Holiday Biscotti Recipe (2024)

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I am calling all biscotti lovers! I can’t wait to share this Holiday Biscotti Recipe with all of you. Lots of dried fruit and brazil nuts in every bite!

Holiday Biscotti Recipe (1)

The holiday period is fast approaching; and if you’re like me, it always starts like a marathon: conversations with families and friends usually during the last summer barbecues, asking which family member will host, coordinating between both sides of the family, specifications, and themes for the gift exchanges, etc.

Then, before you know it, it’s the middle of winter and it becomes the sprint of a lifetime… and you swear that it’s the last year that you are running this crazy race!

The good news is that it does get easier with a bit of planning and prioritizing. It is a matter of identifying, fine-tuning, and simplifying what is essential to you, and then everything becomes a little more manageable.

Take, for example, the whole issue of gift-giving and baking during the holiday season.

When I realized, years ago, that biscotti make fantastic hostess gifts, I started making them with a fierce purpose.

Biscotti are easy to make; there are so many different varieties that can be made, and they freeze super well! If you also have a thing for biscotti, you’ve come to the right place!

I’ve created a comprehensive guide on How to Make Biscotti. Be sure to consult it for more tips and tricks.

Holiday Biscotti Recipe (2)

How to make this Holiday Biscotti Recipe

When I describe these festive-looking biscotti as being fruity, that’s because it has dried figs, apricots, pineapple, cranberries, and mixed peel in them.

This wonderful dried fruit will get coarsely chopped and then combined with Brazil nuts and ½ cup of the dry ingredients. Try to separate the fruits as much as possible so that there are no clumps.

Remember to leave the Brazil nuts whole, as they will provide an outstanding visual once your biscotti are sliced.

Holiday Biscotti Recipe (3)

Once you have beaten your eggs, add the dry ingredients. And then gently fold in the nuts and fruit.

You will notice that you cannot roll this batter into a log.

What I do is drop large serving spoons of batter on a parchment-lined cookie sheet to achieve the shape of two logs. (I also use this technique for these cocoa biscotti).

The biscotti will be rustic looking, but they taste great!

Holiday Biscotti Recipe (4)

Then it is just a matter of slicing them.

Biscotti, as you may know, is Italian for “twice-cooked” – so if you like a bit of a crunch, put those biscotti back in the oven again for the second round of baking 🙂

Recipe source

I was first introduced to these festive-looking biscotti recipe when I was a teenager.

Just like therecipe for the honeyalmond biscotti, the origin of this recipe can be traced to my Zia Maria.

These Christmas biscotti were one of my mom’s favorite and her sister would often drop them off just because that’s what older sisters would do! I, for one, was always super happy to see my aunt popping in for a surprise visit – it almost always meant some biscotti and baked goods were coming our way!

This is a very versatile recipe and as long as you keep the proportions equal, you can easily vary your ingredients.

My aunt’s original recipe had maraschino red cherries, which I replaced with cranberries. I also decreased the brown sugar by half.

These fruity biscotti are not only a family favorite, but they are also so easy to make. As a result, they are usually one of the first biscotti recipes that I make in preparation for the holiday season.

If you are looking for more biscotti flavors, be sure to check out all of my biscotti recipes.

Have you started your holiday baking yet?

Enjoy!

THANKS SO MUCHfor following and being part of theShe Loves Biscotticommunity where you will findSimple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

And if you are new here, welcome!You may want to sign up formy weekly e-mail newsletter.You can unsubscribe any time you want.

Ciao for now,

Maria

★★★★★ If you have made these fruit biscotti, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Holiday Biscotti Recipe (5)

Recipe

Holiday Biscotti Recipe (6)

Holiday Biscotti Recipe

Calling all biscotti lovers! I can’t wait to share this Holiday Biscotti Recipe with all of you. Lots of dried fruit and brazil nuts in every bite!

4.86 from 7 votes

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Course: cookies

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 30 cookies

Calories: 147kcal

Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

  • cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • cups dried figs coarsely chopped (180 grams)
  • cups dried apricots coarsely chopped (180 grams)
  • ½ cup citrus peel or mixed peel, glazed
  • ¼ cup dried pineapple chunks coarsely chopped (40 grams)
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries 40 grams
  • 2 cups whole brazil nuts 300 grams
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325° F. Position rack in the center.

  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • In a large mixing bowl, sift dry ingredients together, set aside.

  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cut up fruits and the brazil nuts with ½ cup of dry ingredients, set aside.

  • In a mixing bowl, or bowl of electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whisk the eggs on medium high speed for about 2 minutes.

  • Add brown sugar and vanilla extract and whisk for another 2 minutes.

  • Add the remainder 1 cup of dry ingredients and whisk until just incorporated (do not over mix).

  • Fold in chopped fruit and brazil nuts.

  • With a large mixing spoon, place mixture and parchment lined baking sheet. Form into 2 logs (refer to explanation in text of article).

  • Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until firm to the touch.

  • Remove from oven and allow to cool down.

  • Transfer to cutting board.

  • Using a serrated knife, slice cookies about ½ inch thick.

  • Optional: Place sliced biscotti on the baking sheets, and bake for about another 5-10 minutes (the longer they stay in the oven, the crispier they get).

  • Can be stored at room temperature for a few weeks...if they last that long. Can also be frozen.

Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1biscotti | Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg

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Holiday Biscotti Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making biscotti? ›

12 Tips For Making The Absolute Best Biscotti
  1. Use room-temperature ingredients. ...
  2. Boost the flavor with spices, extracts, and zest. ...
  3. Toss in some add-ins for flavor and texture. ...
  4. Let the dough chill before shaping. ...
  5. Use floured or greased hands to shape the dough. ...
  6. Shape the dough into a smaller loaf than you want.
May 29, 2023

What is the difference between American and Italian biscotti? ›

Biscotti can be either the traditional Italian type which is very crunchy and intended for dunking in coffee, tea, or wine. Or they can be the softer American type, eaten like any cookie. The Italian type keeps longer and has no butter, so they are much lower calorie and very low fat.

Is biscotti better with oil or butter? ›

Despite their centuries-old heritage, there is no one perfect way to make biscotti. Some recipes call for eggs only, which is the traditional method, while others swear by butter or oil. The choice is yours; just keep in mind that those made with butter or oil will have both a softer texture and a shorter shelf life.

Should you refrigerate biscotti dough before baking? ›

You guessed it, add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with the wet ingredients. Fold in the pistachios, cardamom, and vanilla extract. Because the dough can be sticky and hard to form, it's important to chill the batter for a good 30 minutes before baking the first time.

How do you keep homemade biscotti crispy? ›

How to Store Biscotti: Maximize Crunch & Prevent Soft Biscotti. To store biscotti, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. Lining the container with a paper towel will help soak up any excess moisture that finds its way in.

What is traditional biscotti made from? ›

The mixture is composed exclusively of flour, sugar, eggs, pine nuts, and almonds that are not roasted or skinned. The traditional recipe uses no form of yeast or fat (butter, oil, milk).

Are biscotti healthier than cookies? ›

Unlike many traditional cookies, biscotti are often lower in fat and sugar. Add some heart healthy nuts and you have a satisfying and relatively light treat! This delicious cookie can easily be made vegan & vegetarian friendly.

What's the difference between biscotti and cantuccini? ›

The main difference between Cantucci and Biscotti is their origin, Cantucci is from Tuscany, and Biscotti is from the region of Emilia-Romagna. Cantucci is typically made with almonds, while Biscotti are made with all-purpose flour and a variety of nuts and chocolate or nothing.

What is the difference between biscotti and biscotto? ›

The answer requires a bit of context: in Italy, all cookies are called "biscotti" - it's the direct translation of the word "cookies". In a world where every single cookie is called a biscotto (the singular form of the word) there needs to be a word for what we know to be biscotti.

What does baking soda do in biscotti? ›

Baking soda – baking soda helps the biscotti rise and spread. Make sure that your baking soda isn't expired. Sugar- we used granulated sugar for this recipe. You can use caster sugar as well.

How long will homemade biscotti last? ›

How Long Does Biscotti Last? Your homemade biscotti will last for up to one month in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want to keep the biscotti longer, you can freeze it for up to three months.

Why does my biscotti crumble when I slice it? ›

A: Overbaking the logs of dough during the first baking can make the slices crumble as you are cutting them. Also, even if the logs of dough are perfectly baked, they will crumble if they are sliced while still warm, so be patient. The logs crumble when you use a dull knife, too.

Can you overmix biscotti dough? ›

The trickiest parts of making them are the mixing and the shaping and baking. Just like biscuits, you can't overmix the dough. I found that if the dough is mixed too much, the biscotti becomes dense and heavy.

How to tell if biscotti are done? ›

If the biscotto feels soft, like a piece of cake, give it another 5 minutes in the oven. If it feels firm but still gives a bit when you poke it, take it out for rather soft-textured but still crunchy biscotti.

Why do my biscotti crumble when I cut them? ›

A: Overbaking the logs of dough during the first baking can make the slices crumble as you are cutting them. Also, even if the logs of dough are perfectly baked, they will crumble if they are sliced while still warm, so be patient. The logs crumble when you use a dull knife, too.

What method is commonly used to achieve the desired light-airy texture in biscotti? ›

To make these cookies, start by whipping eggs and a couple of extra egg yolks together with sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. This step is key to making biscotti that are crisp but not hard. Get the mixture very pale, thick, and airy. All that air will help lighten the biscotti.

What happens if you forget baking powder in biscotti? ›

Most baked goods need a leavening agent to make them rise, and if you leave it out, your cake or your cookies will fall flat. Baking powder makes dough rise because it contains both a base and an acid in dried form.

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