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. And although they are a little indulgent, they’re still only 3 Weight Watchers freestyle smart points per serving (blue plan)!
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
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!
Post Holiday Energy Bites
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!
Christmas Biscotti
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!
What is Biscotti?
Essentially, "biscotti" means twice baked cookies - they are aptly named according to their method of baking. When these Italian cookies were first created centuries ago, they were baked twice, in order to form their unique shape and allow the cookies to develop their signature crispy texture. The dough is shaped into a large log, baked, then sliced into cookies. These cookies are then baked again, then turned over and baked to perfection!
Holiday Biscotti
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 biscotti a try!
4 Ingredient Whipped Shortbread
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti- Christmas Biscotti
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- ½ tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp anise seed
- ½ tsp fennel seed
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- ¾ cup pistachios shelled and chopped
- ½ cup dried apricots finely chopped
Garnish: Egg Wash
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp water
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
- There is a chilling time for this recipe, so make sure you budget that in
Nutrition
MORE HOLIDAY COOKIES!
mylifeasishan
looks amazing
Food Meanderings
Thanks! One of my faves - been making it for last 14 yrs!
Sue Slaght
Looks scrumptious and if I recall I have had the pleasure of tasting this yummy biscotti. Love the photos too!
Food Meanderings
Thanks, Sue! yes, I believe I brought it in to work in the past 🙂
The FoodOlic
Perfect biscotti for holidays! The the green pistachios and red cranberries is just a perfect match!
Food Meanderings
Thanks, yes, I make a ton of it every year!
Lana-Once Upon a Spice
Reblogged this on Once Upon a Spice and commented:
A Wonderful Biscotti Recipe for the Holidays Baked Up By Food Meanderings!
Food Meanderings
Hi Lana: Thanks for reblogging!
Lana-Once Upon a Spice
You're so welcome!
Marisa's Italian Kitchen
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?
Food Meanderings
Thank you1
Martha Butler
I'm going out to buy the ingredients now...can't wait to try them!
Food Meanderings
Great -hope you like it!
diversivore
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!
Food Meanderings
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 🙂 !
The Baptist Bluegrass Belle
Lovely post and thanks for the recipe! I have a buckwheat blueberry bake recipe you may enjoy!
Food Meanderings
thank you - will check out your recipe!
ariel
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!
Food Meanderings
Thanks!
betterdaywithme
Thank you so much for sharing! I myself loooove biscotti and these look so nice and festive. I have to try 😀
Food Meanderings
I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂
Elaine
Biscotti is a gift from the kitchen that everyone loves to receive! And your recipe is bursting with holiday flavours and colour! Thanks!
Colleen
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!
Denise from Urb'n'Spice
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!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
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!