Have you ever wondered how to make biscotti at home? The good news is these classic, twice-baked Italian cookies are incredibly easy to make and can be customized with your favorite add-ins. Today we’re using mini chocolate chips and slivered almonds, but feel free to substitute your favorite fillers!
Oh, Biscotti.
It’s classified as a cookie even though it couldn’t be any more different than the majority of the soft, chewy cookies that I usually share around here. If you’ve ever had biscotti before, you already know that it’s not soft at all; instead it’s hard and crunchy, and despite these two characteristics that I usually avoid like the plague when developing cookies, it’s ridiculously delicious and just as addictive as, say, a big soft oatmeal cookie.
Plus biscotti is basically designed specifically for dipping in your coffee, which means starting your day off with biscotti for breakfast is totally acceptable, right?
Anything that gives me an excuse to eat cookies for breakfast 😉
I used to think that biscotti was difficult and challenging to make, but it’s actually not, not even a little bit.
Biscotti is made with a simple dough that you can customize with your favorite extracts and add-ins, and it is different from most cookies because you’ll break the dough into two pieces and form each one into a “log”, which you will then bake, allow to cool completely, slice, bake again, flip, and then bake again. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious you’ll also dip or drizzle it with chocolate, but that’s totally your call.
Let’s break down how to make this simple Italian cookie, and please check out my most recent video at the bottom of the post, just above the recipe.
Tips for Making Biscotti
- 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.
- While I use chocolate chips and slivered almonds here, you can substitute your preferred add-ins. You can use about 1 1/3- 1 1/2 cups of your favorite add-in. Raisins, craisins, white chocolate chips, pistachios, all are popular choices.
- Make sure your biscotti cools completely before cutting into it.
- Use care when flipping your biscotti out of the oven, as they are much more fragile and likely to break while they are warm. I recommend using tongs and a gentle hand to turn them.
Is Biscotti Supposed to be hard?
Yes! Because it is baked twice, biscotti is hard and crisp. It’s great for dunking in a hot cup of coffee!
How do you cut biscotti?
I always cut my biscotti on a slight angle for a traditional biscotti appearance (see photo above) but this is not required. I recommend using a serrated bread knife for best results.
How long can I keep biscotti
Since biscotti is already pretty hard and dry (I promise, it’s delicious and supposed to be that way!), it doesn’t go stale fast at all. Once your biscotti is cooked and cooled it will keep for at least several weeks if stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Enjoy!
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How to Make Biscotti:
Biscotti Recipe
Recipe from SugarSpunRun.com
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 1/3 cups sugar (265g)
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose cups flour (406g)
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup slivered almonds
- 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate melting wafers or chocolate chips optional
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.
- Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add flour mixture into butter mixture, stirring until completely combined.
- Stir in mini chocolate chips and almonds.
- 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.
- Once cooled, slice loaves diagonally into slices about 1 1/2" 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).
- Biscotti should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and will keep for several weeks.
Nutrition
Randy says
This is such a great recipie! Every time I make them people loooove them and I have giving this recipie out a few times. For anyone that cares, I add a drop or two of bitter almond extract to the dough, and I always slightly toast the almonds first.
I also have made a great version with lemon and anise seed. I zest 2 lemons and add a drop of lemon extract, and 1 tsp of anise seeds.
Thanks again!
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed the biscotti so much! The love the sound of those variations. I’ll have to give them a try. 🙂
Renie says
So good and easy to make
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that you enjoyed it and found it easy, Renie! Thank you for commenting. 🙂
Wai Foong says
How do you measure 10 tablespoons of butter when it is not softened yet.. can you give an equivalent to weight instead. Tq
Sugar Spun Run says
Hi, Wai! It will be 5 oz (141.88 grams) of butter that is needed 🙂
Rudo says
Hello I made it it’s an amazing recipe only thing I found was that 30 minutes was a little to long the first time I baked it, it burned but the second time when I baked for about 20 minutes it was amazing
Sugar Spun Run says
Thank you so much for trying my recipe, Rudo! I am glad that the second time around they baked perfectly! 🙂
Ellen says
I just made these biscotti.. why did mine spread so much and flatten out like a huge cookie?
Sam says
Hi Ellen! I have a couple of possible culprits here: you may have needed to add a little bit more flour to dough before baking, or if your baking powder is bad this could also cause the spreading. I am so sorry this happened. 🙁
KAZEM SPAHI says
Thank you for the biscotti recipe, it turned out great.
Sam says
I’m so glad you enjoyed!
Nadia says
Used the same recipe but mine came out salty! Any idea why?
Sugar Spun Run says
I have never heard of this being salty before, Nadia! I am so sorry that you have experienced an issue. Did you use salted butter by chance? Or possibly use 3/4 Tablespoons of salt vs. 3/4 teaspoon salt listed? Did you do any other substitutions? I am happy to troubleshoot. 🙂
Joan Onorato says
Too wet to pick up. Been making biscotti 40 years. We spoon batter onto baking sheets Bake 30 min. Slice. Turn. Bake about 10
You couldn’t pick up wet dough like this
Sugar Spun Run says
Thanks for sharing what has worked so well for you, I appreciate it, Joan! 🙂
Meagan says
Hi these turned out great! Thank you. Do you know how long they will last? I live by myself and I won’t be able to share with friends! Can I freeze them?
Sugar Spun Run says
Hi, Meagan! I recommend storing them in an airtight container so that they stay crisp. If stored properly, these biscotti will last up to 2 weeks. As far as freezing, I have never tried freezing the cookie themselves, however, you can store the dough and bake at a later time. 🙂
Ben says
Hi – do you think I can get away with swapping the AP flour with a gluten free flour? Keeping all other ingredients as is.
Sugar Spun Run says
Hi, Ben! I do not have experience baking with gluten-free flour so I can not advise. If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out for you. 🙂
Jackie Libertelli says
This recipe was delicious! I packed them up and sent them to my son in DC
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, Jackie! I hope that your son loves them too! Thanks for trying my recipe! 🙂
Rossana says
Great easy recipe. The cookies turned out great, crispy on the outside with a bit of softness in the middle.
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that they turned out perfectly for you, Rossana! Thank you for trying my recipe. 🙂
Rossana says
Thank you for sharing it. Do you think they would turn out as good substituting the butter with oil?
Thx!!
Sugar Spun Run says
Hi, Rossana! I don’t reccomend it. 🙁
Alma Gray says
This recipe looks great!!!
Look forward to making it some time.
Thank you!!
Sugar Spun Run says
Thank you so much, Alma! 🙂
Clara says
How can I use gluten flour for this recipe what to do
Sam says
Hi Clara, this recipe uses all purpose flour 🙂
Barbara says
You could use almond flour.
DEB says
Can you explain why you use unsalted butter and then add salt to the recipe?
Sugar Spun Run says
Hi, Deb! I tend to use unsalted butter for most of my recipes so that I can control the taste and the amount of salt that is added. If you use salted butter for this recipe, you can, however, you will not add the additional salt that is listed. 🙂