Biscotti

My day doesn't go quite right without a piping hot cut of coffee in the morning. Now with the weather turning into full blown Iowa winter, this is becoming increasingly true! So what can I attempt that would make my morning cup of java just a little bit more fun?

Biscotti!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 tsp almond extract
• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• chopped nuts (I used almonds)

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 and line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper.
• Cream the butter and sugar with your mixer (I love my Kitchen Aid hand mixer! Thanks Mom!)
• Beat the eggs in one at a time and add vanilla and almond extracts.
• In a large bowl combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and salt.
• Slowly add the flour mixture into the egg, butter, sugar mix.
• Flold in the almonds using a large spoon or spatula.
• Split dough in half and roll into two even logs (Okay I had some trouble with this... my dough was STICKY. I could barely roll it! So the solution? Slap it on the parchment paper in a long, roll-like blob)
• Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown, then when cool enough, slice into biscotti slices.
• Bake again for 10-15 minutes on each side, flipping once
• I melted some chocolate chips in a bowl and drizzled them over the top!

These actually turned out really well! I'm not sure why my dough was so darn sticky... perhaps cake flour would have made a difference? Either way, the shape and flavor turned out perfect. I took them to work to share with my coworkers. It just so happened that the VP of Marketing from our corporate office was in town and meeting with us that day. He spots my biscotti and says, "Oh biscotti! Where are these from?" To which my boss responds, "Molly made them..."

Holding my breath, because this man is a serious foodie, he dips into his coffee and takes a bite. "Ten times better than when I've ever made them, Molly."

SUCCESS!

My morning routine just got a whole lot tastier...