Chocolate Orange Almond Biscotti

Servings – 30 cookies

Ingredients

1 ¼ C Whole Almonds, lightly toasted

1 ¾ C (8 3/4 ounces) All-Purpose Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

¼ tsp Salt

2 Large Eggs, + 1 Large White Beaten With Pinch Salt

1 C (7 ounces) Sugar

4 TBS Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled

1 ½ tsp Almond Extract

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

½ TBS Cocoa Powder

Grated Rind of 1 Orange

Vegetable oil spray

 

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the almonds on a cookie sheet and lightly bake for 4 minutes.

2.    Adjust oven rack to middle position and reduce oven heat to 325 degrees. Using ruler and pencil, draw two 8 by 3-inch rectangles, spaced 4 inches apart, on piece of parchment paper. Grease baking sheet and place parchment on it, ink side down.

3.    Pulse 1 cup almonds in food processor until coarsely chopped, 8 to 10 pulses; transfer to bowl and set aside. Process 1/4 cup almonds in food processor until finely ground, about 45 seconds. Add flour, baking powder, and salt; process to combine, about 15 seconds. Transfer flour mixture to second bowl.

4.    Process 2 eggs in now empty food processor until lightened in color and almost doubled in volume, about 3 minutes. With processor running, slowly add sugar until thoroughly combined, about 15 seconds. Add melted butter, almond extract, vanilla, cocoa, and ornage peel and process until combined, about 10 seconds. Transfer egg mixture to medium bowl. Sprinkle half of flour mixture over egg mixture and, using spatula, gently fold until just combined. Add remaining flour mixture, chopped almonds and gently fold until just combined.

5.    Divide batter in half. Using floured hands, form each half into 8 by 3-inch rectangle, using lines on parchment as guide. Spray each loaf lightly with oil spray. Using rubber spatula lightly coated with oil spray, smooth tops and sides of rectangles. Gently brush tops of loaves with egg white wash. Bake until loaves are golden and just beginning to crack on top, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking.

6.    Let loaves cool on baking sheet for 30 minutes. Transfer loaves to cutting board. Using serrated knife, slice each loaf on slight bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Lay slices, cut side down, about 1/4 inch apart on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet. Bake until crisp and golden brown on both sides, about 35 minutes, flipping slices halfway through baking. Let cool completely before serving. Biscotti can be stored in airtight container for up to 1 month or 2 months in the freezer.

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