Biscotti (chocolate and orange)

Orange and Chocolate Biscotti

TO CHASE THE BLUES AWAY!

These days I feel like retiring to a deserted island somewhere, never ever watching the news and just listening to the sound of the waves nearby. So I head to the kitchen instead  and bake a batch of biscotti! ( easy fix for big and insoluble problems ). I have been baking biscotti for years, tweaking and tweaking recipes until I settled on this version because it is sinful (chocolate) but lean (no butter or oil) and the addition of orange rind and blossom water make me feel like I am basking in the mediterranean sun…

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs, size Large

1 cup of granulated sugar

2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

Pinch salt (optional)

Rind of 3 large oranges

6 and up to  12 oz. 60% dark chocolate chips or chocolate bar chopped up coarsely

Flavoring: 1 Tablespoon of orange flower water

                1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

                1 Tablespoon of either Calvados or Grand Marnier  

METHOD

1) Break the eggs into a large standing mixing bowl. Add the sugar and mix the eggs and sugar a bit. Warm some water through the tap and fill up a bowl with the water, then place the bowl containing the eggs and sugar on top, without letting the water seep in. The idea is to warm up the egg mixture. After about 5 minutes, place the eggs and sugar in a standing mixer and beat for about 10 minutes until the mixture is very thick and pale yellow and forms a ribbon. Stop and lift the beater. Add the flavorings. Remix for a few seconds. 

2) Mix the flour, baking powder and salt (if using) with a whisk. Sift the flour mixture over the egg mixture then mix the dough every few seconds to make sure all the flour is incorporated.  Add the orange rind to the mixture and mix to spread it evenly. 

3) Add the chocolate chips last while mixing them gently into the dough.

4) Divide the dough in 2 parts and place each half on parchment paper in the shape of a log. Bake the 2 cookie sheets at the same time for about 30 minutes in  a moderate oven (350F), until the logs are puffed up and golden throughout. Cool the logs for a few minutes or hours, or even overnight on the stove or in a cupboard.

5) With a serrated knife, cut the logs on the diagonal in 1/4 in. slices. Place the slices next to each other in a cookie sheet in a very slow oven (170 to 215F) for 30 minutes or more, until the slices are totally dry and crisp. That’s it!

NOTE

The cookies will keep in a metal, glass or plastic container for a good 3 weeks.

The flavoring can be adjusted according to your preferences and what is available in your pantry, so you can omit the liquors and use orange extract or vanilla or both.

This recipe will yield about 50 cookies.