It’s a week before Thanksgiving, and you may be up to your eyeballs with menu planning, grocery shopping and kitchen scheduling. Thus, you may wonder why on Earth you need a biscotti recipe this week. The answer is easy: They’re delicious and versatile.
If you have time to bake these before Thanksgiving they can serve many roles: a part of the dessert table, a breakfast offering for houseguests, a gift for the host. If you don’t have time to bake them now, save the recipe to use either as (1) a treat for yourself or (2) a homemade holiday gift that ships and stores well.
There are a couple notes for this recipe. First, it obviously contains alcohol. Some of the bourbon is used in the glaze, which means the alcohol doesn’t bake off. This might be considered an adults-only treat. Second, you want to use a bourbon that you would drink straight up or on the rocks. As it’s used in the biscotti and the glaze, its flavor will be prominent.
Michele Pesula Kuegler has been thinking about food her entire life. Since 2007, the New Hampshire native has been sharing these food thoughts and recipes at her blog, Think Tasty. Visit thinktasty.com to find more of her recipes.
Pecan biscotti with a bourbon kick
Makes 30
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 Tablespoons bourbon, divided
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1½ cups powdered sugar
1½ Tablespoons bourbon
Skim milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on speed 2.
Add eggs one at a time, beating until fully combined.
Add vanilla and 3 tablespoons bourbon, mixing for 1 minute.
In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.
Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and blend.
Stir pecans into dough.
Divide dough in half.
Shape each half into a 10″ x 3″ rectangle, using floured hands.
Set loaves 2 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the dough is set.
Leaving the oven on, remove the biscotti loaves and cool for 15 minutes on the baking sheet.
Then, using a chef’s knife, cut the loaves into diagonal slices, 1/2 inch thick.
Place the slices on the baking sheet with the cut sides down; brush with 1 tablespoon bourbon.
Bake for 8 to 9 minutes.
Turn slices over and bake for 8 to 9 minutes more.
Remove biscotti from the oven and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Combine powdered sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons bourbon; stir well.
Add milk 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Using a spoon, coat the top side of each biscotti with glaze.
Allow glaze to harden; then eat or store in a sealed container.
Photo: Pecan biscotti with a bourbon kick. Photo courtesy of Michele Pesula Kuegler.