Serves: 22
Total Calories: 56

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup almond meal (see note)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
2 to 2 1/2 teaspoons water, if necessary
serve with GELATO AFFOGATO

1. To make the biscotti: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it lightly and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, almond meal, sugar, cardamom, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and almond extract until well blended. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir until the dough is crumbly, adding a few drops of water if necessary. Using lightly floured hands, gather the dough into a rough ball.
3. Divide the dough in half. Form each portion into a tightly packed log about 8 inches long. Transfer the logs to the baking sheet, about 4 inches apart, and slightly flatten each to make about a 21/2-inch loaf. Bake until just firm when pressed in the center, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 325°F.
4. Carefully transfer the loaves to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut each loaf diagonally into 1/2-inch slices. Lay the slices flat on the baking sheet and return them to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Note: Almond meal, or finely ground almonds, is available in many supermarkets, such as Trader Joe’s. One brand is Bob’s Red Mill.


From Holiday Baking. Text copyright © 2005 by Sara Perry. Photographs copyright © 2005 by Leigh Beisch. All rights reserved. First published by Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, California.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 22
Total Calories: 56
Calories from Fat: 2

More Recipes from the Holiday Baking Cookbook:
Bloody Mary and Baked Mushroom Omelet
Dutch Baby Pancake
Gelato Affogato
Midnight Cowboy Chocolate Chip Cookies
New Year's Eve Meringue Roulade
Next Year's Fortune Cookies
Petite French Almond Cakes
Slivered Biscotti
Spiced Blueberry Sauce
Start-the-New-Year-with-Chocolate Brownie Terrine
Strawberry Orange Morning Relish
Triple-Treat Touchdown Bars
Walnut Walkaways