Biscotti is a wonderful cookie. You can truly make it your signature cookie, as you can add to it anything you like. From chocolate, to nuts, to raisins, craisins, dried fruits or any flavor – espresso, Amaretto or any other alcohol or sweeter options such as orange, banana or lemon.

Many  recipes call to mix separately the egg whites and the egg yolks, but due to the high proportion of flour to eggs, I find no need to separate and that the difference in the flavor and consistency between mixing the eggs together or separately, is not really worth the extra work and extra dishes….

Mix 4 eggs together – 4 big eggs or 5 small ones. I prefer the really big ones for this recipe

add 1 1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking powder

4 tbsp. liquids Amaretto, Kahlua, espresso, orange juice, strong earl grey tea etc.

Add 3 cups flour and optionally up to 1/2 cup more – depends on what you add to the mix.

I like to add any or some of the below:

1/2 cup coconut (no need for all the flour then)

1 cup almonds – not sliced. Some will be sliced when you slice the biscotti

1 cup nuts or hazelnuts- hazelnuts are a great addition!

1 cup chocolate chips or chunks of chocolate

1 cup raisins or sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins)

1 cup chopped dried fruits

Very recommended – lemon or orange zest from 1-2 lemons/oranges – always adds a lot!

Mix it well. It will be a heavy, sticky dough.

Place baking paper on a flat baking pan and spread the dough not more than an inch high (1.5-2 cm)- it helps to wet your hand and flatten it out on the sheet.

Bake for about 30 minutes at 320 F (160C), until the dough is baked, take it out of the oven, turn it onto a cutting board and slice the dough into long biscotti- sometimes I make them extra long or cut them smaller – up to you….

Place the biscotti back on the baking pan and bake for another 15-25 minutes until light brown on both sides. I like to turn them mid-ways of the 2nd baking.

After they have cooled completely, I love dipping one side in dark or white chocolate and let it cool and chocolate harden. Or – dip in chocolate and then in grounded nuts or coconut….. delicious…..

My kids love when I leave some out after the first baking,

the consistency is softer and more cookie like….

so some are usually left out right after bake 1.

Cool and enjoy!

Perfect next to coffee, tea, hot chocolate or on its own…..