How to Make Biscotti: Classic Almond Biscotti Recipe
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Dec 17, 2024 • 2 min read
Almond extract and chopped whole almonds give these crumbly almond biscotti a double dose of almond flavor.
Learn From the Best
What Are Biscotti?
Biscotti are Italian cookies that are popular around the world. The Italian word biscotti (singular biscotto) comes from the medieval Latin biscoctus, a twice-baked cookie or bread that was more shelf-stable than a typical pastry. In present-day Italy, biscotti just means cookie, but the twice-baked version has gained international popularity since it's the perfect cookie for dunking in espresso drinks.
What Do Biscotti Taste Like?
Biscotti are famous for their texture: The best biscotti are crispy yet crumbly and pair well with a cup of coffee. The basic formula for biscotti dough is simple (flour, butter, eggs, baking powder), so it's the mix-ins that really give biscotti their flavor—pistachios, pecans, lemon zest, slivered almonds, hazelnuts, anise, dried fruit such as cranberries, and dark chocolate chips or a drizzle of melted chocolate.
Almond Biscotti Recipe
makes
24 cookiesprep time
20 mintotal time
1 hr 10 mincook time
50 minIngredients
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix, scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and almond extract and mix until incorporated.
- 3
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and almonds. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir together until incorporated.
- 4
Divide dough into three equal-sized pieces. On a floured surface, roll each piece into a log about 1¼ inches in diameter.
- 5
Arrange the logs on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the outside of the log is light golden brown, about 40 minutes.
- 6
After the first bake, carefully transfer cookie logs to a cutting board and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Decrease oven temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a serrated knife to cut logs on the diagonal into 1-inch slices.
- 7
Place biscotti on the prepared cookie sheet, cut side down. Bake a second time, for about five minutes until the tops are a light golden brown, then use a spatula to flip and bake for another five minutes until the bottoms are the same color. (The "crust" will be a deeper golden brown.) Remove from the oven, and let cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.
Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by culinary masters, including Gabriela Cámara, Chef Thomas Keller, Massimo Bottura, Dominique Ansel, Gordon Ramsay, Alice Waters, and more.