Holiday Biscotti

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Holiday Cookies

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (235)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(235)

Cook Time:
55 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
2 dozen cookies

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 55 min
Total:: 1 hr 20 min

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Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup dried cranberries
12 ounces good-quality white chocolate, chopped
Red and green sugar crystals, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, butter, lemon zest, and salt in a large bowl to blend. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Add the flour mixture and beat just until blended. Stir in the pistachios and cranberries.

Form the dough into a 13-inch long, 3-inch wide log on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 40 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes.

Place the log on the cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log on a diagonal into 1/2 to 3/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake the biscotti until they are pale golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer the biscotti to a rack and cool completely.

Stir the chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Dip half of the biscotti into the melted chocolate. Gently shake off the excess chocolate. Place the biscotti on the baking sheet for the chocolate to set. Sprinkle with the sugar crystals. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm, about 35 minutes.

The biscotti can be made ahead. Store them in an airtight container up to 4 days, or wrap them in foil and freeze in resealable plastic bags up to 3 weeks.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Holiday Biscotti
SANDY Virginia Beach, VA 02-06-2010
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The perfect biscotti
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe is the best ever!! Easy and so tasty. I used hazelnuts and a little almond flavoring for a little different... taste, but you could change this recipe in so many ways. You must keep this recipe!Read more
recipe Holiday Biscotti
ALICE BOARDMAN, OH 02-01-2010
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PERFECT EVERY TIME
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I HAVE GIVEN THESE AS GIFTS. EVERYONE WANTS THE RECIPE. IT IS SO EASY. THANKS FOR THE HINT WITH THE PLASTIC WRAP ON TOP OF... PAPER. I USE ORANGE ZEST INSTEAD OF LEMON. IT IS A GREAT RECIPE.Read more
recipe Holiday Biscotti
monica st charles, IL 01-09-2010
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Easy and delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is one of the recipes I made for Christmas this year and it easily became a favorite. I followed the recipe exactly and... the result was delicious and also very appealing to the eye. It keeps well and it is good even few days later. I ended up making it again for New Year's Eve (at my friends request) but used walnuts instead of pistachios since some of my friends do not like pistachios. Everybody enjoyed it and agreed it tasted better than the store bought ones. Just make sure there are no cracks on the dough surface when you put it in the oven. They will get deeper during baking and it will be hard to slice the log after it cools off. Don't be afraid to try this recipe and prepare yourself for baking another batch because one will not be enough (especially if you do not have a big variety of sweets on the table)...Read more
recipe Holiday Biscotti
Rose Pacifica, CA 01-07-2010
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The Best Ever!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have been making them for two years now and everytime I do I get the same response, "THIS IS THE BEST BISCOTTI I HAVE EVER... HAD". Whether I am making them for my family, friends or co-workers, everyone loves them. They are so easy to make and I have to admit I feel the same way. Thanks Giada for sharing such a wonderful receipe.Read more
recipe Holiday Biscotti
Kathy New Ipswich, NH 12-31-2009
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Excellent and Easy !
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Only issue was finding right white chocolate... I think I used Ghiradelli... and it was too thick... next time I will try the... melting chips or take a can of frosting and zap in the microwave till it is thin and glossy; other than that I have been making these for two years now;Read more
recipe Holiday Biscotti
BRENDA LA MIRADA, CO 12-30-2009
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Nice twist on Xmas cookies
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The lemon zest added a nice zing to the cookies...defintely will make these again, perhaps sans the chocolate. Thank you,... Giada!Read more