Have you ever wondered how to make Biscotti at home? These classic, twice-baked Italian cookies are incredibly easy to make and can be customized with your favorite add-ins. Recipe includes a how-to video!
The Perfect Italian Cookie, Made Easy
These super easy Italian biscotti couldn’t be more different from the soft and chewy cookies that I usually share with you. If you’ve ever had biscotti before, you already know they’re not soft at all. Instead they’re hard and crunchy, and despite the fact that I usually avoid these two characteristics like the plague when it comes to cookies, I love these biscotti. In fact, I think they’re ridiculously delicious. But then again, aren’t all Italian desserts?
I used to think that biscotti were challenging to make (kind of like cannoli), but they’re actually not–not even a little bit. Biscotti are made with a very simple dough that you can customize with your favorite extracts and add-ins. They’re different from most cookies, because instead of scooping the dough, you’ll form it into two logs, bake them, let them cool completely, and then slice and them bake again. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, you can also dip or drizzle your biscotti with chocolate, but that’s totally your call (obviously, I’m team chocolate 🙋🏼♀️).
Let’s dive right in!
What You Need
Prepare yourself: these ingredients are SUPER basic, but they yield amazingly crisp and flavorful cookies. Here are the stars of today’s recipe:
- Butter. While some recipes use oil, I like to use butter for a better flavor and texture. Use unsalted, softened (not melty!) butter.
- Sugar. Since they are cookies, biscotti should be sweet! Stick with granulated sugar for this recipe.
- Eggs. We’ll add these one at a time and will mix the batter thoroughly after each addition. If you can remember, set your eggs out beforehand so they’re room temperature–they’ll incorporate better that way!
- Vanilla. Two teaspoons will give us a lovely vanilla flavor. If you like your biscotti to taste more traditional (think pizzelle cookies), you can always reduce your vanilla to 1½ teaspoons and add a splash of anise extract (I’ve included instructions in the notes).
- Flour. All-purpose flour works best here. If you have trouble with the dough sticking while trying to form it, feel free to flour your hands.
- Almonds and chocolate chips. While I use chocolate chips and slivered almonds here, you can substitute whatever you like. You can use about 1⅓-1½ cups of your favorite add-ins; raisins, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and pistachios, all are popular choices!
- Chocolate. This is optional, but if you’d like to either dip or drizzle your biscotti with extra chocolate (who doesn’t?!) melting wafers work well. You could also use chocolate chips.
SAM’S TIP: If you have a stand mixer, use it! While you can get away with using an electric hand mixer, this dough gets pretty stiff and difficult to mix, so save yourself some effort and use a stand mixer.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Biscotti
- Cream together the butter and sugar until well combined.
- Add the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition until well incorporated. Stir in the vanilla.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then gradually add them into the wet ingredients.
- Stir in your add-ins.
- Divide the dough into equal pieces and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Form the dough into logs with lightly floured hands.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350F, then cool completely.
- Use a serrated knife to slice the loaves diagonally. Place the biscotti cut side down onto your baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove your biscotti from the oven, flip them over, and bake for another 10 minutes. Allow the biscotti to cool completely before dipping or drizzling with chocolate.
SAM’S TIP: Use care when flipping your biscotti as they come out of the oven; they are much more fragile and likely to break while they are warm. I recommend using tongs and a gentle hand to turn them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Because they are baked twice, biscotti are hard and crisp. They’re great for dunking in a hot cup of coffee (cookies for breakfast ❤).
Since they’re are already pretty hard and dry (I promise, they’re delicious and supposed to be that way!), they don’t go stale fast at all. Biscotti will keep for least several weeks when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Shallow cracks on the surface are normal and nothing to be worried about. You can always dip them in melted chocolate to cover them up.
Enjoy! And if you’re looking for a chocolate version, be sure to check out my chocolate biscotti!
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
Biscotti Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons (141 g) unsalted butter softened
- 1 ⅓ cups (265 g) sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (see note if you would like to use anise extract)
- 3 ¼ cups (406 g) all-purpose cups flour
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon table salt
- ⅔ cup (66 g) slivered almonds
- ⅔ cup (113 g) mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup (170 g) dark chocolate melting wafers or chocolate chips for dipping biscotti optional
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Using a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer, beat together butter and sugar until creamy and well-combined.10 tablespoons (141 g) unsalted butter, 1 ⅓ cups (265 g) sugar
- Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.3 large eggs
- Stir in vanilla extract.2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.3 ¼ cups (406 g) all-purpose cups flour, 1 Tablespoon baking powder, ¾ teaspoon table salt
- Gradually add flour mixture into butter mixture, stirring until completely combined.
- Stir in mini chocolate chips and almonds.⅔ cup (66 g) slivered almonds, ⅔ cup (113 g) mini chocolate chips
- Using lightly floured hands, divide dough into two equal pieces and place on prepared baking sheet. Form dough into two separate logs approximately 10-12″ long by 2-3″ wide, and be sure to space them at least 4″ apart as biscotti will spread (you may use separate cookie sheets to bake, if needed). If dough is too sticky, lightly dust with additional flour and lightly powder your hands with a thin layer of flour.
- Bake 30 minutes on 350F (175C), or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow biscotti to cool completely. (Note that you will need to return the biscotti to the oven after it has cooled and you have sliced it, so you may wish to leave your oven on while the biscotti cools or set yourself a reminder to turn it back on).
- Once cooled, slice loaves diagonally into slices about 1 ½" thick (I recommend using a bread knife for this). Place biscotti cut-side down on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- Return to 350F (175C) oven and bake for 10 minutes. Flip each biscotti over gently, and then bake another 10 minutes on 350F (175C). Biscotti should be lightly golden brown when finished baking.
- Allow to cool completely.
- If desired, melt chocolate in 20 second increments (stirring in between) until melted and use a spoon to drizzle over cooled biscotti. Allow chocolate to harden before serving (this will take much longer with chocolate chips than with melting wafers).½ cup (170 g) dark chocolate melting wafers or chocolate chips for dipping biscotti
Notes
Add-Ins
Feel free to substitute the almonds and/or the chocolate chips with an equal amount of your favorite add-ins, or leave them out entirely!Anise Extract
Classic Italian biscotti are often made with anise extract. Feel free to add 1-2 teaspoons of anise extract or 2 teaspoons of anise seed (in addition to the vanilla extract) if you so desire.Storing
Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Biscotti will keep for at least two weeks. Biscotti may also be frozen in an airtight container for several months.Chocolate Version
See my chocolate biscotti recipe.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Carolina
Great recipe! My husband and even Nonna loved the cookies.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoys it! 🙂
Deb
Yummo! Made these today with intentions of giving them as Christmas presents. Well, I am going to have make another patch because they are almost gone! My family and I have devoured them. Thanks for this recipe!
Sam
😂Whoops! I am so glad everyone enjoyed it. Next time just make a double batch so you can enjoy it and so can everyone else! 😉
Amy
I made some Elvis biscotti!
Bananas, chocolate chips, & peanut butter
And some Apple Pie biscotti
Saute 2 diced apples with apple butter. Add to other inredients- you may need to add a bit more flour.
Sam
These sound AMAZING! Thanks for sharing your variations, Amy! 🙂
Annette
I added a third of a cup of rum and about a cup of dried cherries…they came out amazing!!! Thanx for the recipe!
Sam
That sounds delicious! I am glad you enjoyed it! ☺️
Jane Taylor
Hi! I was wondering if you need to use add-ins or if this would also work as a plain vanilla biscotti recipe.
Sam
It will work for plain vanilla biscotti! Enjoy 🙂
Annette
I made these and added a third of a cup of rum and about a cup of dried cherries..came out amazing..thnx for the recipe!
Dina
Okay this is going to be my go to Biscotti recipe from now on! So rich but light and crisp oh my goodness it’s perfect dunked in milk too!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Dina! ☺️
Carol
Made 3 batches for Xmas gifts
Cranberry, almond and orange
7 dozen from the 3 batches
Sam
And you were able to refrain from eating them yourself? I am impressed I certainly couldn’t do that! Sounds like a great gift idea to me. ☺️
Anthony E. Sexton
Great recipe I added a half cup of raisins and turned out perfect!
Thanks Sam!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them, Anthony!😊
Jeannie Lenci
I’ve never made biscotti before so I’m anxious to try this recipe. I’m going to add mini chocolate chips and some cinnamon. I do have one question tho, is it ok to use salted butter? Thanks!
Sam
Hi Jeannie! You will want to cut the salt that is in the recipe. I have a post on using salted vs unsalted butter you can check out to know just how much to cut it by. ☺️
Brittany Hughes
These turned out great. This is a great recipe. I had no idea what I was doing, but followed the directions carefully and took my time, and they turned out beautifully. Thank you so much for sharing!
Sam
Thank you for the feedback Brittany! I am so glad you enjoyed them! 😃
tony
Great biscotti recipe; Thanks for sharing! When Mama makes biscotti; before the toasting phase, they are soft and chewy 😉 / tony
Sam
I am so happy you enjoyed it!
Maria
I am about to make them this moment and from what I see it is a good recipe I hope it all turns out well since this is my first time trying out someone else’s biscotti recipe.
Sam
Hi Maria! I hope everything turned out for you!
Kailey
Made these today and the bottom burned after 20mins in the oven – even with it being turned to convection mid-way through due to burning starting. The only thing I changed is to add some lemon zest and remove the chocolate chips. Any thoughts on what went wrong?
Sam
Very strange! Did you use parchment paper and are you certain that your oven temperature is accurate? I haven’t had it burn before 🙁
Kailey
Hmm… I used cooking spray instead of parchment paper (didn’t have any on hand). Maybe that’s the difference.
Maria
You can use canola oil if you don’t have parchment paper.
Sean
Are you at a higher altitude?
Kristen
Made them this morning! YUM! Thanks for the great (and easy!) recipe.
Sam
That’s awesome, I’m so glad you enjoyed them!! 🙂
Tessa
I’m so going to try this! I love biscotti but have actually never made them myself. I think I’ll add some orange zest, that should go well with the chocolate chips and almonds. How much do you think I should add to get a nice (but not too overpowering) orange flavor?
Sam
That sounds delicious! I think I’d start with a Tablespoon of orange zest, but it would take some experimenting to know exactly how much 🙂
Angela Casola
Fabulous!!!..I made them this morning with a dark chocolate drizzle…I also added a tsp of vanilla and a tsp of almond extract!! I have also made them with orange zest and a splash of orange Liquore…yummy!
Sam
I am so happy to hear this! Thank you for commenting, Angela!!