This Chocolate Biscotti recipe is rich and flavorful with just the perfect texture… not too hard or dry.
I’ve never been a big fan of biscotti. I usually like soft and chewy cookies… if you haven’t noticed from the fact that most of my cookie recipes have the word “chewy” in them! In my experience, biscotti is usually hard, dry and pretty tasteless. Granted, the only biscotti I’ve ever had has been pre-packaged from a store… so I thought experimenting with homemade biscotti might be worth a try.
I’m happy to say, this Chocolate Biscotti won me over! The recipe is packed with chocolate flavor, and you can adjust the baking time to your preferences… I baked mine so they were crisp, but not too hard (if you want them extra crisp, feel free to add a few minutes of baking time). They are absolutely delicious with coffee, milk, or hot chocolate.
I was inspired to create this recipe when Pampered Chef asked me to create a homemade treat perfect for holiday parties or homemade gifts. I love Pampered Chef, and love making homemade treats… so it was an easy task!
This Chocolate Biscotti would be a perfect treat to wrap and give as a gift with a pretty mug and maybe a coffee shop gift card! Or wrap up some biscotti and make a beautiful gift for a baker on your list with the Pampered Chef Batter Bowl, a festive spatula and some good quality wooden spoons or dish towels.
I have a little confession… I actually ordered the Pampered Chef Batter Bowl (shown above) as a gift for someone on my Christmas list, but I fell in love with it and now plan to keep it for myself! My advice… order two!
I made this Chocolate Biscotti three ways… plain (with almonds, as listed in the recipe), chocolate dipped, and chocolate dipped with crushed toffee pieces (available in stores, sold next to chocolate chips). Feel free to mix and match however you’d like to dress up your biscotti. A little drizzle of white chocolate would provide a pretty contrast to the dark biscotti.
How to Make Chocolate Biscotti
Chocolate Biscotti
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup sliced or chopped almonds toasted
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350*F. Spread sliced (or chopped) almonds onto a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl on an electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth, then add sugar, and continue to beat until fully incorporated. Add eggs, one at a time, while blending. Add extracts.
- While slowly blending, pour in bowl of dry ingredients, then almonds and chocolate chips. Blend just until combined.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Divide the dough in half. On a very lightly floured surface, roll the dough into two logs, almost the length of the baking sheet.
- Transfer logs to the baking sheet, leaving space between the two. Gently flatten the logs down (with your hands) until the dough is about 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" tall. You should now have two rounded rectangles. They do not have to be perfect, but try to make sure the ends of the logs are almost as thick as the middle.
- Bake logs for 25 minutes, until the dough feels firm to the touch. Remove from oven and allow to cool (on the baking sheet) for about 15 minutes.
- Gently transfer the baked logs to a cutting board and use a sharp, serrated knife to cut the logs into thick slices (about 3/4 inch thick). Lay the cookies, cut side down, onto a baking sheets (you'll need two this time) and return to the oven for 20 minutes. Bake one sheet at a time.
- Allow cookies to cool, then store in an airtight container up to two weeks. If desired, dip cooled cookies into chocolate and dress with toffee bits.
Notes
Nutrition
In addition to this delicious biscotti, I have another treat for you today!
My friends at Pampered Chef are giving a $150 Pampered Chef shopping credit to one lucky Glorious Treats reader! You can pick out your own gifts this year! =)
To enter… {Giveaway Closed}
Simply leave a comment below with what you love to make for homemade gifts… or what kind of homemade gifts you love to receive.
Giveaway details – Giveaway open to U.S residents 18 years and older. Giveaway ends Friday, Dec. 19th at 9:00pm Pacific. Winner will be chosen at random. If a winner is chosen but does not reply to their e-mail within 48 hours, another winner may be chosen. Giveaway sponsored by Pampered Chef.
Patty L. says
I love to make homemade cookie-in-a-jar as gifts because I just layer each ingredient into the mason jars, and I can make a bunch at the same time. All my friends loved them!
Gail Perry says
I love to make homemade holiday gifts. This is a fabulous edition to my cookie gift collections. . I am also a BIG Pampered Chef fan. Every year I bake many dozens of cookies of many varieties to share wiht my family, friends and business associates It has become a well loved tradition in my circle of friends. As I expand my giving circle, I also need to .expand my recipe collection and this one is a perfect addition for next year…but before that, I am baking some for me as I am a biscotti freak!!
Nikki B says
I pride myself on making custom cakes, and often give them as gifts. And i love to make pies.. and anything sweet 🙂 Love feeding people and baking sweets period 🙂
STACEY says
Chocolate chip cookies.
Robin M says
I love to give snowflake decorated sugar cookies in a pretty package. I have always used your sugar cookie and royal icing recipes and instructions. Thank you!!
Annette says
I love to receive and to give homemade treats like banana nut bread and peppermint bark.
Melissa L. says
I would love to make decorated sugar cookies. I would love to learn how to make them, but lack the supplies. Thanks for the great giveaway! msmissy02 at gmail dot com
noel says
cookies, and chocolate candies.
Stevie says
I love to give away decorated sugar cookies and polymer clay jewelry. Thank you for hosting this giveaway and for another yummy recipe!
Sandy says
Homemade cinnamon rolls are the perfect edible gift:)