Easy Biscotti Recipe - Daily Appetite (2024)

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Here is an easy recipe for biscotti. This vanilla biscotti recipe is the perfect base to add all types of flavor variations. I have listed out ingredient variations from almonds to cranberries so you can create your own unique recipe.

Easy Biscotti Recipe - Daily Appetite (1)

Make this delicious classic Italian treat easily at home with this vanilla biscotti recipe. Get baking and add in your favorite flavors and spices to make your own delicious homemade biscotti.

What is biscotti?

Biscotti is a crunchy cookie that is baked twice and most often paired with coffee. Coffee and cookies…Yes Please!

This classic combination of coffee and cookies is an absolute treat. Biscotti means “twice cooked” in Italian, and this tasty treat embodies what makes it so special.

Biscotti is crunchier than other cookies due to its double baking process, which also gives it a longer shelf life. This makes the biscotti a perfect pairing with coffee, tea, or espresso since its crunch will hold up in the hot liquid.

Whether you enjoy it with a latte or just by itself as a snack, biscotti is a delicious treat that can bring a little bit of cozy comfort to any day.

Easy Biscotti Baking Tips

Follow these tips for making the best biscotti.

  • Biscotti is actually really simple to make. It is just like making cookies. You just have to bake it twice to get it nice and crunchy.
  • You can use a Biscotti Pan
  • Using a rubber spatula (because the dough is sticky) and a rolling pin I formed the dough into an oblong shape and rolled the dough starting from the outside edges and rolling towards the middle. This formed the classic biscotti oblong shape.
  • It is very important to let the biscotti completely cool before slicing it otherwise it will crumble.

Easy Biscotti Recipe Ingredients

As mentioned before, these are just the base ingredients for vanilla biscotti. There are so many ways you can flavor biscotti.

  • 6 Tbs butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

If you don’t have butter you can substitute it with vegetable oil.

Easy Biscotti Recipe Directions

Learn how to make a classic Italian treat with this step-by-step guide.

First, get prepped. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease one large cookie sheet orBiscotti Pan. You will also want to gather your ingredients and measure them out.

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar, salt, vanilla, and baking powder until the mixture is smooth.

Mix in any additional ingredients you desire. This could be chopped nuts or spices like cinnamon. See the list below for all variations.

Next, beat in the eggs. The batter may look curdled. Put your mixer on low speed and add the flour, stirring until smooth.

Place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Shape the dough into one oblong log or divide the dough for shorter biscotti cookies.

Straighten the logs, and smooth their tops and sides with a rubber spatula and rolling pin.

Bake the dough for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven. Reduce the oven heat to 325F. While the oven heat is reducing let the dough cool on the counter.

Once the dough has cooled down use a serrated knife and cut the dough into 1/2-inch wide slices.

Separate the biscotti slices and place them back in the oven. Bake for 30 more minutes at the reduced temperature.

Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool and store in an airtight container.

Variations:

You can add kinds of fruits, nuts, and spices to your biscotti recipe. Since this is a basic vanilla biscotti recipe here are some variations to try.

  • Dried fruit: Apple pieces, cranberry, figs, cherry
  • Nuts: Almonds, pistachio, walnuts, hazelnut
  • Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, anise
  • Extracts: Almond, lemon, orange.
  • Chocolate: Melt the chocolate and dip the biscotti or mix in chocolate chips.

A Note about adding other ingredients:

  • A good starting point when adding spices is with one teaspoon.
  • When adding dried fruit or nuts a good amount is 1/4 cup.
  • Adding additional extracts start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon.

After you get used to making homemade biscotti and experimenting with flavors you can add more to your taste.

How to Shape the Biscotti Dough by hand

  • Lightly grease the largest size cookie pan you have. I shaped the dough directly on the pan.
  • The shape you want is a rectangle with rounded corners. With the dough slightly higher down the middle. Like a little hill.
  • The dough is sticky so I use a rolling pin and a rubber spatula.
  • With the rubber spatula, I keep the rectangle sides straight. I use the rolling pin to smooth out the dough starting from the outside working in. This pushes the dough to the center to create the little hill.

Easy Vanilla Biscotti Recipe

Easy Biscotti Recipe - Daily Appetite (6)

Easy Vanilla Biscotti

Yield: 16

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Make this delicious classic Italian treat easily at home with this vanilla biscotti recipe. Get baking and add in your favorite flavors and spices to make your own delicious homemade biscotti.

Ingredients

  • 6 Tbs butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups all purpose flour

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease one large cookie sheet or Biscotti Pan.
  2. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar, salt, vanilla and baking powder until the mixture is smooth.
  3. Mix in any additional ingredients you desire. *See notes below.
  4. Beat in the eggs. The batter may look curdled.
  5. Put your mixer on a low speed and add the flour, stirring until smooth.
  6. Place dough onto the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Shape the dough into one log or two depending on how big you want your biscotti.
  8. Straighten the logs, and smooth their tops and sides with a rubber spatula and rolling pin.
  9. Bake the dough for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven.
  10. Reduce the heat to 325F. While the oven heat is reducing let the dough cool on the counter.
  11. Once cooled down use a serrated knife and cut the dough into 1/2 inch wide slices.
  12. Separate the biscotti slices and place back in the oven.
  13. Bake for 30 minutes.
  14. Place on a rack to cool and store in an airtight container.

Notes

Since this is a basic biscotti recipe here are variations.
Dried fruit: Apple pieces, cranberry, figs, cherry
Nuts: Almonds, pistachio, walnuts, hazelnut
Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, anise
Extracts: Almond, lemon, orange
Chocolate: Melt the chocolate and dip the biscotti or mix in chocolate chips.

ANoteabout adding other ingredients:
A good starting point when adding spices is with one teaspoon.
When adding dried fruit or nuts a good amount is 1/4 cup.
Adding additional extracts start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon.

Read the article above for all tips and tricks for making the perfect biscotti.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 139Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 162mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g

All amounts are estimates and DailyAppetite takes no responsibility for actual figures since calculations vary by packaging and supplier.

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Easy Biscotti Recipe - Daily Appetite (2024)

FAQs

Is biscotti better with oil or butter? ›

Despite their centuries-old heritage, there is no one perfect way to make biscotti. Some recipes call for eggs only, which is the traditional method, while others swear by butter or oil. The choice is yours; just keep in mind that those made with butter or oil will have both a softer texture and a shorter shelf life.

Is biscotti healthier than cookies? ›

In terms of health regular cookies are a high-calorie treat because of their higher moisture content, which also causes them to contain more fats and sugars. However, because of their drier texture, biscotti usually have lower fat and sugar content. However, it is vital to practice portion control, for both options.

Should you refrigerate biscotti dough before baking? ›

You guessed it, add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with the wet ingredients. Fold in the pistachios, cardamom, and vanilla extract. Because the dough can be sticky and hard to form, it's important to chill the batter for a good 30 minutes before baking the first time.

Is biscotti a healthy snack? ›

Biscotti boasts a health-conscious edge. Packed with nutrients, it can be a smart snack option for those looking to infuse their diet with goodness and can order it from our cookie shop. Almonds provide essential vitamins and minerals, making this delightful biscuit not just a tasty indulgence but a nutritious one too.

What does baking soda do in biscotti? ›

Baking soda – baking soda helps the biscotti rise and spread. Make sure that your baking soda isn't expired. Sugar- we used granulated sugar for this recipe. You can use caster sugar as well.

Can you substitute butter for olive oil in biscotti? ›

Typically, Italian biscotti are made with butter but you can also use olive oil instead. The result is lighter, crisper biscotti.

Are biscotti healthy to lose weight? ›

Unlike many traditional cookies, biscotti are often lower in fat and sugar. Add some heart healthy nuts and you have a satisfying and relatively light treat! This delicious cookie can easily be made vegan & vegetarian friendly.

What's the difference between biscotti and cantuccini? ›

The main difference between Cantucci and Biscotti is their origin, Cantucci is from Tuscany, and Biscotti is from the region of Emilia-Romagna. Cantucci is typically made with almonds, while Biscotti are made with all-purpose flour and a variety of nuts and chocolate or nothing.

Is it okay to eat a cookie every day? ›

While one cookie a day isn't going to completely derail your diet goals, it's often easy to eat more than one at a time, and soon enough, downing quite a few cookies throughout the day could lead to unwanted pounds.

What makes a great biscotti? ›

12 Tips For Making The Absolute Best Biscotti
  1. Use room-temperature ingredients. ...
  2. Boost the flavor with spices, extracts, and zest. ...
  3. Toss in some add-ins for flavor and texture. ...
  4. Let the dough chill before shaping. ...
  5. Use floured or greased hands to shape the dough. ...
  6. Shape the dough into a smaller loaf than you want.
May 29, 2023

Can you overmix biscotti dough? ›

The trickiest parts of making them are the mixing and the shaping and baking. Just like biscuits, you can't overmix the dough. I found that if the dough is mixed too much, the biscotti becomes dense and heavy.

What is a fun fact about biscotti? ›

The history of this long, crusty cookie is impressive dating all the way back to the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire – The original biscotti was Roman and designed more for convenience than as a leisurely treat. Travelers used this cookie as a long-lasting source of nourishment during long journeys.

Why do people eat biscotti? ›

As the 20th century progressed, Biscotti started to become increasingly popular in the United States. It was frequently served as an accompaniment for coffee and tea in cafes and coffee shops. Now, this traditional Italian cookie is enjoyed globally and often paired with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.

What is the difference between biscotti and biscotti? ›

First of all, the strict answer to the question “When is a biscotti not a biscotti?” is “never”, because in Italian “biscotti” is a plural word, meaning biscuits, while the singular is “biscotto”.

Is it better to use butter or oil in cookies? ›

It depends on what kind of cookie you want. For crisp cookies, use all butter. For soft cookies, use oil or solid vegetable shortening (like Crisco).

Do biscotti contain butter? ›

Traditional recipes do not include a fat like butter or oil making them very dense, but American-style biscotti tend to include a fair amount of butter that is whipped for a lighter, more crumbly texture.

Why is butter better than oil in baking? ›

Butter is considered a solid fat because it is solid at room temperature and oil is considered a liquid fat because it's liquid at room temperature. Because of this, you can't rely on oil to provide any leavening help in baked goods, which can result in a denser texture.

What are traditional biscotti made of? ›

The base of a traditional biscotti recipe is simple: eggs, flour, and sugar. From there, the possibilities are endless for all the delicious variations you can make. With a slight change in add-ins, you can easily transform the flavor to align with what you're in the mood for.

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