Serve your afternoon tea with this fresh, homemade cranberry biscotti. The hard, crunchy biscuit absorbs the flavor and warmth of the tea, accentuating the orange zest and dried cranberries. Whole almonds add the perfect crunch to your biscotti.
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What is Biscotti?
Biscotti is an Italian hard biscuit, also known as cantucci. The word Biscotti comes from the Latin word "biscoctus" meaning twice-baked. Baking them twice gives them that crunchy texture throughout and on all sides.
Cranberry Biscotti Ingredients
The cranberry-orange flavor is perfect for the holidays but you can enjoy this biscotti anytime.
- ¾ cup superfine sugar - (caster sugar)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure orange extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ¾ cup whole almonds
- 1 ¾ cups AP white flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg - whisked in a small bowl
How to Make it
Step 1: Preheat Oven
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Whisk Ingredients
Whisk the sugar, oil, eggs, orange extract and orange zest together in a large bowl.
Step 3: Add Cranberries and Nuts
Add the cranberries and almonds. Mix with a wooden spoon to combine.
Step 4: Sift Dry Ingredients
In a separate medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
Step 5: Combine
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine well.
Step 6: Divide Dough
On a floured surface, divide the dough in two and shape them into approximately 12” logs. It helps to use a dough scraper.
Step 7: Transfer to Baking Sheet
Transfer them to the parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure there is space between the logs (they will expand during baking). Flour your hands and lightly pat them down a bit.
Step 8: Brush With Egg
Brush the logs with the whisked egg.
Step 9: Bake
Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, until golden-brown. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes. They should still be warm, but not hot for the next step.
Step 10: Slice
Use a serrated knife to slice the logs crosswise into ½”-¾” thick biscuits (I personally like them to be ¾”).
Step 11: Return to Oven
Place them back on the baking sheet (cut side up) and into the oven for another 15-20 minutes, until the surface is lightly browned. You may need to use 2 baking sheets to fit them all.
Step 12: Cool and Serve
Cool completely on a wire rack. Serve the biscotti with a drink that you can dunk them into, like coffee, black tea or even a dessert wine (traditionally Marsala wine or Vin Santo).
Pro Tip: If you want a little chewiness, you can bake them for a shorter amount the second time, however they may not be as dunk-worthy or store as well. It’s all down to preference.
Serving Suggestions
These crispy biscuits are meant for dunking!
- You can serve them with tea, but they also pair well with coffee, cider, hot chocolate, wine (such as my electric skillet mulled wine that is perfect for the holidays) and/or other hot drinks.
- A less common serving suggestion would be to crumble the biscotti over a bowl of ice cream.
- For a restaurant-quality touch for guests, arrange them nicely on the saucer next to the mug of coffee.
Storage Info
Cool First: If you're not going to eat your biscotti right away, don't store them until they've cooled completely. You'll need to wait for the moisture to escape before you can store them safely. Otherwise, the moisture could encourage mold and bacteria growth in your biscuits. Generally, biscotti tend to last longer than some cookies and other snacks due to the lack of moisture.
Room Temperature Storage: Once you've enjoyed your biscotti, store the leftovers in an airtight bag or container, preferably glass. You can stick them in the pantry, cabinet or a cookie jar on the counter. I personally love how they look in a cookie jar at my kitchen coffee bar. Biscotti can last up to a month, but for best results, eat your cranberry almond biscotti within two weeks. After that, the biscuits can turn stale and lose their crunch. Don't store them in the fridge--this can ruin the taste and texture of your biscotti.
Freezer Storage: Saving your biscotti for a later date? You can place them in an airtight bag or container, then store them in the freezer. They'll last about three months in the freezer.
Thaw: Make sure you take them out of the container to thaw--otherwise, condensation can result in soggy, unappetizing biscuits. You might want to heat them up in the oven to help restore their crunchy texture.
What's your favorite drink to serve with cranberry biscotti? What did you think of this recipe? Share your thoughts with me in the comments!
Hungry for more? Try our Christmas Fruit Salad
📋Recipe
Cranberry Biscotti
Ingredients
- ¾ cup superfine sugar - (caster sugar)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure orange extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ¾ cup whole almonds
- 1 ¾ cups AP white flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg - whisked in a small bowl
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk the sugar, oil, eggs, orange extract and orange zest together in a large bowl.¾ cup superfine sugar, ½ cup vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon pure orange extract, 1 tablespoon orange zest
- Add the cranberries and almonds. Mix with a wooden spoon to combine.¾ cup dried cranberries, ¾ cup whole almonds
- In a separate medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.1 ¾ cups AP white flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine well.
- On a floured surface, divide the dough in two and shape them into approximately 12” logs. It helps to use a dough scraper.
- Transfer them to the parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure there is space between the logs (they will expand during baking). Flour your hands and lightly pat them down a bit.
- Brush the logs with the whisked egg.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, until golden-brown. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes. They should still be warm, but not hot for the next step.
- Use a serrated knife to slice the logs crosswise into ½”-¾” thick biscuits (I personally like them to be ¾”).
- Place them back on the baking sheet (cut side up) and into the oven for another 15-20 minutes, until the surface is lightly browned. You may need to use 2 baking sheets to fit them all.
- Cool completely on a wire rack. Serve the biscotti with a drink that you can dunk them into, like coffee, black tea or even a dessert wine (traditionally Marsala wine or Vin Santo).
Notes
- Once you’ve enjoyed your biscotti, store the leftovers in an airtight bag or container, preferably glass. You can stick them in the pantry, cabinet or a cookie jar on the counter. Biscotti can last up to a month, but for best results, eat your cranberry almond biscotti within two weeks. Don’t store them until they’ve cooled completely. You’ll need to wait for the moisture to escape before you can store them safely.
- Don’t store them in the fridge–this can ruin the taste and texture of your biscotti.
- Saving your biscotti for a later date? You can place them in an airtight bag or container, then store them in the freezer. They’ll last about three months in the freezer.
- Make sure you take them out of the container to thaw–otherwise, condensation can result in soggy, unappetizing biscuits. You might want to heat them up in the oven to help restore their crunchy texture.
- If you want a little chewiness, you can bake them for a shorter amount the second time, however they may not be as dunk-worthy or store as well.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Monica Haas says
This is one of the best biscotti's I have tasted. Easy to make and delicious.
Joss D says
Thank you so much!
Mario says
Another spectacular creation by inthekitch.net 👍
Joss D says
Aw, thanks Mario!