Cranberry and White Chocolate Biscotti

Because of their dry texture, biscotti are traditionally served with a drink such as coffee or wine, into which they can be dunked. I like to serve it with the white chocolate creme brulee (see recipe in blog) that I also love to eat!

Ingredients
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 cups flour (2 cups depending on the size of your eggs)
1 tsp baking powder
100g white chocolate, coarsely chopped
70g blanched almonds
100g dried cranberries

Method
1  Preheat oven to 175oC. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until pale and thick.
2  Add sifted flour and baking powder, chocolate, almonds and cranberries and fold together to form a sticky dough. Divide mixture into two and turn out onto a lined baking tray.
3  Using wet hands, shape dough into two flat logs about 7cm x 20cm. Bake 25-30mins until lightly browned and firm.
4  Reduce oven to 150oC. Allow logs to cool at least 15 minutes then cut into 1cm-thick slices. (I like to cut mine thicker than this). Place on lined trays and bake for 15-20 mins until dry and crisp, turning over halfway through cooking. Cool on wire racks. Makes up to 35.

You can create your own biscotti flavours from this recipe using different chocolate, dried fruit and nuts, rum essence, or finely grated zest of an orange.

Florentine Slice

Ingredients
200g dark chocolate (or milk if you prefer)
3/4 cup sultanas
2 cups crushed corm flakes
1/2 cup roasted almonds roughly chopped
60g red glace cherries
2/3 cup condensed milk

Method
1 Put chopped chocolate in top of a double saucepan, stir over simmering water until melted.
2 Spread evenly over base of 28cm x 18cm tin lined with foil. Bring foil over edges for easy removal.
3 Refridgerate until set.
4 Combine sultanas, corflakes, almonds, chopped cherries and condensed milk in a bowl. Mix well and spread mixture evenly ovr chocolate base.
5 Bake in moderate oven for 15-20mins. Cool, refridgerate until set.

YUMMY!

Chocolate Chip biscuits

This has got to be the most delicious chocolate chip biscuit recipe you can find.

Ingredients
125g butter, softened (you can use unsalted as well)
1.25 cups tightly packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 egg, lightly beaten
1.5 cups plain flour
0.5 tsp baking powder
1.5 cups chocolate bits

Method
1 Preheat oven to 180oC.
2 place butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until light and creamy. Add vanilla and egg and stir to combine.
3 Stir in the sifted flour and baking powder until just combined. Fold through chocolate bits.
4 Place spoonfuls of mixture on a lined baking tray, allowing room for spreading. Cook for 15-20 mins, until they turn pale gold. allow to cool on the tray for 5 mins before placing biscuits on a wire rack to cool further. Makes 16.

My Anzac Biscuits

I've never been one to really follow a recipe and this is a prime example! I started with an Anzac biscuit recipe and gave it a twist. The attempt was to make a biscuit you felt guilt free when eating. Hey, they have got to be better than eating processed museli bars from the supermarket!

Ingredients

1 cup plain flour
1 cup coconut
1 cup rolled oats
half a cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp hot water
125gm butter
2 Tbsp golden syrup
1.5 cups total of a combination of raisins/sultana, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, sliced almonds. (Or whatever you have in the cupboard)

Method
1 Melt butter and syrup together in a saucepan and leave to cool.
2 all dry ingredients together, add fruit and nuts. Add butter mixture and mix together.
3 Dissolve soda in water and mix in.
4 Place rounded balls on a greased over tray. Bake at 180 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden.
Makes approx 16, depending on the size you choose.