Chocolate Almond Biscotti

My life has been full of simple pleasures lately. Dunking a few Oreos in my weekend cup of freshly ground coffee. A night spent out at the movies, stashing a small snack in my coat pocket (don't pretend you haven't done it). An expensive plate of sushi because life is too short not to enjoy good food. A bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon to accompany a simple spaghetti weeknight dinner.

The pleasures may be small, but together they form a contented moment in time.

As a first year teacher, I don't have a lot of time to myself. My days are filled with teaching, my afternoons with grading, and my evenings with lesson planning. In the last few months, I have spent most of my time cooped up in my apartment, partly due to the workload, partly due to the frigid, unforgiving weather. These simple pleasures often provide a bright spot of light to an otherwise normal day. Simple, yes, but they add the right level of spice.

Treating yourself comes in many forms. How have you treated yourself today?

Chocolate Almond Biscotti is one of the small pleasures I enjoyed last weekend. Biscotti is a simple dessert, though it often appears more complex than it is. The word "biscotti" means twice cooked and that is precisely what these cookies are. Cookies are baked up as a "loaf" before they are sliced, laid on their sides, and baked once more. As the baker, you have the control over how soft or crisp these cookies become, adapting them precisely to your taste.

Dipped in coffee, tea, or a large glass of milk, these cookies are happiness in its pure and simple form.

Chocolate Almond Biscotti are crisp and best enjoy while dunked into your favorite beverage. Cocoa powder provides a deep chocolate flavor to the cookies while toasted almonds give them their crunch. A light chocolate drizzle helps to set the cookies off, providing just the right amount of decadence. Whether enjoyed during a stolen moment in the morning or as an afternoon snack, these biscotti bring about a sweet moment to be savored.

One Year Ago: Pomegranate White Wine Panna Cotta and Toasted Almond Cookies with Dried Fig Filling
Two Years Ago: BBQ Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts, Beer Bread, and Baked Corn Tortilla Chips
Three Years Ago: Cocoa Almond Meringues, Banana Bread Oatmeal, and BBQ Mini Sausages

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

Yields about 1 dozen

1/4 cup (57 grams) butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup (45 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups (190 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces (115 grams) slivered almonds, toasted
1/4 cup (80 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 ounce (28 grams) semi-sweet chocolate, melted (for drizzle)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until uniform. Stir in the almonds and chocolate chips. The dough should be relatively dry to the touch.

On a baking sheet, form dough into a log 12-inches long by 3-inches wide. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the dough cracks on top and just begins to brown. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for ten minutes, or until the dough is cool enough to handle. Using a serrated knife, cut the log into 1/2-inch slices. Place the slices cut side down onto the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until the biscotti slices are lightly browned for a softer texture. For a crunchier texture, flip the biscotti over and bake for another 8-10 minutes.

Place the melted chocolate into a plastic bag and snip off the corner. Drizzle the chocolate over the biscotti. Allow to dry completely before storing.

Serve with coffee, black tea, or a large glass of milk.

Comments

[Lily (A Rhubarb Rhapsody)]

These look so comforting and that chocolate drizzle just completes them. I've always been a bit intimidated by baking biscotti (really not sure why). I'm sure it's one of those things where once I've done it I'll wonder why it took me so long!

[Dena@gathering-flavors/]

Thank goodness for simple pleasures. These look delcious!

[francesca]

These look amazing. Chocolate on chocolate with chocolate. I'd dip mine in hot cocoa :)

[Judith]

I've just started baking biscotti and needed a chocolate recipe...thank you. My simple pleasure yesterday was buying myself a a long Beechnut wooden spoon...wood grain is beautiful and I know I will enjoy it.

[Abbie]

These biscotti look amazing! I'm totally going to have to try these soon.
Pinning for now!

[Arthur in the Garden!]

Yummy!

[sistrsprkl]

Amazing. I'm tempted to make these this afternoon. How do you think they'd be with white whole wheat flour?

[Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen]

These biscotti look amazing! I love biscotti, and I think I would love these!

[Kristin Rosenau]

sistrsprkl-- I think they'd taste wonderful!

[sistrsprkl]

Thanks! I did make them yesterday with whole wheat flour. They're good, better when dunked in coffee. I also added a touch of ginger and cardamom.

[Lindsey]

Just stumbled upon this blog via Pinterest.

This is one of the most beautiful blogs I've ever seen. Most of the time I enjoy recipes on blogs, but I skip the bit where the author tells about his day or the inspiration for the recipe. For this website though the writing style, the photography, the recipes, even the title and page background...everything is just lovely.

[Shelly @ Vegetarian 'Ventures]

Totally agree - life is all about the simple pleasures! I feel like that is particularly important to remember this time a year when we can so easily get cabin fever and the skies are always grey. So important to treat yourself with a little baked good for breakfast or splurge on an expensive meal.

[Ellie@Fit for the Soul]

These look wonderful! Oh man, I do miss baking biscotti as they were the first memorable thing I'd ever baked before I became more familiar with the kitchen. It's great that you treated yourself somehow, because we all need that to be better people...in fact, I've been getting a bit overwhelmed lately for some reason, and since I don't get much time off or time to myself (8 month baby girl :D) I made it a point to make cupcakes yesterday! And my husband sent me off to do whatever earlier in the evening today, which left me refreshed and recharged. I'm too recharged now, lol. ;)

[Vickie]

yum, yes please :)

[Jennie @themessybakerblog]

Dunking biscotti into my piping hot cup of coffee is a simple pleasure I can get behind. This recipe looks amazing, so rich and chocolate-y.

[Penny]

To be savored indeed. The biscotti sound delightful.

[Aurica]

hhmmmm, an excellent dessert and superb decoration on those cut pieces, great one ;)

[Lynn @ The Actor's Diet]

Oh my. Oreos and coffee sounds insane. And these biscotti look terrific too :)

[ball]

Thank you for share.It very nice.I like to eat chocolate.

[S M H]

I just made them, they taste and look great! Thanks for sharing

[Elisa Goldfarb]

OMG! These look gorgeous and delicious. I'm making them tomorrow. Love your recipes!
Kisses from Argentina

[Lorrie]

I was CRAVING biscotti today and tried this recipe out. It's definitely a keeper! I love the deep, dark, cocoa flavor, and the little drizzle of chocolate makes them extra special. Thanks!

[Fironica]

This is my first time making biscotti and 2nd time to baking (1st was chocolate brownie), and it turned out really well! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. I am a big fan of chocolate so instead of drizzling the chocolate, I dipped mine half way hortionally. It was SO good! You changed my mind about biscotti! It seems so fancy, hard to make and $$ but turns out not.

I did had a hard time mixing the dough because it was so dry. My biscotti's almonds and chocolate ended up not spread out evenly. Any tips on that?

[Lynn]

One of my favorites desserts is chocolate biscotti, love to dunk it in coffee. I will have to try your recipe, looks too good! Love your recipes.