Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti Recipe - EnriLemoine (2024)

by Enri

These are the most delicious pistachio and cranberry biscotti ever. These biscotti are undoubtedly the richer cousins of those Cantucci di Prato (almond and anise cookies) from Tuscany, Italy.

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What are biscotti?

Biscotti are Italian twice-baked cookies. The word biscotto (biscotti’s singular form) means “double cooked.” They are hard, and you may need to dip them in a beverage to “hydrate” while eating them. Italians love to do so in a sweet fortified dessert wine called Vin Santo.

Traditionally, biscotti are made with whole unblanched almonds. They are oblong, dry, and crunchy. The crunchiness is due to the twice-baking process. First, they make a long slab with the dough and bake it. Then, they slice the baked slab and bake those slices.

The double-baking process makes the cookies hard. Because they are dry and hard, biscotti can be stored for long periods and become almost non-perishable goodies. This was very helpful, especially during wars.

Biscotti or cantucci?

Are these biscotti or cantucci? The answer to this question is they are both. According to Italy Bites, cantucci are the most famous Tuscan biscotti. Cantuccio (cantucci’s singular form)means piece or slice. It describes how these biscotti are diagonally sliced.

Festive pistachio and cranberry biscotti

Today’s recipe is not mine. I found it in The Essential New York Times Cookbook, the excellent compilation of classic recipes by Amanda Hesser.The recipe was originally posted in the NYT on November 1st, 1995.

All I did was follow directions, and the result was so exceptional that I decided to share the recipe with you. The only adjustment I made is that I did the first bake of these biscotti at 300°F instead of 350°F to avoid them getting so brown at the bottom. The rest is absolutely by the book.

Having pistachios and dried cranberries together makes these biscotti colorfully festive. I like to give them away as a homemade present any time of the year, especially during the holidays and Valentine’s Day.

How to pair cranberry and pistachio biscotti

These biscotti are perfect with coffee, tea, a glass of milk, and, of course, dipped in wine. I love them with my morning cappuccino.

What you need to make this recipe

The following is a list of utensils and ingredients to make this recipe:

How to store these biscotti

This recipe yields two dozen biscotti. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. In my house, however, they don’t last more than 36 hours, including the eight hours a day we devote to sleep. That’s the problem when something is so good!

Pistachio and cranberry biscotti recipe

Following is the recipe. I hope you like it as much as we do. Thanks for subscribing tomy Youtube channelandvisiting my Amazon shop.

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Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti

These are the most delicious pistachio and cranberry biscotti ever. These biscotti are undoubtedly the richer cousins of the world reknown Cantucci di Prato.

Servings: 24 biscotti

Calories: 135kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ Teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup dry cranberries
  • 1 ½ cup shelled unsalted pistachios

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300°F.

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl.

  • With an electric mixer, beat the olive oil with the sugar in another bowl.

  • Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix.

  • Add the eggs and mix.

  • Reduce the speed and add the flour mix.

  • Once all the ingredients are well incorporated, slowly beat in the pistachios and the cranberries.

  • Divide the dough in half.

  • Since the dough will be sticky, rinse your hands with cold water to handle it.

  • Form each half of the dough into a lslab about 10 inches long and 2 inches wide.

  • Place the slabs on the lined baking sheet, spacing the logs about 4 inches apart.

  • Bake for about 35 minutes or until the lslabs are lightly brown.

  • Let the slabs cool down for about 10 minutes.

  • Reduce the oven temperature to 275°F.

  • Place the slabs on a cutting board, and cut them on the diagonal with a serrated knife into ¾-inch-slices.

  • Place the slices flat on the baking sheet and bake them for 8-9 minutes.

  • Transfer to a rack to cool.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti

Amount Per Serving

Calories 135Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Trans Fat 0.001g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 14mg5%

Sodium 30mg1%

Potassium 111mg3%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 40IU1%

Vitamin C 0.2mg0%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Enri

Soy una escritora que cocina o una cocinera que escribe: el orden de los factores de no altera el producto. Desde 2010 hice de SAVOIR FAIRE el lugar donde convergen mis dos pasiones y ahora desarrollo recetas profesionalmente y trabajo como estratega y creadora de contenidos digitales, incluyendo la producción de videos de cocina. Disfruta mis recetas.

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Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti Recipe - EnriLemoine (2024)

FAQs

Is butter better than oil in biscotti? ›

The choice is yours; just keep in mind that those made with butter or oil will have both a softer texture and a shorter shelf life. As for fillings and flavors, biscotti get along with a host of ingredients, including dried fruit, nuts, spices, liqueurs and chocolate.

Should biscotti dough be chilled before baking? ›

Because the dough can be sticky and hard to form, it's important to chill the batter for a good 30 minutes before baking the first time.

How do you keep biscotti from crumbling? ›

For crumble-free cutting, spray baked biscotti logs with water. Once your biscotti logs are baked it's time to slice them — hopefully without crumbling! I like to mist the logs with water and wait 5 minutes, then cut.

What does baking soda do in biscotti? ›

Baking soda – baking soda helps the biscotti rise and spread. Make sure that your baking soda isn't expired. Sugar- we used granulated sugar for this recipe. You can use caster sugar as well.

Can you overmix biscotti dough? ›

Just like biscuits, you can't overmix the dough. I found that if the dough is mixed too much, the biscotti becomes dense and heavy.

Are biscotti healthier than cookies? ›

In terms of health regular cookies are a high-calorie treat because of their higher moisture content, which also causes them to contain more fats and sugars. However, because of their drier texture, biscotti usually have lower fat and sugar content. However, it is vital to practice portion control, for both options.

How long does homemade biscotti last? ›

How Long Does Biscotti Last? Your homemade biscotti will last for up to one month in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want to keep the biscotti longer, you can freeze it for up to three months.

How healthy are biscotti? ›

Unlike many traditional cookies, biscotti are often lower in fat and sugar. Add some heart healthy nuts and you have a satisfying and relatively light treat! This delicious cookie can easily be made vegan & vegetarian friendly.

What happens if you don't chill cookie dough before baking? ›

Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you're more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies. Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful.

Should biscotti dough be crumbly? ›

You want just enough air pockets to add some crispiness and texture, but not so many that you get a lot of crumble in your biscotti instead. Don't overmix the batter. You just want to see all of your ingredients come together and that's it!

What happens if you forget baking powder in biscotti? ›

Baking soda is a leavening agent. It creates air bubbles (technically, carbon dioxide) in your batter, when heated. Without it, your baked goods will not rise to the desired levels and the airy texture you're looking for will be adversely affected.

Why are my biscotti falling apart when I cut them? ›

If when you have baked the loaf, and then they fall apart when you try to slice them, you have baked the Biscotti too long.

Why do my biscotti break when I cut them? ›

After the first bake, allow the biscotti to cool for about 10 minutes but don't leave them too long. If you leave them too long the dough will become too hard and it will be difficult to cut, but if you cut them when they are hot the slices will crumble.

What are the ingredients in Heinz so yummy biscotti? ›

Wheat Flour, Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Apple Puree (8%), Soluble Corn Fibre, Skimmed Milk Powder, Barley Malt Extract, Raising Agents (Ammonium Bicarbonate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Calcium Carbonate, Flavourings, Iron Fumarate, Zinc Sulphate, Niacin, Vitamin E, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, ...

Why are my biscotti not crunchy? ›

If your biscotti are too soft then it is likely that the cookies were not baked for long enough second time around. If your biscotti slices are around 1/2cm/1/4 inch thick then they should only need around 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 180c/350F to dry out sufficiently.

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