Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Espresso Biscotti

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT ESPRESSO BISCOTTI

2 cups whole hazelnuts, shelled*
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 pound unsalted butter, cut into 1-ounce pieces
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon hazelnut liqueur
1 large egg white
2 tablespoons finely ground espresso beans

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Toast the hazelnuts on a baking sheet with sides in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove them from the oven and immediately cover with a damp towel. Invert another baking sheet over the first one to hold in the steam (this makes the nuts easier to skin). After 5 minutes, remove the skins from the nuts by placing the nuts, a few at a time, inside a folded dry towel and rubbing vigorously between the hands. Allow the nuts to cool thoroughly before chopping. Transfer the nuts to a cutting board and chop coarsely with a cook's knife. Set aside until needed.

In a sifter combine 4 cups of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Sift onto a large piece of wax paper and set aside until needed.

Heat 1 inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. With the heat on, place 4 ounces semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Use a rubber spatula to stir the chocolate until completely melted and smooth, about l to 2 minutes. Transfer the melted chocolate to a 1-quart bowl and set aside until needed.

Place 1 1/2 cups sugar and the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on medium for 2 minutes until soft. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat on high for 4 minutes until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, while beating on medium for 1 minute and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add the hazelnut liqueur and beat on high for 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and add the melted chocolate and beat on medium for 30 seconds.

Operate the mixer on low while gradually adding the sifted dry ingredients. Once all the dry ingredients have been incorporated, about 30 seconds, turn off the mixer and add the chopped hazelnuts and mix on low for another 30 seconds. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the batter until thoroughly combined.

Transfer the biscotti dough to a clean, dry, lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions, and shape each into a log approximately 8 inches long, 2 1/2-inches wide, and 1 1/4-inches high (using the remaining flour as necessary to prevent sticking). Carefully place 2 logs, about 2 inches apart, onto each of 2 baking sheets that have been lined with parchment paper.

Whisk the egg white in a 1-quart bowl until foamy. Generously brush the top of each log with the foamy egg white. Lightly and evenly sprinkle the top of each log with 1/2 tablespoon of ground espresso beans.

Bake the biscotti logs on the top and center racks of the preheated oven for 35 minutes until lightly browned and firm to the touch, rotating the sheets from top to center halfway through the baking time (at that time also turn each sheet 180 degrees). Remove the logs from the oven. Allow the logs to cool for about 15 minutes at room temperature before handling.

Reduce the oven temperature to 275 degrees F.

Place the biscotti logs onto a cutting board. Using a very sharp serrated knife, trim the rounded ends from each log. Cut each biscotti log into 1/2-inch diagonal slices (12 slices per log). Divide the slices onto 4 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake the biscotti slices at 275 degrees F on the top and center racks of the preheated oven for 30 minutes until crisp and evenly browned, rotating the sheets from top to center and turning each sheet 180 degrees halfway through the baking time (at that time also turn each sheet 180 degrees). Remove the biscotti from the oven and cool thoroughly before storing in a sealed plastic container. (The biscotti will remain crispy and delicious for several days kept uncovered at room temperature. Extend their life for up to 2 to 3 weeks by storing them at room temperature in a tightly sealed plastic container.)

*You can save yourself some time by finding hazelnuts that are already skinned. You'll still need to toast them for 15 to 16 minutes in a 325 degree F oven to enhance the flavor and texture.

Makes 4 dozen (4 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch) biscotti
Source: Death by Chocolate Cookies by Marcel Desaulniers