Biscotti Recipe with Cranberry and Pistachios (2024)

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This biscotti recipe is truly the best! It uses sweetened dried cranberries, and pistachios and each cookie is dipped in melted white chocolate. They’re perfect for the holidays, go well with coffee and espresso and they’re easy to make. Check out all of our favorite cookie recipes too!

Biscotti Recipe with Cranberry and Pistachios (1)

Biscotti and coffee are like biscuits and gravy. Like peanut butter and jelly, they’re meant for each other. You can’t begin to conceive of one without the other.

This is one of the best biscotti recipes ever! My mother-in-law has been making them for years and they are truly a favorite. The flavors of lemon, cranberry, pistachio, and vanilla mixed with chewy cranberries and pistachios make them very unique and festive. Each cookie is dipped in white chocolate taking them to the next level.

These make really great Christmas cookies with red cranberries and green pistachios! Also, try our delicious pistachio cake recipe!

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IN THIS POST

What Is Biscotti?

If you’re unfamiliar with this Italian biscuit, biscotti may scare you! You may be daunted by the prospect of baking foreign food and especially one that seems dry and tasteless… however, this couldn’t be further from the truth!

Biscotti tastes as tantalizing as it sounds. It derives from theLatin word biscoctus, meaning “twice-baked.” Italians apply the word to a variety of cookies, while Americans use it to specifically refer to the crisp, long, twice-baked cookie.

How to Make Biscotti

They’re really not that hard to make. Below are the basic steps to making them, we recommend reading this through before jumping to the recipe.

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  • Make the simple dough by beating butter and sugar, adding in egg yolks, flour and folding in cranberries and pistachios.
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  • Divide it in half and form two logs (about 15 inches long and 2 inches wide) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake for 15 minutes in a 320-degree oven.
  • Next, use a bread knife or another serrated knife to cut the logs into clean, smooth slices about 1/2″ thick. Slice the logs at an angle if you want a coffee shop look. Or you can slice straight.
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  • Place the slices on a baking sheet and bake for another 10 minutes until lightly golden brown.
  • Ensure that they cool on a wire rack after the second bake so they can crisp completely.
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  • Melt white chocolate chips and dip the end of each cookie into the chocolate. Let the chocolate harden.
  • Enjoy with coffee!
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Biscotti Variations

Variations of the traditional biscotti recipe run the gamut. Whether you crave spiced biscotti, nutty, citrusy, or chocolate-frosted, there are unique variations you can try.

Other variations include ginger biscotti, chocolate chunk, and fruit biscotti.

To add your own variations, simple use this recipe and then fold in other ingredients to replace the cranberries and pistachios, like chocolate chunks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Biscotti So Hard?

They’re hard because it’s baked twice. Leaving the dough out after the first bake makes it especially hard.

What Does Biscotti Taste Like?

Biscotti gets most of its taste from its mix-ins: pecans, pistachios, slivered almonds, and lemon zest, for example. Other tastes come from hazelnuts, cranberries and dried fruit, anise, and melted chocolate drizzle or dark chocolate chips.

Should Biscotti Have Butter?

Yes! Butter in biscotti lends to a richer flavor and comes out so tasty!

You can still ge the crisp and crunchy bite of a biscotti using butter and they’ll be less dry and more flavorful.

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How Do You Know When Biscotti Is Done?

They’re done when they turn golden brown. It’s also done when it’s crunchy and dry throughout. The texture should look and feel as twice-baked as its name means.

How Long Should Biscotti Cool Before Cutting?

Biscotti should cool for about 10 minutes before you cut it. Don’t let it cool for any less time.

A Delicious Bread

Originally an Italian biscuit, biscotti has since been adopted by American tastes. Like with other products of American culture, biscotti has been beefed up to American standards. In the U.S., it’s more flavorful, crunchier, and more sugary.

As you have learned, you can tailor this biscotti recipe to your specific tastes. While there’s an unchangeable foundation of any kind of biscotti, it can be creatively manipulated and made your own!

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Biscotti Recipe

This biscotti recipe using sweetened dried cranberries, pistachios and dipped in melted white chocolate! They’re perfect for the holiday and easy to make!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 25 Biscotti

Calories: 186kcal

Author: Eden

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 7 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • 1 cup pistachios
  • 8 ounces white chocolate morsels

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

  • Measure out the ingredients. Add the eggs to a small bowl with the lemon zest and vanilla extract. Add the flour and baking powder in a bowl and lightly stir with a fork to blend.

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  • Beat the butter and sugar on medium until blended. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and add in one egg yolk at a time, continue beating.

  • Turn the mixer to low and add in the flour and mix until the ingredients are incorperated.

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  • Using a spatula, fold in the sweetened cranberries and pistachios.

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  • Divide the dough in half and form two logs (about 15 inches long and 2 inches wide) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

    Biscotti Recipe with Cranberry and Pistachios (17)

  • Bake for 15 minutes in a 320-degree oven.

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  • Next, use a bread knife or another serrated knife to cut the logs into clean, smooth slices about 1/2″ thick. Slice the logs at an angle if you want a coffee shop biscotti’s long slices. Or you can slice straight.

    Biscotti Recipe with Cranberry and Pistachios (19)

  • Place the slices on a baking sheet and bake for another 10 minutes until lightly golden brown.

    Biscotti Recipe with Cranberry and Pistachios (20)

  • Ensure that the biscotti cool on a wire rack after the second bake so they can crisp completely.

    Biscotti Recipe with Cranberry and Pistachios (21)

  • Melt white chocolate chips and dip the end of each biscotti into the chocolate. Let the chocolate harden.

    Biscotti Recipe with Cranberry and Pistachios (22)

Notes

You can dip the biscotti in chocolate or white chocolate.

Add in other spices you think would be good too.

Nutrition

Serving: 25Cookies | Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 108mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 144IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

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Biscotti Recipe with Cranberry and Pistachios (2024)

FAQs

Is biscotti better with oil or butter? ›

Despite their centuries-old heritage, there is no one perfect way to make biscotti. Some recipes call for eggs only, which is the traditional method, while others swear by butter or oil. 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.

What is the difference between American and Italian biscotti? ›

Here it is, a biscotti recipe everyone can enjoy — unlike classic Italian biscotti, which are quite hard, these are light and crunchy. Biscotti bake twice rather than once, and thus take a bit longer start-to-finish than normal drop cookies.

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.

Should you chill biscotti dough? ›

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.

Does biscotti dough need to rest? ›

Mix and knead dough just until it comes together, don't overdo it. If the dough becomes difficult to handle, simply refrigerate for at least an hour, before kneading and shaping.

Why does my biscotti crumble when I slice it? ›

A: Overbaking the logs of dough during the first baking can make the slices crumble as you are cutting them. Also, even if the logs of dough are perfectly baked, they will crumble if they are sliced while still warm, so be patient. The logs crumble when you use a dull knife, too.

What are traditional biscotti made of? ›

The mixture is composed exclusively of flour, sugar, eggs, pine nuts, and almonds that are not roasted or skinned. The traditional recipe uses no form of yeast or fat (butter, oil, milk).

Are biscotti healthier than cookies? ›

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.

Are cantucci and biscotti the same thing? ›

Biscotti cookies, also known as cantucci, are traditional Italian cookies. They are known for their long shelf life and crisp texture. They can be enjoyed with coffee or tea, dipped in wine, or used as a dessert topping.

What liquor do Italians dip biscotti in? ›

The Vino Dunk – Purists would say the only liquid to dip your biscotti in is wine. As they do in Tuscany, you can dip your biscotti into rich red wines, especially those on the sweeter side. Marsala wine and Vin Santo are the wines of choices for dipping.

Why does biscotti taste like black licorice? ›

Anise extract is a popular flavoring used in Italian cakes, cookies and pastries. It's made from steeping star anise (you know it, it looks like a cute little wooden star) in alcohol to extract the natural flavor. The aroma is reminiscent of fennel or licorice, which most people assume is too strong.

How sticky should biscotti dough be? ›

Biscotti dough is inherently sticky. I recommend adequately flouring your hands before working the dough, and if it's still too sticky to handle, add a little flour at a time but just enough so you can work with it.

What happens if you forget baking powder in biscotti? ›

Most baked goods need a leavening agent to make them rise, and if you leave it out, your cake or your cookies will fall flat. Baking powder makes dough rise because it contains both a base and an acid in dried form.

How do you keep homemade biscotti crispy? ›

How to Store Biscotti: Maximize Crunch & Prevent Soft Biscotti. To store biscotti, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. Lining the container with a paper towel will help soak up any excess moisture that finds its way in.

Why do my biscotti crumble when I cut them? ›

A: Overbaking the logs of dough during the first baking can make the slices crumble as you are cutting them. Also, even if the logs of dough are perfectly baked, they will crumble if they are sliced while still warm, so be patient. The logs crumble when you use a dull knife, too.

Can you overmix biscotti dough? ›

The trickiest parts of making them are the mixing and the shaping and baking. 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.

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