The Ultimate Chocolate Cherry Biscotti

This is my best friend Susan's biscotti recipe, which is to die for...they're simply irristable! They make a beautiful gift from your kitchen.

3 c. all-purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. nutmeg
3 large eggs
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, melted and cooled
1 T. grated orange peel
1 t. pure vanilla extract
6 oz. bittersweet or semisweet choc. chips
1 1/2 c. candied red cherries (quartered)
2 1/2 oz. semisweet chocolate melted

Heat oven to 325. Arrange oven racks in center and lower third of oven. Grease a cookie sheet

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in bowl. Beat eggs in mixer bowl ata med high speed for 1 mt. Gradually beat in sugar. At low speed, beat in butter, orange peel and vanilla. Beat in dry ingred. just until blended. Stir in chips and cherries.

Divide dough into thirds. On a lightly floured surfacae, roll each piece into a 14x1 1/2" log. Arrange logs 2 1/2" apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake on bottom oven rack 30 mts. until firm. Cool on wire rack for 15 mts.

Reduce oven temp. to 275. Carefully transfer logs to cutting surface, with a serrated knife, gently slice each log diagonally into 1/2" slices. Arrange slices cut side down 1" apart on two lare ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 30 mts. until they feel dry to the touch. Cool on wire rack.s

To decorate, stack cookies on wax paper. Spoon melted chocolate into a baggie snipping off one corner and drizzle chocolate over zig-zag style. Let stand until set. Makes 6 dozen cookies.