These Vegan Chocolate Almond Cantucci (aka Biscotti) Are Better Than Your Average Cookie

Cantucci (pronounced can-TOO-chee) are an Italian dessert that come specifically from the region of Tuscany. They've spread throughout all of Italy and into the United States, even becoming part of Starbucks’ repertoire of baked goods. Never heard of them? Well, that’s probably because one day long, long ago, they were mistakenly called biscotti and to this day have never lived the name down.

Biscotti in Italian is just the general word for cookies. These vegan chocolate almond cantucci, however, are so much more than just your average, plain Jane cookie, and they deserve recognition. They are shaped into logs and then baked twice to get golden, crispy edges all around so that they can hold their texture when dunked into warm beverages. Cantucci are also heavenly when paired with Vin Santo, an intensely sweet Tuscan dessert wine, for a boozy after-dinner treat.

Oh, and when they’re made vegan and then immersed in melted dark chocolate, they get even more heavenly. Enjoy! 

Vegan Chocolate Almond Cantucci

• Prep Time:10 mins
• Cook Time:40 mins
• Total Time:50 mins
• Servings:20
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 2/3 cup organic cane sugar
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup fine cornmeal or use more all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup whole almonds
• 3/4 cup vegan dark chocolate optional but highly recommended

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

• Step 2

  In a large bowl, whisk the melted coconut oil with the cane sugar.

• Step 3

  Add in the applesauce and vanilla extract, mixing them well.

• Step 4

  Then, add in the flour, cornmeal, salt and baking soda. Stir it until the dough is just combined.

• Step 5

  Fold in the almonds so that they are evenly dispersed.

• Step 6

  Lay out a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet pan and spread a bit of coconut oil on it to prevent sticking.

• Step 7

  Form the dough into two equally-sized logs, and put the pan into the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges of the logs just start to turn golden brown.

  

• Step 8

  Take the logs out of the oven and let them cool for a bit. Then, use a serrated knife to gently cut the cantucci width-wise on a diagonal.

  

• Step 9

  Place the pan back into the oven and bake them for another 20 minutes, making sure to take them out halfway through to flip them over. This will make the cantucci golden brown all around.

  

• Step 10

  After the cantucci have cooled for a bit, melt the chocolate (either in the microwave for a minute or two, or using a double-boiler) in a small bowl. Dip one side of each cantuccio fully into the chocolate and then drizzle it on to the opposite side. Let cool.

• Step 11

  Serve and dunk into your favorite warm beverage (and don't forget to call them cantucci).