Chocolate-almond Biscotti

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 48
• 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds, toasted,divided
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
• 2 teaspoons shortening (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 lightly grease a cookie sheet and set aside.
• 3 place 3/4 cup of toasted almonds in a food processor and pulse until ground.
• 4 beat butter in large bowl for 30 seconds, then add sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; beat until combined.
• 5 beat in eggs and almond extract.
• 6 beat in as much of the flour as you can with mixer.
• 7 by hand, stir in remaining flour, the ground almonds and the remaining 3/4 cup of sliced almonds.
• 8 on pieces of wax paper, shape dough into two 14 inch long rolls.
• 9 place rolls on prepared cookie sheet at least 5 inches apart, flatten slightly.
• 10 bake 25-30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near centers comes out clean.
• 11 cool on cookie sheet for 1 hour.
• 12 cut each roll diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices.
• 13 place slices, cut sides down, on ungreased cookie sheets.
• 14 bake 8 minutes.
• 15 turn slices; bake 7 to 9 minutes more or until cookies are dry and begin to crisp (do not overbake).
• 16 remove from cookie sheets to wire racks.
• 17 cool completely.
• 18 if desired, to make glaze or drizzle, place semi sweet chips and chips in separate small microwave safe bowls.
• 19 add 1 teaspoon of shortening to each bowl.
• 20 microwave on high for 1 minute, stirring once; stir.
• 21 if necessary, microwave an additional 15 seconds or until chips are melted and mixtures are smooth when stirred.
• 22 dip biscotti into mixtures or drizzle over tops.