mini chocolate-nut biscotti 迷你巧克力坚果意式脆饼 ▼o・ェ・o▼

there are so many biscotti recipes out there but the reason why i chose this was because there was no added butter to it… for a moment, i wondered how this will turn out.. (((╹д╹;))) but it turned out to be a delightful treat.. so chocolatey (* >ω<).. imagine this.. chocolate bits, with cocoa powder, and then dipped into more chocolate… ヾ(＠^▽^＠)ﾉ now that’s my jam ┌(・。・)┘♪

Recipe adapted from Food & Wine

Ingredients (makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies)

2/3 cup whole almonds or pistachios (3 ounces)
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 1/2 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
2 large eggs at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg white, beaten

1 pound semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, tempered (i.e. melted chocolate)

Directions

– Preheat the oven to 300°. Spread the nuts in a pie plate and toast them in the oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a plate and let them cool completely. Raise the oven temperature to 350°
In a food processor, combine the flour with the milk chocolate and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the sugar, cocoa powder and salt and pulse to mix. Add the beaten whole eggs and the vanilla and process until a dough forms. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead in the toasted nuts
– Divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured work surface, roll each piece of dough into a foot-long log. Transfer the logs to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and flatten them slightly. Lightly brush the logs with the beaten egg white and bake for about 30 minutes, or until firm to the touch and slightly cracked. Remove from the oven and let cool for 1 minute. Turn the oven down to 325°
– Transfer the hot logs to a work surface. Using a serrated bread knife or a sharp chef’s knife, slice the logs 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick on the diagonal. Arrange the slices upright on the baking sheet and bake for about 5 minutes, or until dry. Transfer the biscotti to a wire rack and let cool completely
– Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Dip half of a cookie into the tempered chocolate, letting the excess drip back into the bowl, and set the cookie on the wax paper, cut side down. Repeat with the remaining cookies. Let stand in a cool, dry place until set.

*The biscotti can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks before dipping

Personal notes:

– i used 3/8 cup of sugar instead of half; used both black cocoa powder and normal cocoa powder for the ingredients, and mixed nuts instead of just almonds or pistachios
– my logs were baked for 27 mins during the first baked, then sliced into 1/2 inch slices, and baked for another 7 mins

Pollution index: 117 (lightly polluted)