ALMOND CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Toast the almonds in a shallow pan for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the pan a few times, until almonds are lightly colored. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 or 3 cookie sheets with aluminum foil, shiny side up.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. Place 1/2 cup of these dry ingredients into the bowl of a food processor. Add about a half cup of the toasted almonds and process for about 30 seconds.
• Return the mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients and stir in the remaining almonds and chocolate chips. In a large measuring cup, beat the eggs, vanilla and whiskey with a fork to blend. Stir into the dry ingredients until moistened. Wet your hands and divide the dough into four portions. Keeping hands wet, form each quarter into strips about 9 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1/2 inch high. Round the ends. Place two strips crosswise on each of the cookie sheets.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven. If baking more that one sheet at a time, reverse the sheets top to bottom halfway through cooking time.
• Using a metal spatula remove the slabs from cookie sheets and let cool for 20 minutes on cutting board. Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees F.
• With a serrated knife, carefully cut at an angle into slices about 1/2 inch wide. Place the slices, cut side down, onto cookie sheets.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the biscotti is crispy and lightly toasted.
• Turn oven off and open the oven door, allowing the biscotti to cool in the oven. When cool, store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Have all ingredients at room temp.
• To toast almonds, heat oven to 300 degrees F, place single layer of almonds on sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes.
• Watch carefully as nuts burn quickly.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and cocoa.
• Whisk to combine.
• Add almonds and stir to mix.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and extract at medium speed.
• Add the eggs and beat until smooth- 2 minutes.
• Using a large spoon, stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture until just combined.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
• With well floured hands (you will get sticky), shape the dough into a log 13 inches by 2 1/2 inches wide.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Transfer the log to the paper.
• Gently flattern and reshape the log to 14 inches by 3 inches and 3/4 inches high.
• Bake the log until it is dry and slightly firm to the touch- about 30-35 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven to a cooling rack.
• Reduce oven temp to 275.
• Allow the log to cool for 15 minutes.
• Carefully place log onto cutting surface and peel away parchment and put paper back on sheet.
• With a serrated knife,'saw' the log into 3/4 inch slices- about 18.
• Place the slices cut side down onto baking sheet.
• Bake until dry and crisp 30-35 minutes.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool completely- 1 1/2 hours.
• They will continue to harden as they cool.
• They will store in an airtight container for one week.
• Optional: Drizzle thin streams of melted chocolate onto one end of the cookies.
• Mandatory: Dip prepared cookie into steaming hot coffee and enjoy!