Hazelnut, cherry and sultana biscotti

As Christmas is approaching I am keen to try out some new recipes that can be given as gifts. Biscotti look great, taste delicious and last well so are ideal for giving. They are also very easy to make, whilst seeming quite sophisticated.

These are particularly good: hazelnut, cherry and sultana with a hint of orange. They would be good dunked in coffee (or tea) but also in vin santo as a dessert. A gift of good coffee or dessert wine with some homemade biscotti would be appreciated by most people, I would think. I also wonder if homemade blackberry vodka or sloe gin might be good with biscotti. One to try out!

Homemade biscotti

Recipe

Ingredients

350g plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

250g caster sugar

3 eggs, beaten

Zest of an orange

100g dried cherries

75g sultanas

100g hazelnuts, roughly chopped

Method

Set the oven to 180ºC and flour or grease one large or two smaller baking trays

Combine the flour, baking powder and sugar.

Add the beaten eggs and start to mix in. Once it is partially mixed add the dried fruit, orange zest and nuts.

Shape into three or four logs and place on the baking tray.

Ready to bake

Bake for around 25 minutes, until well risen and firm to the touch. They should still be quite pale in colour.

Allow to cool on a wire rack for a little while.

Biscotti after the first baking

Reduce the oven temperature to 140°C and line the baking trays with some baking parchment.

Slice the logs at a slight angle into slices approximately 1-2cm thick and lay cut side down on the baking trays. Bake for approximately 15 minutes and then turn over and bake the other side for around 15 minutes, so that both sides are golden brown.

Ready for the second baking

When they are baked transfer the biscotti to wire cooling racks and allow to cool completely before keeping in an airtight tin.

Why not make some to keep and some to give away?

Categories: Baking, Biscuits and Cookies, Dairy-Free Baking, Gifts, Recipes

Tags: baking, biscotti, biscuits, Christmas, Christmas gifts, dairy free, dried cherries, dried fruit, gifts, hazelnuts, homemade, homemade gifts, recipe, sultanas, vin santo