Biscotti are easy to make and delicious with a cup of tea, coffee or milk any time of the day.   Our cookie jar in the coffee lounge is always filled with cookies or biscotti and this recipe gets a lot of requests.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup (100 grams) peeled hazelnuts
• 2 cups (260 grams) all-purposeflour
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 cup espresso or strong coffee, cooled
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place rack in center of oven. Place hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes. 

In a small bowl whisk together the espresso or coffee, milk, egg and vanilla extract.  

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer) beat the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices until combined. Gradually add the espresso mixture and beat until a dough forms, adding the chopped nuts and chocolate chips about halfway through. With floured hands divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface roll each half of dough into a log about 12 inches long and 1.5″ inches wide. Transfer the logs to a parchment paper lined baking sheet, spacing about 3 inches apart. Bake for about 35 minutes or until firm to the touch (logs will spread during baking). Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.  On a cutting board cut the logs crosswise on the diagonal into 1/2 inch  slices. Arrange the slices on the baking sheet, and bake for 5 minutes or until they are pale golden.    I personally like my biscotti a little softer than is the tradion.  If you like yours real crunchy you can cook the sliced biscotti on each side for 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. 

Optional:  Die hard chocolate lovers can melt good bitter sweet chocolate over the logs as they are cooling and before slicing.

Makes about 36 biscotti.