One Twenty Five

I don’t like biscottis. They’re hard, and usually not worth the calories. But-but-but, my mom makes these gems every year and despite not liking biscottis (or fake cherries), I seriously cannot get enough of these tasty Christmas treats.

3/4                 Butter (softened) or margarine
2 cups             Sugar
6                     Eggs (use 5 if you easily taste eggys)
2 tsp               Vanilla extract
2 tsp               Almond extract
100g packet    Slivered (or chopped) almonds
1+ cup            Red/Green cherries (40 or 50 chopped)
4 cups             Flour
4 tsp               Baking powder
Pinch               Salt

In a bowl, beat together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy (and light coloured).  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Add slivered almonds, vanilla extract and almond extract

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add cherries to the margarine and sugar.  Gradually add the flour to the mix.  Mix the flour in well.

Get a large greased baking sheet or a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Take about a quarter of the mix and shape into a log on the parchment paper (can use a knife to shape log).  Flatten the log out.  Repeat to make a second log.

Bake the logs at 180C for 25 to 30 mins.  They should be light to medium brown.

Cool for about 30 mins.  Use a sharp knife to slice the logs into ½ inch slices (so they can stand up nicely). 

Then bake the slices at 150C for about 20 minutes.  Take them out when they look how you like them (light to medium brown).  Cool on a rack.

Make and bake a second set of logs with the rest of the mixture.

Makes 4 logs – about 60 to 70 biscotti.  Store in a sealed container or freeze.

Note – very easy to make and you can use other flavours at other times of the year.
Disclaimer - they will make you fat
Warning - they tend to migrate to one’s buttock regions, but they’re so worth it (promise) and make superb gifts!