Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti Recipe - EnriLemoine (2024)

by Enri

These are the most delicious pistachio and cranberry biscotti ever. These biscotti are undoubtedly the richer cousins of those Cantucci di Prato (almond and anise cookies) from Tuscany, Italy.

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What are biscotti?

Biscotti are Italian twice-baked cookies. The word biscotto (biscotti’s singular form) means “double cooked.” They are hard, and you may need to dip them in a beverage to “hydrate” while eating them. Italians love to do so in a sweet fortified dessert wine called Vin Santo.

Traditionally, biscotti are made with whole unblanched almonds. They are oblong, dry, and crunchy. The crunchiness is due to the twice-baking process. First, they make a long slab with the dough and bake it. Then, they slice the baked slab and bake those slices.

The double-baking process makes the cookies hard. Because they are dry and hard, biscotti can be stored for long periods and become almost non-perishable goodies. This was very helpful, especially during wars.

Biscotti or cantucci?

Are these biscotti or cantucci? The answer to this question is they are both. According to Italy Bites, cantucci are the most famous Tuscan biscotti. Cantuccio (cantucci’s singular form)means piece or slice. It describes how these biscotti are diagonally sliced.

Festive pistachio and cranberry biscotti

Today’s recipe is not mine. I found it in The Essential New York Times Cookbook, the excellent compilation of classic recipes by Amanda Hesser.The recipe was originally posted in the NYT on November 1st, 1995.

All I did was follow directions, and the result was so exceptional that I decided to share the recipe with you. The only adjustment I made is that I did the first bake of these biscotti at 300°F instead of 350°F to avoid them getting so brown at the bottom. The rest is absolutely by the book.

Having pistachios and dried cranberries together makes these biscotti colorfully festive. I like to give them away as a homemade present any time of the year, especially during the holidays and Valentine’s Day.

How to pair cranberry and pistachio biscotti

These biscotti are perfect with coffee, tea, a glass of milk, and, of course, dipped in wine. I love them with my morning cappuccino.

What you need to make this recipe

The following is a list of utensils and ingredients to make this recipe:

How to store these biscotti

This recipe yields two dozen biscotti. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. In my house, however, they don’t last more than 36 hours, including the eight hours a day we devote to sleep. That’s the problem when something is so good!

Pistachio and cranberry biscotti recipe

Following is the recipe. I hope you like it as much as we do. Thanks for subscribing tomy Youtube channelandvisiting my Amazon shop.

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Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti

These are the most delicious pistachio and cranberry biscotti ever. These biscotti are undoubtedly the richer cousins of the world reknown Cantucci di Prato.

Servings: 24 biscotti

Calories: 135kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ Teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup dry cranberries
  • 1 ½ cup shelled unsalted pistachios

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300°F.

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl.

  • With an electric mixer, beat the olive oil with the sugar in another bowl.

  • Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix.

  • Add the eggs and mix.

  • Reduce the speed and add the flour mix.

  • Once all the ingredients are well incorporated, slowly beat in the pistachios and the cranberries.

  • Divide the dough in half.

  • Since the dough will be sticky, rinse your hands with cold water to handle it.

  • Form each half of the dough into a lslab about 10 inches long and 2 inches wide.

  • Place the slabs on the lined baking sheet, spacing the logs about 4 inches apart.

  • Bake for about 35 minutes or until the lslabs are lightly brown.

  • Let the slabs cool down for about 10 minutes.

  • Reduce the oven temperature to 275°F.

  • Place the slabs on a cutting board, and cut them on the diagonal with a serrated knife into ¾-inch-slices.

  • Place the slices flat on the baking sheet and bake them for 8-9 minutes.

  • Transfer to a rack to cool.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti

Amount Per Serving

Calories 135Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Trans Fat 0.001g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 14mg5%

Sodium 30mg1%

Potassium 111mg3%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 40IU1%

Vitamin C 0.2mg0%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Enri

Soy una escritora que cocina o una cocinera que escribe: el orden de los factores de no altera el producto. Desde 2010 hice de SAVOIR FAIRE el lugar donde convergen mis dos pasiones y ahora desarrollo recetas profesionalmente y trabajo como estratega y creadora de contenidos digitales, incluyendo la producción de videos de cocina. Disfruta mis recetas.

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Pistachio and Cranberry Biscotti Recipe - EnriLemoine (2024)

FAQs

Is biscotti better with oil or butter? ›

Despite their centuries-old heritage, there is no one perfect way to make biscotti. Some recipes call for eggs only, which is the traditional method, while others swear by butter or oil. The choice is yours; just keep in mind that those made with butter or oil will have both a softer texture and a shorter shelf life.

What is the difference between American and Italian biscotti? ›

Here it is, a biscotti recipe everyone can enjoy — unlike classic Italian biscotti, which are quite hard, these are light and crunchy. Biscotti bake twice rather than once, and thus take a bit longer start-to-finish than normal drop cookies.

What does baking soda do in biscotti? ›

Baking soda – baking soda helps the biscotti rise and spread. Make sure that your baking soda isn't expired. Sugar- we used granulated sugar for this recipe. You can use caster sugar as well.

How many calories in a cranberry pistachio biscotti? ›

*These biscotti have 120 calories and 4 grams of sugar per serving as compared to the full-sugar version that have 140 calories and 9 grams of sugar per serving.

What is the secret to making biscotti? ›

12 Tips For Making The Absolute Best Biscotti
  1. Use room-temperature ingredients. ...
  2. Boost the flavor with spices, extracts, and zest. ...
  3. Toss in some add-ins for flavor and texture. ...
  4. Let the dough chill before shaping. ...
  5. Use floured or greased hands to shape the dough. ...
  6. Shape the dough into a smaller loaf than you want.
May 29, 2023

Are biscotti healthier than cookies? ›

Unlike many traditional cookies, biscotti are often lower in fat and sugar. Add some heart healthy nuts and you have a satisfying and relatively light treat! This delicious cookie can easily be made vegan & vegetarian friendly.

What do Italians eat biscotti with? ›

Since they are very dry, biscotti traditionally are served with a drink into which they may be dunked. In Italy, they are typically served as an after-dinner dessert with a Tuscan fortified wine called Vin Santo. Outside of Italy, they more frequently accompany coffee, including cappuccinos and lattes, or black tea.

Are cantucci and biscotti the same thing? ›

Biscotti cookies, also known as cantucci, are traditional Italian cookies. They are known for their long shelf life and crisp texture. They can be enjoyed with coffee or tea, dipped in wine, or used as a dessert topping.

What do Italians drink with biscotti? ›

As they do in Tuscany, you can dip your biscotti into rich red wines, especially those on the sweeter side. Marsala wine and Vin Santo are the wines of choices for dipping. Most connoisseurs on either side of the pond agree that dipping biscotti into a sweet Italian wine is the perfect end to a hearty Italian meal.

Should you chill biscotti dough? ›

You guessed it, add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with the wet ingredients. Fold in the pistachios, cardamom, and vanilla extract. Because the dough can be sticky and hard to form, it's important to chill the batter for a good 30 minutes before baking the first time.

What happens if you forget baking powder in biscotti? ›

Most baked goods need a leavening agent to make them rise, and if you leave it out, your cake or your cookies will fall flat. Baking powder makes dough rise because it contains both a base and an acid in dried form.

How do you keep homemade biscotti crispy? ›

Make sure they are completely cold [ cool on a rack] and place on a paper towel inside an airtight container. This is how I do mine and they stay crunchy.

What spices go well with pistachios? ›

Flavor pairings
  • Chocolate (dark, milk or white)
  • Citrus: orange, blood orange, lemon, Meyer lemon.
  • Candied orange.
  • Orange blossom water and rose water.
  • Wildflower or orange blossom honey.
  • Dried fruits: dates, apricots, raisins.
  • Spices: saffron, cardamom, clove, sea salt, pink peppercorns.

Are biscotti high in sugar? ›

Nutrition Facts

Biscotti contains 20 mg of cholesterol, 70 mg of sodium and 9 g of sugar. Of its 4.5 g of fat, biscotti contains 2 g of saturated fat -- 10 percent of the daily value for saturated fat based on a 2,000-calorie diet. A homemade biscotti might contain 20 g of sugar and 5 g of saturated fat.

Can you freeze biscotti? ›

How Long Does Biscotti Last? Your homemade biscotti will last for up to one month in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want to keep the biscotti longer, you can freeze it for up to three months.

Is it better to use butter or oil in cookies? ›

Indeed, cookies made with butter are usually softer and more tender than those made with oils. And last but not least, butter in cookies helps achieve that perfect texture. That's because butter melts at a lower temperature than other fats, allowing cookies to spread evenly while baking.

Do biscotti contain butter? ›

Traditional recipes do not include a fat like butter or oil making them very dense, but American-style biscotti tend to include a fair amount of butter that is whipped for a lighter, more crumbly texture.

Why is butter better than oil in baking? ›

Butter is considered a solid fat because it is solid at room temperature and oil is considered a liquid fat because it's liquid at room temperature. Because of this, you can't rely on oil to provide any leavening help in baked goods, which can result in a denser texture.

What is a substitute for butter in biscotti? ›

Oil: This biscotti recipe uses vegetable oil instead of butter, which results in a lighter and crispier finished product.

References

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