Christmas with my Family
In my family, the holiday season is one of the most important times of the year. More specifically, Christmas Eve. Dozens of my family members across New Jersey come together to sing Dean Martin and share the Italian classic Feast of the Seven Fishes. And of course, every Italian and Italian-American knows, dinner can't conclude without something sweet and a cup of coffee. That's where my *one* recipe comes in to play. The right biscotti recipe can make you forget any mildly inappropriate things your family members might have blurted out during your holiday dinner. When that perfectly crisp piece of baked dough ever so gently melts into the warmth of your cappuccino, all is suddenly well. The holidays truly become the holidays. Nothing bad can happen with biscotti. I don't make the rules, that's just how the universe works.
To help you experience some of the bliss I associate with family and the holiday season, I'm going to give you the recipe for the best biscotti of your life. Biscotti is pretty versatile in terms of add-ins, such as almonds, anise, chocolate, etc. So I am providing a basic, traditional style. The ingredients are pretty basic, and the actual baking and preparation process is easy as well. Regardless of whether you are a baking novice or an expert, anyone can enjoy this recipe.
Traditional Biscotti Recipe
Yields about 25 biscotti
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 C granulated sugar
- 1/4 C brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 C vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F, line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugars, salt, and baking powder. Break up any large clumps. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl combine oil, eggs, and extract. Add wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and mix until dough is shaggy.
4. Split the dough into two, placing each half on one baking sheet. Shape each half into a log that is about 10" long, 3" inches wide, and just about 1" in thickness.
5. First Bake: (Optional: brush logs with egg wash) Bake both sheets for 35 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes, or until dough slightly springs back when pressed lightly.
6. Second Bake: Slice logs diagonally about 1/2" thick along the short side. Lay the pieces flat on baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake for 12 minutes. Flip pieces over and bake for another 12 minutes until crisp. Remember: they will continue to cook/harden as they cool!
Cool and enjoy! Store in an airtight container for up to a month.
This recipe is fool-proof and is sure to make your holidays feel a little bit better among all this chaos. This biscotti pairs best with a cup of coffee, or one of my favorites is to dip one end in melted chocolate and refrigerate! I strongly encourage you to try this recipe, and don't forget to wear a mask and practice adequate social distancing measures. Happy baking!