Orange Pecan Biscotti Recipe | Food Apparel (2024)

These Orange Pecan Biscotti are great for hot chocolate and tea dipping, and all around nibbling.

Last year I went to a Christmas shin-dig with some ladies in my neighborhood. My good friend and culinary genius, Jessica Blake (who helped with this Fruit Cake tutorial awhile back), was in charge of the spread. So we enjoyed a yummy hot chocolate bar with some delicious varieties of biscotti. I could not get over the Orange Pecan Biscotti that she made. It was sooooooo good! I mean, seriously, there were chocolate biscotti there, too, and I am usually always the first to say that chocolate trumps all. But not so in this case. These orangey delights were the show stopper!

Jessica willingly shared the recipe with me so that I could reproduce this masterpiece of a cookie. I went ahead and converted it to standard U.S. measurements (since it was in grams). Just to keep things clean and easy, I had to make a few adjustments. If you do have a scale though, and want to be a little more precise, just let me know and I can probably post up that version as well. Oh, when will we decide to go metric here in the U. S. of A? This is one of my soapboxes because I think we should just take the plunge and go for it, but it seems like we’re still so resistant. But then we have adopted it in some fields of work. For example…..the medical field. All of the sudden, I’m dealing with Celsius, grams/kilograms, millimeters/centimeters….. It makes things harder for my brains folks! Let’s change already for crying out loud so I can just put my full heart and soul into it!

Anyway that was a random rant.

And on that note, just an FYI, I always use the scoop and sweep method with my measurements on all of my recipes unless otherwise indicated.

Back to cookies. Make these! They are so yummy.

Orange Pecan Biscotti

CourseDessert

CuisineGourmet

Author Christina Lakey - slightly modified from Jessica Blake

Ingredients

  • 2cupsall-purpose flour
  • ¾teaspoonbaking powder
  • ½teaspoonsalt
  • ½teaspoonground cinnamon
  • 4tablespoonsunsalted butterroom temperature
  • 1cupgranulated sugar
  • 2large eggs
  • 2teaspoonsvanilla extract
  • 1tablespoonorange zestloosely packed
  • 2cupschopped pecanstoast at 350 degrees F on a cookie sheet for approximately 7-10 minutes, turning once or more if needed for even browning., toasted

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

  3. In another medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.

  4. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest and blend until just incorporated.

  5. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and stir until just incorporated. This should form a soft dough.

  6. Add pecans and stir or knead in until evenly distributed.

  7. Form the dough into a log. (Overmixing can cause the dough to be a little sticky. If this is the case, put a little flour on your hands to help out while forming. It works wonders!

  8. Place log on a parchment lined baking sheet (or you can use a silicone mat such as a Silpat).

  9. With the palms of your hands, flatten the log to approximately 1 inch height.

  10. Bake at 325 degrees F for 35-40 minutes, or until firm to the touch.

  11. Remove from the oven and reduce heat to 250 degrees F.

  12. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

  13. When completely cooled, cut slices about 1/2 inch thick at a slight angle using a serrated blade.

  14. Return slices to sheet pan, standing upright.

  15. Bake for an additional 45 minutes at 250 degrees F, or until biscotti is well-dried.

  16. Cookies can be stored for about a week in an air-tight container.

Recipe Notes

Dress it Up:
Melt white or chocolate chip morsels as directed per package. Dip one end of each cookie into the chocolate, place on parchment, and let set (refrigerate them to set faster).
To pretty things up, create a simple egg wash with 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water. Whisk together and brush over the formed biscotti log before you begin to bake.

P.S. Sorry for the sporadic posts lately. My daughter had some unexpected and expected medical issues come up (unexpected in the timing, expected in the fact that we knew we’d be dealing with them eventually). Despite the craziness, I still want to keep some stuff coming because this, in a way, is like therapy to me to keep my mind in a happy place. Anyway, hopefully things will be more consistent soon! Thank goodness for my sis-in-law who can keep the recipes coming to fill in for my gaps!

The following two tabs change content below.

  • Bio
  • Latest Posts

Orange Pecan Biscotti Recipe | Food Apparel (5)

Christina | Food Apparel

I'm Christina and I'm a self-proclaimed foodie and chocoholic! I am a real estate broker by trade. I have a wonderful husband, 3 girls 4 and under (crazy!!!) and a hyper dog. Want to know my quirks? Go here for a little Q&A.

Orange Pecan Biscotti Recipe | Food Apparel (6)

Latest posts by Christina | Food Apparel (see all)

  • HOW TO DRESS UP YOUR BLACK BEANS: 5 WAYS - July 24, 2017
  • Butternut Squash Risotto with Sage and Sausage Recipe - November 22, 2016
  • Chewy Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe - November 12, 2015
Orange Pecan Biscotti Recipe | Food Apparel (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 secret to making biscotti? ›

12 Tips For Making The Absolute Best Biscotti
  • Use room-temperature ingredients. ...
  • Boost the flavor with spices, extracts, and zest. ...
  • Toss in some add-ins for flavor and texture. ...
  • Let the dough chill before shaping. ...
  • Use floured or greased hands to shape the dough. ...
  • Shape the dough into a smaller loaf than you want.
May 29, 2023

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.

How do you make biscotti less hard? ›

Sifting your ingredients together help avoid the hard middle in your biscotti! Don't overbeat the eggs. You want just enough air pockets to add some crispiness and texture, but not so many that you get a lot of crumble in your biscotti instead.

What is the difference between Italian and American 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What are you supposed to 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.

How long does homemade biscotti last? ›

How Long Does Biscotti Last? Your homemade biscotti will last for up to one month in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want to keep the biscotti longer, you can freeze it for up to three months.

How do you crisp up stale biscotti? ›

The best way to make soft biscuits crispy again is to put them in the oven at a low temperature (200–250°F) for about 10 minutes. The heat will help dry out the moisture in the biscuits, making them crispy again.

Is butter better than oil in biscotti? ›

Are they better with oil or butter? So a traditional biscotti recipe would have neither but I use melted butter in mine for some extra richness. I would not recommend using oil.

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.

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.

Is it better to use butter or oil in cookies? ›

Indeed, cookies made with butter are usually softer and more tender than those made with oils. And last but not least, butter in cookies helps achieve that perfect texture. That's because butter melts at a lower temperature than other fats, allowing cookies to spread evenly while baking.

Can you substitute butter for olive oil in biscotti? ›

Typically, Italian biscotti are made with butter but this recipe uses olive oil instead. The result is lighter, crisper biscotti.

Does biscotti contain butter? ›

Traditional recipes do not include a fat like butter or oil making them very dense, but American-style biscotti tend to include a fair amount of butter that is whipped for a lighter, more crumbly texture.

Why is butter better than oil in baking? ›

Butter is considered a solid fat because it is solid at room temperature and oil is considered a liquid fat because it's liquid at room temperature. Because of this, you can't rely on oil to provide any leavening help in baked goods, which can result in a denser texture.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Horacio Brakus JD

Last Updated:

Views: 6452

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Horacio Brakus JD

Birthday: 1999-08-21

Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

Phone: +5931039998219

Job: Sales Strategist

Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.