Fennel Biscotti
mrslarkin
Photo by James Ransom
- Serves
- about 40 biscotti
Inspired by an espresso with sambuca and a twist of lemon peel, these super crunchy biscotti are begging to be dunked into an espresso. This recipe is adapted from my Chocolate Chip Biscotti for Grandpa, here in the archives, which was adapted from one of the best biscotti recipes I've ever found: the Orange Scented Biscotti from the Supreme Court Historical Society cookbook, "Chef Supreme, Martin Ginsburg".
Ingredients
- 2 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Grated zest of 2 lemons
- 1 tablespoon fennel seeds, lightly crushed, plus extra for tops of biscotti
- 2 large whole eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 large egg white, slightly beaten, reserved for egg wash and for dough, if needed
Featured Video
The licorice-like aroma of these crunchy biscotti fills the kitchen as they bake and you can’t wait to dip these delectable twice-baked cookies into a steaming hot drink of your choice: be it the first cup of coffee of the day, your favorite afternoon tea, or a post-dinner espresso. While the smell pulls you in, it’s the taste that keeps your hand reaching back for more. The fennel seeds speckled throughout the treats provide a subtle, yet incredibly enticing, flavor that is just the sort of pick-me-up needed any day of the week.
Directions
- Step 1
Set oven rack to middle position. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Step 2
In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together the dry ingredients, lemon zest, and fennel seed with your fingertips, pressing out any lumps of brown sugar. Attach bowl to mixer, and set up the paddle attachment.
- Step 3
Add in whole eggs and yolk, and mix.
- Step 4
Remove the super-sticky dough from the bowl (a little flour will help) and knead a few times on a lightly floured surface. Cut into two even pieces. If you have a kitchen scale, use it.
- Step 5
Form each piece into a log about 12 inches long by 2 inches wide, and transfer to the parchment-lined pan. It might be easier for you to form the logs right on the parchment paper. Keep the logs a good distance apart, at least 4 inches. The logs spread a lot, so don't put them too close to the sides of the pan, either.
- Step 6
Brush some egg wash on each log. Sprinkle tops with extra fennel seeds and sugar. Bake for 50 minutes.
- Step 7
Remove from oven and cool the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. DON'T TURN OFF THE OVEN!
- Step 8
Separate each log from the parchment paper by running a metal spatula underneath.
- Step 9
On a cutting board, using a serrated knife, cut the logs on the diagonal into 1/2-inch slices.
- Step 10
Lay the biscotti cut-side down on a new, unlined sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven, flip biscotti over, and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Step 11
Remove pan and transfer biscotti to a cooling rack to cool completely. While biscotti are cooling, make a pot of espresso.
- Step 12
Store cooled biscotti in an air-tight container.