Friday, December 22, 2017

Double Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti


I hope you try these delightful Double Chocolate Biscotti if you have time to bake one more cookie.  I combined a few recipes to come up with these delicious double chocolate biscotti that are perfect with coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon or a glass of milk or wine in the evening.

They are easy to make and a delicious addition to a holiday cookie platter.  They aren't as dense as some Biscotti so much easier to eat.


Twas three days before Christmas, and all through the house...
The smell of baked cookies was stirring more than just one mouse.


The mice quickly retreated to safety because...
A coyote was near and had such strong jaws!

These three young knights saved the day,
By hiding the mouse family safely away :)


This big coyote was one of two in our yard this morning. We've been seeing them more frequently this year and so it seems that the coyote population is growing in our area. 

I wish you a very safe and Merry Christmas and Holiday Season.  We are looking forward to seeing our three sweet grandsons on Christmas Day!

I'm sure their stockings will be hung by the chimney with care :)


Double Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

Printable Recipe

2-1/2 cups all purpose flour, scoop and level method
1/2 cup bittersweet cocoa powder, such as Ghirardelli
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, just barely softened
3 teaspoons freshly grated navel orange zest (about 2 large oranges)
1 cup
2 large eggs
1-1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup whole salted pistachios
2 tablespoons finely chopped pistachios blended with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 ounces shaved bittersweet chocolate
1 egg, mixed with 1 teaspoons water

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, mix butter and orange zest on medium high speed until smooth.  Slowly add 1 cup of sugar and beat for another minute.

Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat for a minute each, scraping down the bowl.  Add vanilla and mix.  Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients, slowly, mixing just until combined.  Do not over mix.

Remove bowl from mixer and fold in 1 cup of the whole pistachios and the shaved chocolate.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a food processor, pulse the 2 tablespoons of pistachios with the 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.

Position oven shelves in upper and lower third of the oven.  Prepare 2 baking sheets with parchment or silicone liners.

Divide dough into thirds, and on lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 12 x 3 inch log (about 1 inch thick) and place on one of the baking sheets sideways.  All three should fit on one large baking sheet.

Brush each with egg wash and sprinkle the tops with the chopped pistachio and sugar mixture.

Bake for 25 minutes or until just lightly browned. Remove from oven and let rest on the pan for 5 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 300 F.  Using a large spatula, carefully remove each log to a cutting surface and cut into 1 inch slices. Using 2 baking sheets, lay the slices on their sides and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and turn slices over.  Bake for another 7 to 10 minutes.  Allow to rest for 5 minutes and transfer to baking rack to cool completely.

Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks or freeze.


34 comments:

  1. Oh, how I love biscotti! I've yet to make it, but I definitely will someday. Store bought does not compare!

    Your little guys are precious! Aren't little boys fun? We have three granddaughters, and one grandson. That little guy has the energy of all of them rolled into one!

    That is one big coyote! Must have his winter coat. They scare me, only because of my dogs. We do have a fenced in yard, but I know they sometimes go after smaller dogs mistaking them for rabbits, etc. Not your bunnies of course, which are insanely cute!

    Merry Christmas!

    Jane

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    1. This is a great recipe, Jane! Especially if you like chocolate, as I do :) You can leave out the cocoa powder and shaved chocolate if you don't.

      We've seen as many as four at one time in our yard recently and neighbors with small dogs are being very careful. Yes, our rabbit and squirrel population will likely be smaller.

      Thank you so much - we do love those boys ♥ Merry Christmas to you!

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  2. So close to coyote...pretty exciting but also very dangerous.
    Now I want to rush into the kitchen and bake a huge batch too. These biscotti look marvelous and very festive.
    Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Susan!

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    1. Thank you, Angie! They were right outside of our living room window, Angie! It seems they are getting bolder. We like watching them but are glad we don't have a small dog.

      Merry Christmas to you, Angie!

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  3. You have made some really nice recipes this year.

    We are having more and more coyotes. With the drought and fires they come down to feed on the little rabbits and ducks and coots at the lake.

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    1. Thanks so much, Madonna! I wonder if the warmer winters we've had recently has helped increase the coyote population? We have quite a bit of park land and a river nearby so I'm sure they like this area but I miss the foxes that used to live nearby.

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  4. Oh my goodness - 3 adorable boys! Your biscotti are beautiful. Love the chocolate and pistachio combination.

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    1. Aw, thank you, Mimi! I've always made the same Italian almond recipe so I'm glad I tried these. They are delicious :)

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  5. what lovely pictures Susan and I love biscotties, are beautiful!! Merry Christmas and blessings dear friend ! xoxoxox

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    1. Thank you very much, Gloria. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family, My Dear ♥♥

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  6. Your 3 Littles grow more handsome with each passing day❤️I love your vignette to bits and am grateful some of their charming cousins live here.The biscotti👍🏻👏🏻🌟My 3 left around 11..Oli cut his own hair so a rendezvous with a stylist was in order..😂Max got a new Mohawk cut...and Lucas..well he's got that Calvin Klein model hair;)We watched The Holiday..yep they loved it..some was lost on Oli..we cuddled and Ipaded..in the middle of the two younger ones in bed last night I thanked God for my Christmas present..that moment.
    Xxx

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    1. Mack is starting to seem so grown up to us already! They are such wonderful boys ♥ I started collecting the mice before Christmas last year and thought they were just too cute not to share. Perhaps I will find more cousins in the future :-)

      Oh, poor Oli - LOL. Hopefully, he won't do that again :) Such a wonderful time you had with your 3 Little/Bigs ♥ I've never seen The Holiday but found it free on Amazon Prime so I can watch it now also! Another one I really like is called Last Holiday with Queen Latifa. A feel good movie.

      Merry Christmas, Dear Monique! Enjoy your precious family ♥ I hope it's Merry and Bright. XXX

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  7. I love biscotti and chocolate biscotti sounds wonderful !! And your grandsons are so adorable Susan! Enjoy your beautiful family as we wish you a blessed Christmas!! Xo
    Anna and Liz

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  8. These biscotti sound wonderful, what's not to love about DOUBLE chocolate :) And what's not to love about those darling little boys! Have a wonderuf Christmas with your sweet family!

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  9. Lovely recipe -- just what you need to dunk into cocoa for the holidays. Merry Xmas and Happy New year!

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    1. What a great idea, Deana! So nice to see you and thank you for stopping here!

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  10. I may have time for just one more cookie adventure in the kitchen and these do sound very tempting. Merry Christmas to you and your wonderful family.

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  11. spectacular photos, I do not know which one to prefer, maybe that of the three adorable children but the cookies made me want to bite them.....a warm hug

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  12. Wow. Those cookies have me salivating but I'm amazed at that coyote in your yard. Are they a threat to young children (like your beautiful grandchildren) playing outdoors?

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    1. Isn't it a healthy one? We do have a lot of wooded areas and I'm sure lots of squirrels and rabbits to attract them. We never leave the grandsons outside alone but that's mainly we're playing with them. They have attacked small dogs but I'd never read anything about them going after children.

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  13. We love Biscotti and these look fantastic. I wish I had been able to make this for the holidays - so many recipes, so little time. That is one healthy looking coyote! And your grandsons are so very handsome. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Happy New Year Susan!

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  14. These look like some of the best biscotti! I just loved them dipped in hot chocolate!
    What cute boys and those shirts are the best! Glad they scared off the coyotes and saved the darling cookies! Yikes - he could carry a small dog off - scary!
    I hope you had a marvelous Christmas!

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    1. Thank you, Jacqueline! It was a great Christmas and I loved the shirts too :) So glad we don't have a small dog but some of our neighbors do so they've been alerted.

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  15. Looks very good - double chocolate anything gets my attention.

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  16. Ah, if I wasn't the lone biscotti lover in this house! I have to save my craving for my infrequent coffee house visits. I can only imagine how much beter homemade would be!

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  17. Hi Susan! Your biscotti looks delicious! And your grandson are handsome little guys! We have coyotes here now also, we're seeing more and more of them. Happy New Year!

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  18. Just wanted to stop back by to wish you all the best in the New Year.

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  19. What a sweet post! I love Biscotti as well and this recipe looks delicious. I've loved all the recipes you've shared with us in 2017, looking forward to 2018. Happy New Year!
    Amalia
    xo

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  20. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Biscottis are such a treat and your recipe looks great. Happy New Year Susan!

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  21. These biscotti look absolutely perfect! Happy New Year my friend with good health and lots of happiness in your family!

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