tricks

Store tightly covered at room temperature or freeze up to 3 months. 

If chocolate-dipped cookies are frozen, chocolate may discolour.

If gifting place biscotti in cello bags stacked and then tied with decorative ribbon for that extra touch of "aww, how nice!"