INGREDIENTS
2 eggs
1 c. sugar (natural or refined)
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
I would use 2/3 cup of any of the nuts and ½ cup of dried fruit. You do not have to, it really is up to you to mix and match the flavors.
Nuts
Pine nuts
Walnuts
Almonds
Pistachio
Etc…
Dried Fruit
Apricots
Cranberries
Coconut (sweet or unsweetened, your choice!)
Etc…
Natural or artificial flavors ( I use about a teaspoon of the essences, a whole fruit for the peel and 1 tbsp. for the alcohol. I use the juice of the fruit to make the glaze if I glaze them.
Vanilla
Lemon
Coconut
Almond
Orange
Lemon or orange peel
Instant coffee
Alcohol
ETC
Spices and Herbs
Poppy
Lavender
Black pepper
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Ginger
ETC
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, using the mixer of your choice, beat the eggs, sugar and flavors you want to use including lemon or orange peel.
In a separate bowl measure out the flour, baking soda, salt and whatever nuts, dried fruit, herbs, spices and coconut if using. Stir the ingredients till well mixed.
Beating on medium low, add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. The dough should be tacky (sticky to the touch), if your mixture is dry, you can add an egg yolk, a whole egg, or even better, melted butter till the dough does become tacky.
Form two logs of equal proportions and bake in a 375 ° oven for 25 minutes on a parchment covered sheet pan.
Note.: If you are not glazing your biscotti or dipping them in chocolate, you could brush with a beaten egg white for a lovely glossy look.
Remove from oven and let them rest 10 minutes before slicing them in app. 1-inch-wide pieces, you can also cut them diagonally for a different look.
Tip: Use a serrated knife if possible to cut the biscotti.
Lower the oven to 325°.
Place them back on the parchment covered sheet pan one their side, and bake 10 minutes more, after 10 minutes, turn them on the other side and cook them for another 10 minutes. Let cool.
At this point, you could dip them in chocolate or glaze them. Your choice.
This time I made my glaze out of powdered sugar, a bit of lemon juice and milk, enough to drizzle the biscotti with and Voilà!
