Yummy, crunchy Biscotti are perfect for breakfast, light desserts or snacking anytime. Almond extract and nuts mingle with dried cranberries in my easy recipe.

Serve them with your favorite gourmet coffee, tea, or holiday eggnog, for a comforting cookie that’s just sweet enough to satisfy your cookie craving.

Almond biscotti on a wooden board with a cup of coffee

What is Biscotti?

Biscotti are an Italian dipping cookie. Twice baked, they have a pleasant, not-too-sweet stiffness which makes them perfect for dunking in hot beverages without falling apart.

The dough is shaped into a loaf, baked and then sliced into long oblong pieces and baked again. Biscotti can be made in as many flavors as there are extracts and spices. Some of the best and most popular flavors are chocolate, anise, and my personal favorite, almond.

First image is almond biscotti ingredients in a clear bowl and second image is raw almond biscotti on a cutting board being sliced with a knife

How to Make Biscotti

It’s so easy to make biscotti from scratch that you may never buy them again. The process is very similar to making cookie dough:

  1. Cream butter, sugar and eggs together, then mix in dry ingredients in increments.
  2. Shape into loaf and bake.
  3. Remove and slice, then bake again.

Serve them plain, drizzle with a sugar glaze, or dip them in chocolate.

Almond biscotti on a baking sheet drizzled with chocolate

Delicious Add-Ins

This recipe can accommodate so many variations and add-ins, such as:

  • Nuts & Seeds: walnuts, sliced or chopped almonds
  • Fruits: raisins, citron or any dried fruit, orange or lemon zest
  • Candy: chocolate chips, crushed toffee
  • Extracts: vanilla, lemon, or orange
  • Spices: Pumpkin or apple pie spice

Dip or Dunk

Biscotti are the perfect shape for not only dipping and dunking! They are excellent with cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate or any hot or cold beverage.

Biscotti are also a terrific way to garnish a bowl of ice cream, or a custard parfait.

How to Store Biscotti

Biscotti are dry enough and have enough sugar that they hold up incredibly well to storage. Keep them in your cookie jar or in a paper bag in your pantry, where they’ll keep for up to four days.

Store tightly covered in the fridge or freezer. They will keep frozen up to six months. Be sure they are completely cool before covering and storing to prevent them softening. You can restore their crisp by popping them in the oven for a few minutes, and then cooling.

Biscotti are always popular and make a welcome sight next to any cup of coffee!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
stack of almond biscotti on a wooden board with a cup of coffee in the background
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Biscotti Recipe

This crunchy cookie is best paired with your morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cool 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 19 pieces
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Ingredients  

  • cup butter unsalted
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • cup slivered almonds
  • ½ cup dried cranberries optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a pan with parchment paper.
  • With a mixer on medium, combine butter, sugar, baking powder and salt, until light and fluffy.
  • Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Add in flour a little at a time until incorporated. Fold in almonds and cranberries.
  • Divide dough in half and form each half into a 10"x2" rectangle. Place on a parchment lined pan.
  • Bake 25 minutes or until golden.
  • Remove from the oven and cool 10-15 minutes. Slice on an angle into 1" slices and lay flat on the baking sheet.
  • Bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until browned. Remove from the oven and cool completely on wire racks.

Notes

Optional: Once completely cooled drizzle with melted white chocolate. 
4.96 from 42 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 132 | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 125IU | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine Italian
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Biscotti on a wooden board with coffee and a title
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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Great recipe. I have a biscotti pan so I used that and baked for 32 minutes. Came out perfect. Let cool, cut and rebake. Thanks for sharing.5 stars

    1. I have never tried freezing them before cooking but after they have been cooked they freeze great for up to 6 months in an airtight container. I would love to hear how they turn out for you if you freeze them before baking!

  2. I like to try different recipes for the same thing to compare. This one was ok. Too soft/crumbly for my liking as I like biscotti crunchy hard, but the recipe was easy and they taste great. If you like the more American version try these.4 stars

    1. Hi Beth, we found that was what worked best for this recipe. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

  3. My dough is extremely sticky. Is that how it’s supposed to be? I was unable to even handle it to shape into two. I feel like there wasn’t enough flour?