Homemade Cherry Biscotti is a delightful treat that combines rich flavors with a satisfying crunch. This almond biscotti recipe utilizes basic ingredients like flour, butter, and dried cherries, creating a perfect balance of taste and texture. 

The combination of dried cherries and creamy white chocolate elevates these almond biscotti cookies to a new level, making it a favorite for snacks or dessert. With easy-to-follow steps, this homemade version brings a touch of gourmet to any kitchen!

Biscotti cookies

If you didn’t know, biscotti is actually classified as an Italian cookie. Fun fact: The word “biscotti” actually means “baked twice,” which is what we do to give our cherry almond biscotti the perfect texture. In Italy, they use the word “biscotti” to refer to different types of cookies, while here in America, we see biscotti as cookies like these. In Italy, they actually refer to these biscotti as an entirely different name!

Why you’ll love this easy cookie recipe

• Great for fancy occasions. Valentine’s day, romantic dates, any holiday, or just Sunday brunch, are all perfect occasions for serving up some chocolate cherry almond biscotti. Biscotti are perfect for dipping into coffee or tea, making them a great companion for those cozy moments with friends and family.
• Basic ingredients. If you have ever made cookies from scratch, then you’ve already got a good idea of the ingredients needed. The basics like flour, sugar, butter, baking powder, etc. This recipe is simple and straightforward, making it accessible for bakers of all skill levels. Each ingredient plays a vital role, ensuring a memorable treat with every bite.
• They look great! Your chocolate cherry biscotti will not only look professional when you are finished with them, but they’ll taste great too! Serve them with your favorite warm drinks and enjoy them whenever the mood strikes. They also make a lovely gift, packaged beautifully for friends and family.

Dried Cherry Biscotti Ingredients

Flour: For the structure and base, you will need 2 cups of all-purpose flour for this recipe.

Baking powder: Use 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder so that the biscotti can leaven properly.

Butter: Adding ½ cup (one stick) of softened butter gives the biscotti a wonderful rich flavor.

Sugar: For a little added sweetness, you’ll need ½ cup of granulated sugar.

Eggs: Help bind the ingredients together by adding 2 large eggs to the dough.

Vanilla extract: Enhance the incredible flavors by adding 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

White chocolate: Use one 12-oz bag of white chocolate chips. These will be used in the biscotti and as a decorative drizzle on top too.

Dried cherries: You need ½ cup of dried cherries, this is sure to be plenty for every slice.

Almonds: Adding ½ cup of slivered almonds will give us a subtle flavor note as well as a little crunch.

How to Make Cherry Biscotti

Prep

Start by getting the oven preheated to 325 F. Then, lightly grease a large baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper, then set it aside.

Make dough

In a small bowl, mix the flour and baking powder, then set it aside.

After that in a separate bowl, combine the softened butter and sugar, beat with an electric handheld mixer or a stand mixer, on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Next add in the eggs and vanilla extract, mix again until well combined.

Proceed to gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until well blended after each addition.

Then gently fold in 1 ½ cups of chocolate chips, all the cherries, and almonds.

Shape

Once the dough it ready, continue to roll it out to ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface. If the dough is too sticky, gently knead in some flour to toughen it up a little bit.

Then cut the dough into strips, like regular biscotti, and place them 2-inches apart on the greased baking sheet.

Knead the leftover dough together, roll it out, and cut again until all the dough has been used.

Bake

Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

After that, turn the cookies over on the baking sheet and bake again for another 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Once the baking is done, remove the cookies from oven and place on wire racks to completely cool.

Decorate

In a microwave safe dish, melt the remaining chocolate and drizzle it over the biscotti. You can also use colored candy melts if desired.

Let the cookies set until the chocolate/candy melts are firm, serve and enjoy!

Substitutions & variations for this Biscotti Recipe

Flour: Whole wheat flour can replace all-purpose flour for a nuttier flavor.

Butter: Unsalted butter can be substituted with coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free option.

Eggs: Chia seeds or flaxseeds mixed with water can serve as an egg replacement for a vegan version.

White chocolate: Dark chocolate chips or a mix of white and dark chocolate can be used for added depth.

Dried cherries: Any dried fruit, like cranberries or apricots, can replace dried cherries for varied sweetness.

Spices: Incorporating spices like cinnamon or nutmeg can enhance the biscotti’s profile.

Print

CHERRY BISCOTTI

Homemade Cherry Biscotti is a delightful treat that combines rich flavors with a satisfying crunch. This almond biscotti recipe utilizes basic ingredients like flour, butter, and dried cherries, creating a perfect balance of taste and texture. 

Course Cookies, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword CHERRY BISCOTTI

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 18 cookies

Calories 255kcal

Author Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ cup butter 1 stick, softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 12 oz. bag of white chocolate chips
• ½ cup sweetened dried cherries chopped
• ½ cup slivered almonds

Instructions

• Prep: Preheat the oven to 325 F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper, set aside.
• Make dough: In a small bowl, mix the flour and baking powder and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the softened butter and sugar, beat with an electric handheld mixer or a stand mixer, on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, mix well again. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until well blended after each addition. Then gently fold in 1 ½ cups of chocolate chips, all the cherries, and almonds.
• Shape: Once the dough it ready, roll it out to ¼ inch thick on a floured surface. If the dough is too sticky, gently knead in some flour to toughen it up a little bit. Then cut the dough into strips, like regular biscotti, and place them 2-inches apart on the greased baking sheet. Knead the leftovers together, roll them out, and cut again until all the dough has been used.
• Bake: Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Turn the cookies over on the baking sheet and bake again for another 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Once the baking is done, remove the cookies from oven and place on wire racks to completely cool.
• Decorate: In a microwave safe dish, melt the remaining chocolate and drizzle it over the biscotti. You can also use colored candy melts if desired. Let the cookies set until the chocolate/candy melts are firm, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Homemade biscotti should be stored in an airtight container and they will last up to 1 to 2 weeks, at room temperature.

This biscotti will not last quite as long as traditional methods because of the added fats (in this case, the butter), but the shelf life is still longer than a traditional cookie.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 309IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg

How long will homemade biscotti stay fresh?

If properly stored in an airtight container, you can expect your biscotti to last up to 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature. This biscotti will not last quite as long as traditional methods because of the added fats (in this case, the butter), but the shelf life is still longer than a traditional cookie.

What is the ideal flour substitute for a gluten-free cherry biscotti?

For a gluten-free option, almond flour or a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend works well. These alternatives can provide a similar texture without gluten. It is advisable to check that the blend contains xanthan gum for proper binding.

Can I freeze homemade biscotti?

Yes! Biscotti freezes very well! Feel free to place your cooled and set biscotti pieces on a baking sheet and freeze them solid for 2 hours before transferring them to an airtight container and freezing for up to 3 months. They won’t take long to thaw, so you can allow them a few minutes to sit at room temperature while you prepare your drinks, and they should be ready within 15-20 minutes.

Can fresh cherries be used instead of dried cherries?

Fresh cherries can be used, but they contain more moisture. This may affect the dough’s consistency. It is recommended to reduce other liquid ingredients or to pre-dry the fresh cherries to better balance the dough.

Do you knead biscotti dough?

Yes. We use the word “knead” because we do knead it like bread, but not exactly like that either. In reality, we only want to knead the dough a few times to make it no longer sticky, whereas with bread, you knead for several minutes to make it smooth and elastic. Overmixing and over kneading your biscotti dough CAN happen, so make sure to only knead until the dough has had enough flour incorporated to no longer feel sticky.

Our youngest daughter does competitive gymnastics. I was talking about this to another mom the other day and it helped me see ALL the ways being on a gymnastics team has helped my daughter. It’s actually pretty amazing! She’s in great shape and has developed incredible abilities, yes. But she’s also learned how to work hard, how to persevere, how amazing her body is and how much it’s capable of, how much it means to cheer on teammates, how to apply a coach’s teachings, etc, etc, etc! SO MANY THINGS. We have kids in other sports, but there’s something to the long-term nature of gymnastics that is just incredible.

Here she is posing for professional pictures. SO CUTE.

For some more Pretty Cookies, check out these recipes:

• COCONUT ALMOND CHERRY SHORTBREAD
• LINZER COOKIES
• EASY APRICOT COOKIES
• COCONUT CREAM COOKIES
• DANISH BUTTER COOKIES
• HONEY BUN COOKIES
• BEST FRUIT PIZZA COOKIES
• CHEESECAKE COOKIES
• BAKERY STYLE ALMOND JOY COOKIES
• ESPRESSO BUTTER COOKIES
• SPRING LEMON CRINKLE COOKIES
• NEAPOLITAN COOKIES
• CHERRY SHORTBREAD COOKIES
• BOSTON CREAM PIE MACARONS
• CHEESECAKE STUFFED FUNFETTI COOKIES
• COCONUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES
• WATERMELON SLICE & BAKE COOKIES

Cherry Biscotti is made with slivered almonds, dried fruit, and feels so fancy when eating it. These biscotti cookies are a wonderful treat that is perfect with your morning coffee or tea.

The post CHERRY BISCOTTI appeared first on Family Cookie Recipes.