Apricot Spice Biscotti are made with sweet apricots and warm holiday spices. These biscotti will become your favorite treat to enjoy with your coffee any time of the day!
Holidays can be so very stressful for so many reasons. They seem to always sneak up on me and I wonder how fast the time went by! But all through the year, I find recipes I want to try during this special time of year. These apricot spice biscotti are something we love to bake even when it is not Christmas!
Biscotti are the perfect way to start your day with your hot cup of coffee, tea, or as I prefer, a cappuccino! They are also so lovely to dunk into a hot cup of cocoa on cold winter's day.
Jump To
What does biscotti mean?
Let's talk biscotti and what does the word mean? Biscotto in Italian means twice cooked (bis: twice, cotto: cooked, past participle of coucere, 'to cook'). Have biscotti always intimidated you a little? They really are super easy to make and the flavor combos are endless!
How many times do you bake apricot spice biscotti?
Twice! After you bake them the first time, you let them cool. Next step is to slice them and bake again: biscotti (twice baked!). The incredible spice scent that will be coming out of your oven will have anyone waiting in your house lined up for the first taste (my kids, husband and the pups were all lined up).
I used dried apricots in my biscotti, but dried cranberries would also be great with this recipe! Biscotti are so much fun to experiment with. Make sure there is a little flour on your clean surface. It will help you roll out your logs.
These biscotti get better on the 2nd or 3rd day (if any are left!). These spicy biscotti drizzled with a simple sugar glaze and a little sparkle make them a lovely holiday cookie to bake and share with those you love.
What is the secret to making biscotti?
The secret to making biscotti lies in a few key steps:
- Twice Baking: A major hallmark of biscotti is the dough’s twice-baking. A log of dough is baked once, then sliced and baked again to create a dry, crisp character.
- Dough Consistency: Too dry and the biscotti will be crumbly; too wet and they will spread out too much while baking. They should be firm but slightly sticky.
- Flavor Boosts: Add a splash of vanilla, almond extract, or citrus zest. Or nuts, dried fruits, or chocolate chips.
- Diagonal Slicing: Watch the logs cool for a couple of minutes before slicing diagonally into coins with a sharp, serrated knife. That way, they hold their shape and don’t crumble.
Are biscotti healthier than cookies?
Biscotti can be equal to or better than other cookies in terms of health, depending on what it is made of and the serving size. Here are some reasons why:
- Lower Fat Content: Biscuits have a lower fat content than most other cookies.
- Naked Biscotti: No frosting or glazing means less sugar and fat added.
- Nut and Fruit Add-ins: Most recipes for biscotti contain nuts and/or dried fruits, adding fiber and nutrients to the product.
- Portion Control: Compared with other cookies, which might be larger and heavier, biscotti are easier to cut in smaller pieces that are still satisfying, but require far fewer calories to enjoy.
Is biscotti better with oil or butter?
It all depends on whether you want biscotti to be crisp and oily or soft and buttery.
- Butter: Butter gives biscotti a richer flavor and a little more crumble; it can also add a degree of moisture, making the biscotti less hard.
- Oil: Bisotti made with oil, like olive oil or vegetable oil, are lighter and crisper. Olive oil in particular will lend a subtle, distinctive flavour. In the end, it’s a matter of taste. Should the biscotti be rich, with a creamier texture, and softer than the biscotti made with oil? Or should it be light and crisp, with a background hint of olive oil flavor? The choice is yours.
Recipes from Day 1 of Christmas Week:
Pistachio Brittle from Cravings of a Lunatic
Coconut Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake from Desserts Required
Peppermint Bark from Poet in the Pantry
Eggnog Pound Cake from The Redhead Baker
Quince, Cranberry and Persimmon Crisps from Pineapple and Coconut
Chocolate Fruit 'n Nut Bites from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Fancy Chocolate Covered Marshallows from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake from Cupcakes and Kale Chips
Marzipan Fruits from The Little Ferraro Kitchen
Eggnog Truffles from Crumb: A Food Blog
Peppermint Fudge from The Bitter Side of Sweet
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes from Amee's Savory Dish
Gingerbread Cake with Orange Cream Glaze from Comfortably Domestic
Christmas Sweets and Treats from Food Done Light
Spiked Hot Cocoa Gift Mix from Farm Fresh Feasts
Chanukah Olive Oil Cookies from Mother Would Know
Coconut Pralines from Food Lust People Love
Blueberry Overnight Sweet Rolls from My Catholic Kitchen
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies from Daily Appetite
Chocolate Dipped Gingersnaps from Try Anything Once Culinary
Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Dark Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Cups from Savory Experiments
Bourbon Soaked Eggnog Cake from Cooking In Stilettos
Ginger Snap Cocktail from Food Babbles
Coquito Cinnamon Roll Bundt from Mind Over Batter
No-Bake Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
Easy White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge from Big Bear's Wife
Easy Cream Cheese Cookies from Everyday Southwest
Gingerbread Cookie Bars from From Gate to Plate
Molasses Ginger Cookies from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Apricot Spice Biscotti from Savoring Italy
Caramel Bacon Bark from Dixie Chik Cooks
Gluten Free Chocolate Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies from The Tomato Tart
Easy Macadamia Cashew Brittle from Aloha Flavor
Apricot Spice Biscotti
Ingredients
BISCOTTI
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- pinch of cloves
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup chopped dry apricots or cranberries
GLAZE
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg. Stir into dry ingredients as well.
- In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs and vanilla. Continue to beat in mixer for 3-4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Beat in all the dry ingredients. Stop the mixer and stir in the apricots. The dough was slightly stiff, but still slightly sticky. Cover and chill dough for about an hour. While dough chills, preheat oven to 350° F.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead 7 or 8 times. Divide dough in half. Roll each loaf into a log and then flatten into a mounded shape on the baking sheet. The logs should be roughly 1 1/2 inches wide and 10 inches long, and spaced a few inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until lightly browned.
- Remove from oven and let cool 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 F degrees.
- With a sharp serrated knife, slice diagonally into ½ inch thick slices. Place cut side down on parchment paper and bake again for 8-10 minutes. Turn slices over and bake another 8-10 more minutes or until the slices are crisp around the edges and golden brown.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and milk until it forms a thick but pourable glaze (if too thick add a little more milk a teaspoon at a time. If too thin, whisk in more confectioner’s sugar a tablespoon at a time). Drizzle on the cookies and toss on the sprinkles. Enjoy!
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Leave a Reply