|last minute Christmas gifts?|
Did you know it's ridiculously easy to make biscotti? I always thought it was probably a giant pain until I made it myself. These make a great little Christmas gift to give to those people who give you a present and then you're like, uh oh. (P.S. I also give these to people because I planned to, so if you've gotten them from me in the past, it's not necessarily because I forgot you!).
Here's the method...you can pick and choose whatever flavors you'd like to add as indicated:
T.L.B.s (tasty little biscottis)
3/4 cups nuts (I used pecans today - almonds are excellent, too)
5 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 light butter, softened (the stick kind, that's 1 1/2 sticks, to save you the math)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 large eggs, plus 2 egg whites
3 teaspoons citrus zest (I used clementines today, but you can use orange, lemon, whatever citrus you have on hand...also, give the fruit a squeeze into the bowl after for extra zing)
2 teaspoons extract or liqueur (I used whiskey today, but almond extract, rum, vanilla, anything is good)
2 more egg whites
Here's the method...you can pick and choose whatever flavors you'd like to add as indicated:
T.L.B.s (tasty little biscottis)
3/4 cups nuts (I used pecans today - almonds are excellent, too)
5 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 light butter, softened (the stick kind, that's 1 1/2 sticks, to save you the math)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 large eggs, plus 2 egg whites
3 teaspoons citrus zest (I used clementines today, but you can use orange, lemon, whatever citrus you have on hand...also, give the fruit a squeeze into the bowl after for extra zing)
2 teaspoons extract or liqueur (I used whiskey today, but almond extract, rum, vanilla, anything is good)
2 more egg whites
- Crush up your nuts. I do this by putting them in a plastic baggie and then hitting them with a can. Put them on a baking sheet and stick them in an oven at 350. Toss after 5 minutes, then put in for another 2 minutes. Take out to let them cool. Kick your oven up to 375.
- While that's all happening, mix together your flower and baking powder in a smallish bowl.
- Then cream together your softened butter and sugar using a hand or stand mixer. Add in the 3 eggs and 2 egg whites one at a time and beat in.
- Add in the flour mixture a little at a time. Lots and lots of stirring. Once you've got it all in, mix in your nuts. Reserve about 1/8 cup of the nuts for later.
- Get out two greased cookie sheets. Divide your dough into three equal parts and plop them down onto the sheets. Press them down until they are about 1/2-1 inch thick and are a big oval shape. Press a little of the remaining nuts into the top of each mound.
- In a clean bowl, beat your last two egg whites until they are fluffy. Brush the egg whites onto each of your three dough mounds.
- Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until they start to get golden brown. Take out and let cool for about an hour.
- Cut into a total of 72 pieces with a knife. Spread out on your cookie sheets with the cut sides up for toasting. Bake 10 minutes at 325 and you're done.
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