Are you ready to embark on a delicious journey to Tuscany without leaving your kitchen? Today, we’re diving into the world of Italian biscotti, specifically the delightful cantucci. These crunchy, almond-packed treats will make your coffee happy and your taste buds dance! So, roll up your sleeves, and let’s get baking!
The Crunchy Delight of Cantucci
Picture this: You’re sitting in a sun-drenched café in Tuscany, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, and a glorious biscotti in the other. Sounds delightful, right? Well, today you can recreate that moment at home! Let’s get started with our cooking adventure.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole almonds, toasted and roughly chopped
- Optional: ½ cup of chocolate chips or cranberries for that extra flair!
Instructions to Biscotti Bliss:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This is crucial unless you want your biscotti to stage a rebellion and stick to the pan!
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Give it a good whisk, like you’re trying to impress your flour, because who doesn’t love a bit of enthusiasm?
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs and vanilla extract until they look like a golden sunrise. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until they come together. This will be a sticky, glorious mess!
- Fold in those lovely almonds (and chocolate chips or cranberries, if you chose to be adventurous). Your dough will start to resemble something you can actually work with.
- Divide the dough in half and shape each half into logs about 12 inches long. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them out like they just returned from a long trip and need some personal space.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden. Once done, remove them from the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes.
- After cooling, slice those beauties diagonally into ¾ inch slices. Lay them cut-side down on the baking sheet and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until they look crisp and ready to dunk!
- Let them cool completely. Once cooled, they will be perfect for a delectable dip in your coffee or tea. Enjoy your homemade cantucci!
And there you have it! Your very own homemade cantucci to impress family, friends, or even just your cat — who will definitely appreciate your baking prowess. These biscotti are perfect for sharing… or not. No judgment here if you want to keep the whole batch for yourself!