ALMOND AND ANISE BISCOTTI

ALMOND AND ANISE BISCOTTI image

Yield Makes 4 loaves or approximately 80 1" x 4" biscott

Number Of Ingredients 10

6 eggs
2 cups sugar
½ cup margarine or butter - OR - ¼ cup olive oil
4 Tbsp anise flavor - OR - ¼ tsp anise oil - OR - 4 Tbsp anisette liquor
3 Tbsp Brandy or Bourbon
2 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp orange or lemon rind (optional)
5 - ½ cups flour, unsifted
2 Tbsp baking powder
2 cups toasted, chopped almonds

Steps:

Grease large cookie sheet Wisk together eggs, sugar, butter, anise, vanilla and brandy in a large bowl until smooth. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and almonds (plus citrus rind, if applicable). Add flour and almond mixture to remaining ingredients (the dough will be very "sticky"). Divide dough in half. Form each half into 12" x 1-1/2" logs on prepared baking sheet, leaving 4" between logs. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes. Place logs on a cutting board and slice into ½-inch cookies with a serrated knife. Place sliced logs back on the cookie sheets and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until golden. Turn over biscotti and bake for a few additional minutes. For crunchier cookies, leave out overnight.