Recipe: Basic Biscotti - Orange, Anise, or Lemon

Basic Biscotti - Orange, Anise, or Lemon

basic ingredients
3/4 cup whole, unblanched almonds
1/4 pound butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

For orange biscotti
zest from 1 orange
2 tablespoons orange liqueur or 1 Tbsp orange extrac
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

For anise biscotti
2 teaspoons anise seed -- crushed

For lemon biscotti
zest from 1 lemon
1 tablespoon lemon extract
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Procedures for all recipes:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees

Toast the almonds until golden, then chop by hand into 1/4 inch chunks.

Reduce oven heat to 325F degrees.

Cream the butter until light, add the sugar and beat till smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs until the mixture is smooth. Add the (orange, anise, lemon) specific ingredients. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt, beat until just mixed. Stir in the almonds. On a floured board, divide the dough in half and roll each half into a long roll about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and about 10 inches long.

Set the rolls on a baking sheet at least 3 inches apart, bake in the top third of the oven (325F) for about 25 minutes, or until they are set and lightly browned on top.

Cool the rolls for 5 minutes or so, then slice diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices. Lay the slices flat on the baking sheet and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.

Turn the slices over and bake for another 10 minutes. Cool on a rack, and keep in a tightly covered tin - they keep for months.