Monday, February 2, 2009

CHOCOLATE CHIP ANISE BISCOTTI.......

Adapted from a Giada recipe these Biscotti are the best I have ever tried. They come perfect every time and the texture and taste is perfection. They are simple to make and go perfectly with a cup of tea or dunked into hot cocoa......This is how they look going into the oven.....That is coarse sugar that has been sprinkled on top

This is how they look after baking for 20 minutes


after you bake them they get cut on the diagonal.......Like so



Now here is the Biscotti part......or "twice baked"...place them on their side and bake until golden brown....flip over until the other side is golden brown. Shut off the oven but leave them in with the door cracked open a tad.



This is how they will look when they are finished



And this is how they look all wrapped up in cellophane getting ready for a trip to Jersey for the son-in-law.....


Here's the recipe......Come on Sally....give it a try, they're easy....really.

2 cups of all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons of anise seed
1 cup of mini chocolate chips
coarse sanding sugar
preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line a heavy baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour,baking powder and salt together and set aside...Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter in a large bowl to blend..I always cut the butter into small pieces then let it sit out for a little bit before mixing. By cutting it into small pieces it softens quicker. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the flour mixture and beat just until blended. Add the anise seed and mix well then blend in the chocolate chips.....sprinkle the tops with coarse sanding sugar...if you can't find the sugar on your stores shelves I usually get mine at the bakery in the grocery store, they sell me a bag for about a $1.00
Form the dough into 2 logs about 3 inches wide and 12 inches long...Bake until light golden about 20 to 25 minutes.
Place the log on a cutting board and using a serrated knife cut the log on a diagonal into 1/2" to 3/4" thick slices...Arrange the Biscotti cut side down on the baking sheet...Lower the oven temp. to 275 degrees.....Bake until one side is golden brown about 15 minutes then flip to the other side.....bake another 5 to 10 minutes....Shut off oven, open the door and leave the Biscotti in the oven for about another 10 minutes....Cool then stuff your face....I love to eat these not dunking in a hot drink but with an ice cold glass of Lemonaide or Iced Tea....enjoy!!


If you really hate the taste of anise (it's kind of a licorice taste but goes great with the chocolate chips) You can use orange extract and orange peel or any other flavor you might like...Raspberry extract would also go well....


14 comments:

Linda Lou said...

I have NEVER made biscotti! What kind of Italian am I??? They look amazing, and I SHOULD try them...thanks for sharing the recipe.

Mimi Sue said...

I am not a huge biscotti fan but these sound pretty good. Mimi

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Sue, those look wonderful, and what's more your pictures do, too. It's hard to photograph food, but you did a great job on this! Makes me HUNGRY. LOL!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Sue

I don't make enough biscotti -- I love anise flavor too.

Thanks for a great recipe!

Daryl said...

Not a big fan of Anise but those look delish

alice said...

They look delicious! Thamks for the recipe.

scrappysue said...

that looks delicious! and so well wrapped too!

Liz Harrell said...

Wow... I am so impressed! I LOVE this stuff.

Anonymous said...

I've never made biscotti but we love the chocolate dipped ones with our coffee. Your's look good and you make it look so easy!

Manuela

Linda O'Neill said...

How DID you know that I've been craving biscotti! Gonna have to try this recipe...maybe sooner than later!:)

Deb said...

never thought about making homemade biscotti, but oh why not? if you say it is doable...then i'm all in!

Salmagundi said...

OK, I'll try!! Believe it or not I've made biscotti before, but not with much success. Sanding sugar???? Sounds like a lot work just finding that. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll see what I can do. Sally

Susie Q said...

Well, I have never even attempted to make biscotti! You are just one amazing lady you!
They look so pretty and yummy. Are they really easy?? I mean, for a kitchen disaster waiting to happen like me?

Love,
sue

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

I will give them a try! I've "created" my own recipe over the years...the one I've settled on is a cross between one I found in Cooking Light and one I found...I think?...in Better Homes & Gardens, but with cranberries and white chocolate which are my faves. They're on my blog...somewhere! :-)