Frugal Foodie Mama: homemade biscotti

Monday, October 26, 2015

Chocolate Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti

These Chocolate Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti are perfect for dunking in a warm cup of coffee on a chilly fall morning...



These Chocolate Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti are perfect for dunking in a warm cup of coffee on a chilly fall morning. #RHFood







Okay, friends... so, I had fully planned to share this recipe with you all last Thursday. And then blogger funk set in. Blogger funk as in... I don't feel like writing. I don't feel like doing social media. I don't feel like doing much of anything blog related. 






Blogger funk (or burnout as someone like to refer to it) happens to just about every blogger that I know every now and again. I decided that it was best not to force it (because nothing good ever comes from that), and then made the decision that this post would go up on Saturday morning. 





I rarely post on the weekends, but I thought who wouldn't want to be looking at these delicious homemade biscotti while sipping on their Saturday morning cup of coffee? 






And then Thursday happened... On Thursday, the food blogging community that I am a part of took a huge blow. And I needed a few days to take it all in and recover.






A blogger that I considered a mentor, an inspiration, and a wonderful friend slipped away suddenly leaving us all reeling and in utter shock. There is a good chance that many of you all may already be familiar with Joan of Chocolate, Chocolate, and More and all of her amazing sweet treats & dessert recipes. 






I would encourage you all to visit her blog often as the holidays approach and use it over and over again as a dessert resource for all those get-togethers, family gatherings, holiday dinners & parties. 





Help us keep her legacy to her three children- her blog- alive and thriving. And be looking for a very special post from me on Wednesday (aka, National Chocolate Day) dedicated to my good friend Joan and everything chocolate.






Honestly, I am not going to talk too much about these Chocolate Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti in today's post. But I do have a feeling that Joan, being the chocolate lover that she was, is approvingly giving me a thumbs up from above because I just totally made it okay for you all to have some chocolate for breakfast this week... ;)







Monday, June 10, 2013

Cookie Butter Caramel Biscotti {Welcome to Cookie Butter Week!}

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I am crazy excited about Cookie Butter Week happening on the blog this week!  (Like, REALLY excited!)  Some may say that I have a mild obsession with cookie butter.  Others may say I am downright addicted.  I would have to admit that I am definitely guilty of both. ;)  This week is going to be filled with TONS of tasty, drool worthy, and creative recipes using Cookie Butter or Biscoff Spread....
I am often asked just what is cookie butter?  
Here is the best way I can explain it- it has the consistency of a nut butter, but instead of peanuts or almonds it uses cookies and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.  The taste of cookie butter is reminiscent of gingerbread or graham crackers.  

The next question I often get is where can you find cookie butter?  Trader Joe's carries a smooth and a crunchy variety in their stores.  I have also spotted the Biscoff brand of the spread at my local Walmart and most recently at my local ALDI store (the Biscoff was about 20 cents cheaper at ALDI than at Walmart- **UPDATE- I say the Biscoff spread on sale at my local ALDI for just $2.49 a jar yesterday!!  Yes, I stocked up. ;) ).  
Okay, next question is usually which brand do I prefer?  Honestly, I am a little partial to the Biscoff spread and I like the crunchy variety over the creamy one.  But I have used both in my recipes that you will find on the blog throughout the week.

So what can you do if you have looked EVERYWHERE and still can't find a jar of cookie butter to take home?  Well, how about make your own? ;)  There is a fabulously easy recipe on the Pink Cake Plate for Homemade Cookie Butter...

Okay, now that you have the lowdown on exactly what cookie butter is and where you can find it for yourself, let's go onto the first cookie butter inspired recipe of the week... my Cookie Butter Caramel Biscotti!

What you will need:

1/3 cup cookie butter
1/3 cup prepared caramel sauce
2 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional- but chopped pecans would work really well with the flavors in this biscotti as well)
1 egg white + 1 tbsp milk + turbinado sugar (I found this at Trader Joe's, but you can use any larger crystal sugar for this- even colored ones if you want to be fun with this! ;) )

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the cookie butter, caramel, eggs, and brown sugar until nice and creamy and light in color.  Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.  Gradually beat the flour mixture into your wet mixture.


If you are opting to add chopped walnuts or pecans to your biscotti, fold those in now.  

Transfer the dough to your lined baking sheet and form into a flat loaf, about 15 inches long & 5-6 inches wide.  Bake for 25 minutes, and then remove from the oven.  Turn the heat down to 325.  
Allow the loaf to cool for about 5-10 minutes.  I like to lightly pat down the loaf with water after it has cooled for about 5 minutes to prevent the loaf from cracking.

Once the loaf has cooled a bit but is still warm, cut into about 1 inch thick slices using a chef's knife.  I know that most people tend to use a serrated knife when cutting biscotti, but I ALWAYS find that my slices rip and crumble when I use one.  I switched to cutting them with a chef's knife and never had that problem again. :)
You can cut your slices on a diagonal, if you wish.  I usually just cut them straight across.

Place the cut biscotti back on the lined baking sheet flat side down.  Whisk together the egg white and milk.  Brush each biscotti (just on one side!) with the egg mixture and then sprinkle with the turbinado sugar.  This will ensure that the sugar sticks and gives your biscotti a nice sparkle when baked. :)

Bake an additional 20-25 minutes.
Transfer the baked slices to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
You can store the biscotti in an airtight container for up to one month.  (They probably won't last that long though... ;) )

I loved how this biscotti turned out.  It was sweet and crunchy with just a hint of cookie butter and caramel flavor.  It would pair perfectly with your morning coffee or a hot cup of tea.

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I hope this recipe has you all excited for the what is to come the rest of the week! :) Make sure you stop back by tomorrow morning for my first cookie butter recipe round-up post of the week....

Love baking your own biscotti home too?  Make sure you check out my recipe for...
Coconut Chai Biscotti

Cookie Butter Caramel Biscotti

by Frugal Foodie Mama
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
Ingredients (10-12 biscotti)
  • 1/3 cup cookie butter
  • 1/3 cup prepared caramel sauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional- but chopped pecans would work really well with the flavors in this biscotti as well)
  • 1 egg white + 1 tbsp milk + turbinado sugar (I found this at Trader Joe's, but you can use any larger crystal sugar for this- even colored ones if you want to be fun with this! ;) )
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together the cookie butter, caramel, eggs, and brown sugar until nice and creamy and light in color. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually beat the flour mixture into your wet mixture.
If you are opting to add chopped walnuts or pecans to your biscotti, fold those in now.
Transfer the dough to your lined baking sheet and form into a flat loaf, about 15 inches long & 5-6 inches wide. Bake for 25 minutes, and then remove from the oven. Turn the heat down to 325.
Allow the loaf to cool for about 5-10 minutes. I like to lightly pat down the loaf with water after it has cooled for about 5 minutes to prevent the loaf from cracking.
Once the loaf has cooled a bit but is still warm, cut into about 1 inch thick slices using a chef's knife. I know that most people tend to use a serrated knife when cutting biscotti, but I ALWAYS find that my slices rip and crumble when I use one. I switched to cutting them with a chef's knife and never had that problem again. :)
You can cut your slices on a diagonal, if you wish. I usually just cut them straight across.
Place the cut biscotti back on the lined baking sheet flat side down. Whisk together the egg white and milk. Brush each biscotti (just on one side!) with the egg mixture and then sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. This will ensure that the sugar sticks and gives your biscotti a nice sparkle when baked. :)
Bake an additional 20-25 minutes.
Transfer the baked slices to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
You can store the biscotti in an airtight container for up to one month. (They probably won't last that long though... ;) )
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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Coconut Chai Biscotti {The Leftovers Club Recipe}

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So earlier in the month, I saw some chatter and recipe links floating around on Twitter about a new little fun foodie program that had just started called The Leftovers Club from Savory Simple.  After probing a little and finding the club page, I decided that this was my kind of club!  You basically are paired up with another blogger, make some goodies that month, send the "leftovers" to your partner, and then post the recipe for what you sent to them on the first Thursday of the following month.  I strongly suggest you all get signed up for the next go-round of The Leftovers Club. ;)

This past month I was paired up with Colleen from Souffle Bombay. After conversing a bit with her via email, I learned that she is a hot tea drinker.  I have recently become pretty obsessed with this Sweet Coconut Thai Chai tea from Celestial Seasonings, so it became the inspiration for my Coconut Chai Biscotti that I sent to Colleen.  (Psssttt... Colleen sent me amazingly chocolaty Mexican brownies with a spicy kick. Make sure you check out her blog today for that recipe!)
Also, I may be a tiny bit obsessed with making homemade biscotti lately. ;)  It really is so simple to make, and so much more cheaper than the biscotti you buy at the fancy coffee shop. 

What you will need:
2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp coconut extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup shredded coconut

For the cinnamon white chocolate glaze-
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1 tsp canola oil
1/8 tsp cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.  Set aside.

Combine the eggs, sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla and coconut extracts in a large bowl.  Beat on medium speed until the the mixture is light in color, about 3-4 minutes.  
Fold in the shredded coconut.

In a medium bowl, whisk all the spices (the cinnamon through the black pepper) evenly into the flour.  
On low speed, gradually beat the flour/spice mixture into the wet mixture until incorporated.

Transfer the dough to your lined baking sheet and form into a flat loaf, about 15 inches long & 5-6 inches wide.  Bake for 25 minutes, and then remove from the oven.  Turn the heat down to 325.  
Allow the loaf to cool for about 5-10 minutes.  I like to lightly pat down the loaf with water after it has cooled for about 5 minutes to prevent the loaf from cracking.

Once the loaf has cooled a bit but is still warm, cut into about 1 inch thick slices using a chef's knife.  I know that most people tend to use a serrated knife when cutting biscotti, but I ALWAYS find that my slices rip and crumble when I use one.  I switched to cutting them with a chef's knife and never had that problem again. :)
You can cut your slices on a diagonal, if you wish.  I usually just cut them straight across.

Once cut, transfer all the slices flat side down back to the baking sheet.  Bake an additional 20-25 minutes.
Transfer the baked slices to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.

Once cooled, you can prepare the cinnamon white chocolate drizzle or glaze.  Mix your white chocolate chips and canola oil in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave on high for 1 minutes, and then mix.  If it isn't 100% melted and smooth when you mix it, microwave for another 15 seconds.  Then mix in the cinnamon.  I like to drizzle my biscotti while they are still on the wire rack.  I just slide a piece of waxed paper underneath of the rack to catch the drippings.  
Allow the chocolate to harden completely, and then store in an airtight container for up to a month.

I was really pleased with how the flavor of these biscotti turned out.  It had just the right amount of spice to it, and went wonderfully with a cup of hot tea or a nice cup of coffee.  I hope Colleen has enjoyed them as much as I have. :)

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So, what do you all think?  Will you be joining us in The Leftovers Club this month? ;)
Be sure to check out the other recipes in this month's The Leftovers Club below!

Savory Simple - Quinoa Granola
Bakeaholic Mama - Amish Friendship Muffins
Damn Delicious - Cinnamon Puppy Chow
Frugal Foodie Mama - Coconut Chai Biscotti
Let's Give Peas a Chance - Chocolate Chip & Potato Chip Cookie Bars
A Zesty Bite - Oreo Toffee Brownies
Sugar Dish Me - Chocolate Cake Cookies
Eats Well With Others - White Chocolate Blondies
Kelly Bakes - Lemon Thyme Shortbread
Eat Bake Drink Cook - Frosted Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Food n' Focus - English Muffin Bread

Coconut Chai Biscotti

by Frugal Foodie Mama
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients (10-12 biscotti)
    For the biscotti
    • 2 eggs
    • 2/3 cup sugar
    • 1/2 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 tsp coconut extract
    • 2 cups flour
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 1/2 tsp ginger
    • 1/4 tsp cloves
    • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
    • 1 tsp cardamom
    • 1/2 tsp black pepper
    • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
    For the cinnamon white chocolate glaze
    • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
    • 1 tsp canola oil
    • 1/8 tsp cinnamon
    Instructions
    Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
    Combine the eggs, sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla and coconut extracts in a large bowl. Beat on medium speed until the the mixture is light in color, about 3-4 minutes.
    Fold in the shredded coconut.
    In a medium bowl, whisk all the spices (the cinnamon through the black pepper) evenly into the flour.
    On low speed, gradually beat the flour/spice mixture into the wet mixture until incorporated.
    Transfer the dough to your lined baking sheet and form into a flat loaf, about 15 inches long & 5-6 inches wide. Bake for 25 minutes, and then remove from the oven. Turn the heat down to 325.
    Allow the loaf to cool for about 5-10 minutes. I like to lightly pat down the loaf with water after it has cooled for about 5 minutes to prevent the loaf from cracking.
    Once the loaf has cooled a bit but is still warm, cut into about 1 inch thick slices using a chef's knife. I know that most people tend to use a serrated knife when cutting biscotti, but I ALWAYS find that my slices rip and crumble when I use one. I switched to cutting them with a chef's knife and never had that problem again.
    You can cut your slices on a diagonal, if you wish. I usually just cut them straight across.
    Once cut, transfer all the slices flat side down back to the baking sheet. Bake an additional 20-25 minutes.
    Transfer the baked slices to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
    Once cooled, you can prepare the cinnamon white chocolate drizzle or glaze. Mix your white chocolate chips and canola oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minutes, and then mix. If it isn't 100% melted and smooth when you mix it, microwave for another 15 seconds. Then mix in the cinnamon. I like to drizzle my biscotti while they are still on the wire rack. I just slide a piece of waxed paper underneath of the rack to catch the drippings.
    Allow the chocolate to harden completely, and then store in an airtight container for up to a month.
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    For Nutritional Info on this recipe, please CLICK HERE.