Spiced Almond Honey Biscotti

Traditional Christmas Italian Cookies

Dec 9, 2008 Liliana Tommasini

These traditional Italian Christmas biscotti, also known as Susamielli, are sweetened with honey, scented with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and the zests of lemon and orange.

Italian Biscotti

The Italian word biscotti (the plural of biscotto) translates into the word biscuits in English. Traditionally biscotti are shaped into logs and baked once. After the biscotti are cooled, they are sliced and baked yet another time thus giving the biscotti a crunchy taste. They are best enjoyed dipped in vin santo, wine or espresso.

There are sweet and savory variations of biscotti recipes. The following is a family traditional Italian Christmas biscotti recipe also known as Susamielli. These biscotti are perfect for the holiday cookie tray and for holiday gift-giving.

Spiced Honey Almond Biscotti Recipe

Servings: 36 biscotti

Ingredients

• 1 cup honey
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp almond extract
• juice of 1 orange
• juice of 1 lemon
• zest of 1 orange
• zest of 1 lemon
• 3 cups flour
• ¼ cup ground almonds
• 1 cup toasted sliced almonds
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 1 ½ tsp baking power
• ½ tsp salt

Equipment

• Baking sheet
• Medium and large mixing bowls
• Whisk

How to make Spiced Almond Honey Biscotti

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

1. In medium size bowl combine the honey, eggs, oil, lemon and orange juices, lemon and orange zests, sugar and almond extract.
2. Whisk until well combined.
3. In large bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, baking power and salt.
4. Stir with wooden spoon to combine.
5. Make a well in the flour mixture and add the honey mixture.
6. Mix well with wooden spoon to form dough.
7. Add sliced almonds and continue mixing until well combined.
8. Place dough on floured board and cut dough in half.
9. With floured hands from half of the dough into a long measuring 10 by 2 inches
10. Place on prepared cookie sheet.
11. Repeat for second half of dough
12. Bake for about 20 – 25 minutes.
13. Place logs one at a time and cut logs diagonally into ½ inch slices
14. Lay biscotti, cut side up, standing up on cooled cookie sheet.
15. Return to oven for 15 minutes.
16. Remove biscotti from baking sheet and let cook on cookie rack.

How to Toast Almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1. Place almonds in a single layer on non stick baking sheet.
2. Place baking sheet on middle rack in oven.
3. Toast almonds stirring once or twice until golden - approximately 10 minutes.
4. Remove almonds from oven and let cool before adding to the biscotti mixture.

How to Grind Almonds

1. Place the almonds in bowl of food processor fitted with metal blade.
2. Pulse until almonds resemble coarse powder.
3. Be careful not to grind the almonds into a paste.

How to Store Spiced Honey Almond Biscotti

Store Spiced Honey Almond biscotti in cookie tin or airtight container.

More Holiday Gift-Giving Recipes

Cranberry Almond Lemon Biscotti

Sicilian Fig Cookies - Sweet Christmas Gift Idea

Pumpkin Mini Bundt Cakes Recipe

The copyright of the article Spiced Almond Honey Biscotti in Italian Cuisine is owned by Liliana Tommasini. Permission to republish Spiced Almond Honey Biscotti in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Spiced Almond Honey Biscotti

Spiced Almond Honey Biscotti

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Comments

Feb 19, 2009 5:44 PM

Jennifer Wickes :

Thanks for a fantastic recipe! I am linking to you from my article, Nutmeg!

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