Chocolate Almond Biscotti

By ahree

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp almond extract...i used vanilla
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• i added a little less than 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 cup sliced almonds..i used whole almonds
• 1 cup chocolate chips...i used chocolate bark
• 1 tbsp shortening

Details

Adapted from julesfood.blogspot.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350F. In a mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until smoothly blended. Add eggs and almond extract, beat again until smooth. In another bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Blend into butter mixture until smooth. Stir almonds into dough. Divide dough in half and shape into 2 logs, about 11 inches long. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for about 10 minutes. Use a serrated knife to make 1/2 inch slices. Place slices back on sheet, and bake for another 6 minutes. Flip slices over and bake for 6 minutes more. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. Make chocolate glaze: Mix chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minutes on high in the microwave. Stir until mixed and smooth. Drizzle glaze over biscotti. Makes 36 biscotti

i think the baked loaves need to cool longer than 10 minutes. i leave them out for at least an hour... when using whole nuts, i think they slice easier. also, when i go in for the second baking...i like to stand the biscotti upright instead of laying them flat. they dry out evenly and there is no need to flip them. let the finished biscotti cool completely before dipping or drizzling.