AUNT GEN'S BISCOTTI

Aunt Gen's Biscotti image

Provided by Ron Lieber

Categories dessert

Time 1h5m

Yield About 4 dozen cookies

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
6 large eggs
2 teaspoons anise extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon anise seeds
1 cup shelled, skinned hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
Nonstick vegetable oil spray

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using an electric mixer, cream together shortening and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add anise extract and vanilla extract, and mix well.
In a separate bowl, sift together 4 cups of flour, cream of tartar and baking powder. Stir in anise seeds and hazelnuts. Gradually add to shortening mixture, mixing well; dough will be soft and sticky.
Turn dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Using floured hands, lightly knead the dough, sprinkling with flour as needed until dough is soft but no longer sticky. Pat dough into four loaves a scant 1/2 inch high (they will rise when baked), about 3 inches wide, and 6 to 8 inches long.
Spray two baking sheets with oil, and place loaves on them. Bake until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven, and cut diagonally into slices about 1 inch wide. Place slices cut-side down and return to oven to bake until undersides are light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn cookies and bake again 8 to 10 minutes until cookies are hard and golden brown on both sides.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 108, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 14 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 32 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams