Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Biscotti

I love several things about this biscotti. First, it has pumpkin. "nuff said.

Second, it is not too hard. I hate a super hard, crumbly biscotti.

And third, it has chocolate.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Biscotti
The Perfect Pantry

3-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 large eggs, beaten
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate or mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a Silpat (silicone liner) or parchment paper, and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and spices until well mixed. In a small bowl, mix together the pumpkin, eggs, vanilla and melted butter. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and stir well, adding in the chocolate chips. The dough will be quite firm.

Divide the dough into 2 equal portions and form them into rectangular loaves about 3/4 of an inch in thickness. Mine ended up being about 12'' x 3'' each. Bake in the preheated oven until the loaves are cracked on top and set in the middle, 25-30 minutes.

Let the loaves cool at least one hour, until almost completely cool. Slice crosswise into thin slices, 1/4'' to 1/2'' thick. Lay the slices on the baking sheets (they can be quite close together, as they won't spread) and bake for another 15 minutes.

Let the biscotti cool completely before dunking, or store in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Gingerbread Biscotti

This was a great gingerbread biscotti recipe. The biscotti are, in my opinion, perfect. I like my biscotti crisp, but chewable on their own, without having to dunk it in coffee. This definitely fit the bill. The outside was crumbly and crispy, but the inside had a slight chewiness. 



And, of course, I loved the gingerbread flavor. I wish it was kosher to make gingerbread year round because I love it so. Although, I'm sure I COULD make it year round and my roommates would be the only ones who knew! Hmmmm =)



Gingerbread Biscotti
Cookie Madness 

1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup mild molasses
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
2 tablespoons milk or a non-dairy milk like soy milk or almond milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together in a bowl and set aside.

Whisk oil, molasses, sugar, ground flax seeds, milk, and vanilla together in a mixing bowl.

Stir the flour mixture into the liquid mixture and form a smooth dough.  Gently knead in the pecans and cranberries (or ginger, if using).

On a cookie sheet (I lined mine with parchment, but you can use a Silpat or just lightly grease), form a log about 11 inches long by 4 inches wide.   Flatten the end sides of the log. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes until the log is puffed and firm but not too brown. It will spread a little, and some cracking is okay. Allow log to cool for about 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Very carefully, slide the log off the baking sheet and onto a cutting board. With a sharp, heavy knife, (I had better luck with a Chef’s knife than a serrated knife) cut log into ½-inch-thick slices, using one quick and firm motion, pressing down into the log. Very gently move slices to the baking sheet, standing them of their bottom edge if possible. Rebake the slices for 22 to 24 minutes. The slices should appear dry and slightly toasted, but do not allow them to get too browned. Allow the biscotti to cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then carefully move them to the wire racks to complete cooling (warm biscotti may be fragile).

Whole Wheat Biscotti with Nuts and Dried Fruit

Whole Wheat Biscotti with Nuts and Dried Fruit
Fit Sugar

1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
1/4 cup dried fruit, chopped (I used dried cherries and apricots)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon molasses

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a baking sheet with oil; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder and salt; stir in nuts and dried fruit. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, molasses and vanilla. Add to flour mixture; stir just until combined.

On a lightly floured surface, pat dough into a loaf about 1 inch thick, 2 1/2 inches wide (about about 7 inches long); transfer to baking sheet. Bake until risen and firm, 20 to 25 minutes; cool completely on sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.

Place loaf on a cutting board, and using a serrated knife, cut diagonally into 1/4 inch-thick slices; place slices in a single layer on sheet. Bake, turning once, until dried and slightly golden, 25 to 30 minutes; cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 month.