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Home » Recipes » Holidays and Events Recipes » Christmas Recipes

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti- Christmas Biscotti

Published: Oct 27, 2018 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Dec 19, 2021 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 25 Comments

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Holiday Biscotti | #biscotti #ediblegift #cranberry

I love Christmas baking and can't wait to get going on it the minute Halloween is over! This Christmas Biscotti cookie recipe, is one of my favorite Christmas baking recipes and always one of the first things I make.

Christmas biscotti in a Christmas mug with a gift box of biscotti in the background

This festive looking Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti cookie is the ultimate holiday fiscotti, makes a great edible gift and is perfect for sharing at a holiday cookie exchange. And although they are a little indulgent, they’re still Weight Watchers friendly!

Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 💭 Top tip
  • 👪 Serving Size
  • 🌡️Storage
  • ⭐ Reviews
  • 📋 Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti- Christmas Biscotti Recipe
  • 🍪More Holiday Cookies

This festive looking Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti cookie makes a great edible gift and is perfect for sharing at a holiday cookie exchange. And because I only make it once a year, I make a lot of it - it's very popular around here. The pistachios and cranberries give it a really festive look, making it perfect for giving as an edible gift, sharing at a cookie exchange, a Christmas brunch or just for dunking in your own morning coffee!

🥘 Ingredients

  • unsalted butter *you can substitute salted, but leave the salt out of the recipe
  • white granulated sugar
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • almond extract
  • all-purpose flour
  • anise seed
  • fennel
  • dried cranberries
  • dried apricots
  • pistachios

*See recipe for amounts

🔪 Instructions

Heads up: There is a 2 hour chilling time before baking!

In fact, I LOVE this cranberry pistachio biscotti recipe so much that I actually go into a withdrawal after the holidays are over and I'm trying to get back on a healthier eating plan. And that was the catalyst for the creation of these Healthy No Bake Post Holiday Energy Bites! These energy bites have all the same wonderful flavors as this holiday biscotti, but they are vegan, gluten-free and most importantly, not cookies!

No bake holiday energy bites - foodmeanderings.com

💭 Top tip

Like I mentioned, I give this Christmas Biscotti as an edible gift. I wrap it in festive packaging and put it inside a Christmas mug with a coffee shop gift card (great gift for teachers), on my baking trays and/or bring it along to holiday potluck dinners or brunches as a hostess gift, along with some delicious gourmet coffee. And it's great for a holiday cookie swap!

👪 Serving Size

This recipe makes 48 servings. You can also cut this recipe in half by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card. Just click on the serving size (it's highlighted in blue) and select the number of servings you’d like. But you'll probably end up wanting to double it because they go fast, especially if you are giving away some as gifts. I always double the recipe, then I have biscotti way beyond the holidays!

🌡️Storage

  • This biscotti can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 4-5 days. 
  • This recipe freezes well (in an airtight container) for up to 3 months.

For years I didn't think I liked biscotti because I had only tried it in coffee shops, where I found it too hard (like break-a-tooth-hard)  and it was practically almost always stale. I've had people tell me they love this biscotti because it is softer than most and has a really nice flavor (again, anise and fennel get a little more playtime here!) But it is still pure deliciousness and won't fall apart when dipped in coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider or warm milk (or any hot drink of your choice). But the wonderful thing about this biscotti is that you don't HAVE to dip it - it is soft enough to eat without dipping! So, if you are looking for a festive Christmas cookie or a unique cookie exchange prospect, then give this Christmas biscotti a try!

4 Ingredient Whipped Shortbread  

4 ingredient whipped shortbread piled on a plate with red background

⭐ Reviews

Did you make this recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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Christmas coffee mug with piece of biscotti on top, spoon on the side and ribbon in the background
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5 from 4 votes

📋 Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti- Christmas Biscotti Recipe

This festive looking Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti cookie is the ultimate Christmas Biscotti, makes a great edible gift and is perfect for sharing at a holiday cookie exchange. They are also Weight Watchers friendly!
Course Breakfast, brunch, Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Keyword biscotti, christmas, cranberry, pistachio
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Chilling time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours
Servings 48 servings
Calories 74kcal
Author adapted from pg. 23 " Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookies", 2002
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoon anise seed
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seed
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • ¾ cup pistachios shelled and chopped
  • ½ cup dried apricots finely chopped

Garnish: Egg Wash

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heads up: There is a 2 hour chilling time before baking!
  • Chop the pistachios and apricots (separately) into small pieces in your food processor. Set aside
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds, then add sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; beat until combined. .
  • Beat in the 3 eggs, vanilla, and almond extract until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a large spoon.
  • Stir the anise, fennel seed, cranberries, pistachios and apricots into the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 12 inch log about 1 ½ inches thick. 
  • Place logs 3 inches apart on the lightly greased cookie sheet. Flatten each log to a ¾ -1 inch thick loaf. 
  • Combine the 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Brush egg mixture over loaves.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 25- 30 minutes or until light brown. Cool loaves on cookie sheet for 1 hour or until completely cooled

2nd Bake:

  • When the loaves are cool, preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Transfer loaves to a cutting board. Cut each loaf diagonally in ½ inch thick slices. Lay slices, cut sides down on cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 5-10 minutes until lightly browned on bottom.
  •  Turn slices over and bake 5 -10 minutes more or until biscotti are dry and crisp. Transfer to wire rack. Cool. 

Notes

👪 Serving Size
This recipe makes 48 servings. You can also cut this recipe in half by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card. Just click on the serving size (it's highlighted in blue) and select the number of servings you’d like. But you'll probably end up wanting to double it because they go fast, especially if you are giving away some as gifts. I always double the recipe, then I have biscotti way beyond the holidays!
🌡️Storage
  • This biscotti can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 4-5 days. 
  • This recipe freezes well (in an airtight container) for up to 3 months.
My Amazon Recommendations (affiliate links)
 

Nutrition Facts
📋 Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti- Christmas Biscotti Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 74 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 16mg5%
Sodium 38mg2%
Potassium 57mg2%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 103IU2%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
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🍪More Holiday Cookies

  • Gingerbread Snowball Cookies
  • 4 ingredient Whipped Shortbread Cookies
  • Gingerbread Fruit & Nut Edible Christmas Wreath
  • Raspberry Jam Cookies
  • Gingerbread Yule Log Cookies
  • NO CHILL Gingerbread Cookies

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. mylifeasishan

    November 26, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    looks amazing

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      November 26, 2016 at 5:39 pm

      Thanks! One of my faves - been making it for last 14 yrs!

      Reply
  2. Sue Slaght

    November 26, 2016 at 11:38 pm

    Looks scrumptious and if I recall I have had the pleasure of tasting this yummy biscotti. Love the photos too!

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      November 27, 2016 at 7:43 am

      Thanks, Sue! yes, I believe I brought it in to work in the past 🙂

      Reply
  3. The FoodOlic

    November 30, 2016 at 7:20 am

    Perfect biscotti for holidays! The the green pistachios and red cranberries is just a perfect match!

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      November 30, 2016 at 7:38 am

      Thanks, yes, I make a ton of it every year!

      Reply
  4. Lana-Once Upon a Spice

    December 01, 2016 at 8:05 am

    Reblogged this on Once Upon a Spice and commented:
    A Wonderful Biscotti Recipe for the Holidays Baked Up By Food Meanderings!

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      December 01, 2016 at 8:17 pm

      Hi Lana: Thanks for reblogging!

      Reply
      • Lana-Once Upon a Spice

        December 02, 2016 at 7:33 am

        You're so welcome!

        Reply
  5. Marisa's Italian Kitchen

    December 02, 2016 at 10:14 am

    Biscotti are my absolute favourite cookies! I bake them quite often and always quickly disappear. These look indeed very festive and would beautifully grace any holiday cookie platter?

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      December 02, 2016 at 1:57 pm

      Thank you1

      Reply
  6. Martha Butler

    December 03, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    I'm going out to buy the ingredients now...can't wait to try them!

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      December 03, 2016 at 1:06 pm

      Great -hope you like it!

      Reply
  7. diversivore

    December 03, 2016 at 2:13 pm

    Like you, I think I've had one-two-many tooth cracking coffee shop biscottis. I think that it's time to try a batch of my own so I can get the right idea once and for all. I love that you went with the nuts and dried fruit as well as the seeds. I really like fennel/anise in biscotti, so I was pleased to see that you worked with it!

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      December 03, 2016 at 4:31 pm

      Thanks, Sean! I hope it's finally a good biscotti experience for you too - it can be sooo good when it's made right and not stale 🙂 !

      Reply
  8. The Baptist Bluegrass Belle

    January 13, 2017 at 7:00 pm

    Lovely post and thanks for the recipe! I have a buckwheat blueberry bake recipe you may enjoy!

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      January 14, 2017 at 8:28 am

      thank you - will check out your recipe!

      Reply
  9. ariel

    January 18, 2017 at 6:30 pm

    I just made biscotti last night! (https://foreverblissfullychaotic.wordpress.com/) I will definitely be trying yours and sharing your link later this week. Thank You for sharing!

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      January 18, 2017 at 9:31 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  10. betterdaywithme

    January 29, 2017 at 6:49 am

    Thank you so much for sharing! I myself loooove biscotti and these look so nice and festive. I have to try 😀

    Reply
    • Food Meanderings

      January 29, 2017 at 9:23 am

      I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂

      Reply
  11. Elaine

    November 05, 2018 at 5:24 pm

    Biscotti is a gift from the kitchen that everyone loves to receive! And your recipe is bursting with holiday flavours and colour! Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Colleen

    November 07, 2018 at 12:27 pm

    I'm with you on the tooth cracking coffee shop biscotti. But I love this recipe with cranberries and pistachios, plus the fennel. It sounds and looks so delicious and festive, perfect for edible gifts. Pinning to try!

    Reply
  13. Denise from Urb'n'Spice

    November 08, 2018 at 8:46 am

    Wonderful combination of ingredients for these Holiday Biscotti Cookies, Terri! Pistachios and cranberries are perfect for holiday cookies. And those cute Christmas mugs sure make great edible hostess gifts. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  14. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

    November 09, 2018 at 10:17 am

    I love holiday baking too, and pistachios and cranberries are always so festive! For me, biscotti is definitely a holiday treat. Perfect for dunking in hot chocolate. Great recipe Terri! Happy weekend!

    Reply

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I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer and a busy working mom that is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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