Monday, November 1, 2010

Honey-Lavender Biscotti

Since we have harvested our first jars of honey I have been trying to find recipes to include with lavender.  So on this damp and cold morning what a great excuse to turn on the oven.  Give them a try....they're yummy!

Honey-Lavender Biscotti

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange zest
1 tablespoon dried Culinary Lavender florets

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust oven rack to the middle position. Lightly grease three baking sheets (lining the baking sheet with parchment paper prevents sticking and makes clean up much easier).

In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk sugar and eggs to a light lemon color. Stir in honey, vanilla extract, orange zest, and Culinary Lavender florets. Sprinkle dry ingredients over the egg mixture. Fold in until the dough just combines.

To shape the dough into a log, lightly sprinkle flour on the work surface, on top of the dough, and on your hands. Use just enough flour to form the logs and to prevent sticking; you don't want the logs to be covered with flour. Divide dough into six equal pieces. With your hands, pat and shape each piece into a loaf approximately 3 inches wide, 7 inches long, and 3/4-inch high. Place two rolls onto each prepared baking sheet with 3 to 4 inches of space between them.

Bake 25 minutes or until dough pops back up when lightly pressed with a finger. (After dough has baked 10 minutes, reverse cookie sheets from front to back and move from the top rack to the bottom one. Repeat this again after another 10 minutes). You can't judge the cooking by the color. The biscotti shouldn't change color during the second baking, so poke them to tell if they're done. They should feel dry and offer some resistance. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.

Reduce oven to 275 degrees F. Using a long serrated knife, cut logs diagonally into 1/2-inch thick slices. Turn the slices over, onto their sides; return slices, on baking sheets, to oven. Bake another 15 minutes. NOTE: Do not crowd the biscotti slices on the baking sheet for their second baking as they need the hot air to circulate to enable them to crisp up evenly. Remember biscotti will continue to crisp up, as they cool, so do not be tempted to over bake. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire racks. Store biscotti in an airtight container. They will keep well for a few weeks.

Yields about 50 biscotti.
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