candied peel and aniseed biscotti

This recipe for biscotti makes a lovely food gift for Christmas and the holiday season - if you don't eat them all first!  These crunchy, twice baked Italian biscuits flavoured with aniseed and candied peel are really easy to make and don't take very long either.  You can always swap the candied peel and aniseed I use in this recipe for chopped nuts, chocolate chips or dried fruit with no problem.  These apparently keep really well in an airtight container for up to a month - however they have never lasted that long in my house :)

These biscotti  are great served after dinner and dunked in coffee or tea but also in a sweet dessert wine if you are that way inclined.  I hope you enjoy and try out this recipe.  Next time I am going to make them with chopped almonds and lemon zest I think.......

Happy Baking!

preparation time:  10-15 minutes
cooking time:  25-30 minutes
makes about 35-40 biscotti

ingredients:
300g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
175g sugar
2 eggs
100g chopped candied peel (or equal amounts of dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips etc - feel free to add your own favourite flavourings)
2 tbs aniseed
1 tsp vanilla extract

• preheat the oven to 150C
• add the eggs to a large bowl with the sugar and vanilla extract and whisk for a few minutes until doubled in size

• sift in the flour and baking powder and stir in the candied peel and aniseed - mix until a dough is formed

• tip out the dough onto a floured surface and shape into flattened 'sausage' shapes - about 5cm wide and 2cm high then place onto a greased baking sheet with a few inches space between each one.  

• bake for about 15 minutes until light brown/golden and firm to the touch

• remove from oven and slice into 1.5cm thick pieces then place back on the baking sheet

• bake for a further 10-15 minutes until golden and crisped up.

• allow to cool before serving.  Store in an airtight container.  

Buon Appetito!

lemon and almond butter biscuits

delicious, buttery, lemon and almond biscuits - so quick and easy to make......and far too moreish! I have been making far too many sweet things recently.  Luckily however I have had friends and family to visit so they have not all been eaten by me!

This is a really versatile recipe and I have also made these biscuits with lemon and poppy seed and chocolate and orange zest - feel free to play around with the flavours you like*

preparation time:  10 minutes
cooking time:  10-12 minutes
makes about 20 biscuits

ingredients:
100g ground almonds
100g caster sugar
100g butter (room temperature)
100g plain flour
1 pinch salt
1 tsp almond extract
zest of 2 lemons

* for chocolate and orange flavour add zest of an orange and 30g cocoa and 70g flour
for lemon and poppy seed just omit the almond extract and add 1tbs poppy seeds to the ingredients above

• preheat the oven to 175C and grease/line a baking sheet
• mix the butter, sugar, lemon zest and almond extract together until well combined - either with a wooden spoon or electric whisk for a few minutes.  
• fold in the ground almonds, flour and salt and mix until it forms a dough
• roll into walnut size balls  and place with space between on a greased/lined baking sheet
• bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly brown.
• leave to cool for a few minutes before placing on a cooling rack

Enjoy with a lovely cup of tea or coffee. These also make great gifts stored and presented in a Kilner jar for example.  

 

This recipe is my entry for the May Tea Time Treats food challenge - organized by lavender and lovage and what kate baked.  This month hosted by Karen at lavender and lovage.  This month the challenge is biscuits and cookies - wish me luck!!! :-)