Festive Biscotti

So I thought I would have a go at making some home made biscotti with Burton to give away with my home made cranberry & apple chutney to my friends, and it seemed an easy biscuit to make so here is how we went about it.

Festive Biscotti

Ingredients:
350g self raising flour

         2 tsp baking powder        

2 tsp mixed spice

250g light demera sugar      

3 eggs, beaten

grated zest of 1 orange

50g ground almonds (you could use flaked or blanched)

50g white choc chips

50g sultanas                                

50g dried cranberries

50g sour cherries

Method

* have a Santas little helper to assist you

*heat oven to 180oC / 160oC fan and line 2 large baking trays

with grease proof paper

*place the flour, sugar, baking powder, mixed spice and zest in a

large bowl and stir to mix well

*stir in the eggs until the mixture starts to form clumps. this does take a while and seems like it will never happen but after about 5 minutes it does

*then bring the dough together with your hands and knead until no floury patches remain

*add the fruit, nuts and chocolate chips

* and knead until all mixed in

*put the dough onto a floured surface and divide the mixture into 4 pieces and roll each one out (carefully) with light floured hands/fingers, to make a sausage shape as long as the mixture will allow really.

* then place each 'sausage' onto the baking trays

* bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes so the dough rises but still looks pale

*remove and transfer to cooling racks until cool enough to touch

*lower oven temp to 140oC/120oC fan

*once cooled, cut each 'sausage' into 1cm thick slices on the diagonal and lay the flatter sides back on the baking trays

*return to the oven for about 15 minutes then remove, turn over and repeat for another 15 minutes until dry and golden

* tip onto a wire rack and cool completely

*once cooled store in airtight tin for up up a month or place in to cello wrap bags to give as gifts

DAY 16