Gingerbread Biscotti

Since the success of my first batch of biscotti (white chocolate dipped cranberry biscotti)… I have come to the conclusion that it is one of the simplest cookies to make.

Although my friends at Jen’s Just Desserts don’t agree with me.    She thinks they are too time consuming.  Which… I could possibly agree with if I were making enough for a cafe or restaurant… because you have to bake them twice.  But let’s be honest here.  The dough, it’s not that difficult to make.  And baking twice?  Ok… big deal.  I’m a home baker.  It’s not that big of an issue for me.

And if we’re really being honest here.  These biscotti that I have made are really so impressive looking that I don’t mind the extra step of baking twice!

Of the two I’ve made so far… these gingerbread are my favorite to dip in my morning cup of coffee.  Crisp and full of flavor… the gingerbread and my coffee mixed together is so perfect, I think I may be making biscotti every week to have as my mid morning snack with my coffee! YUM!

Enjoy!

Gingerbread Biscotti

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Yield: 12-15 biscotti

Ingredients

    Biscotti
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp cloves
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 3-4 Tbsp heavy cream

Instructions

    Biscotti
  1. Preheat oven to 375 F degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.
  3. One at a time, add the eggs until combined.
  4. Add the molasses and mix until smooth.
  5. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and spices.
  6. Add the flour mixture to the bowl with the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Dough will be sticky.
  7. Form the dough into a long rectangle, approximately 10 inches long and about 4 inches wide. I used an offset spatula to help spread and shape the dough. (Really, shape it as wide and as long as you like. I wanted long cookies, so I made mine wider.)
  8. Bake about 25 minutes or until top and bottom are golden brown. Remove, transfer to wire rack and allow to cool about 15 minutes. (If the bottom isn't too brown, you could leave it on the cookie sheet to cool. Remove it if it's already brown.)
  9. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into 1/2" slices. Lay each slice on it's side and place back on the cookie sheet.
  10. Bake for 10 more minutes or until golden.
  11. Remove and cool completely on a wire rack.
  12. Glaze
  13. Whisk together the powdered sugar, cinnamon and heavy cream until smooth. Add enough cream until you have a consistency you can drizzle over the biscotti.
  14. Once the biscotti has cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top. Allow glaze to set up before serving.
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White Chocolate topped Gingerbread Blossoms

Confession #1:  I love the Holiday season for one huge reason… It gives me an excuse to BAKE ALL THE TIME.

Confession #2:  I HOARD baking supplies.  This is a new thing for me.  Since moving to Germany, the luxuries of American grocery stores, having everything I need, at my disposal, all of the time is not a reality here.  When I see something at my local military commissary, I buy it… in bulk.

Confession #3:  I think “blossoms” may be becoming my favorite holiday cookie.  I have discovered two new ways of making them other than the traditional peanut butter with chocolate on top.  First, was my White Chocolate with Peppermint Kiss Blossoms and now these.  Gingerbread blossoms topped with white chocolate chips.

Confession #4: I’ve come to the realization that I’m not going to make it though the Holiday season without gaining 10lbs just from cookies.  It’s okay though, I’ll blame it on the pregnancy.

White Chocolate topped Gingerbread Blossoms
Makes 3 dozen+ cookies

3/4 cup (12 tbsp or 1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup full flavor molasses
1 tbsp bourbon whiskey (you can substitute vanilla if you don’t have bourbon)
2 tbsp milk

3 cups flour
1 tbsp ground ginger (fresh if possible)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg (fresh if possible)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup sugar
1 cup white chocolate chips

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and baking soda.  Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar for about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the egg to the sugar/butter and cream for another 2 minutes.  Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
  4. Slowly pour in molasses and bourbon then beat until combined.
  5. In three parts, add the flour mixture.  Scrape the sides of the bowl between each addition.  Mix just until combined.
  6. Add the milk and mix only until incorporated.
  7. Scrape the sides of the bowl and pat the dough into a ball.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour to firm.  If you have time, you can put the dough into the refrigerator 8 hours or overnight.
  8. When ready to bake your cookies, line cookie sheet with parchment paper and pre-heat your oven to 350 F degrees.
  9. Scoop 1-inch balls of dough using an ice cream scoop and form them into a ball using your hands.  Roll them in the sugar then place 2 inches apart on your lined cookie sheet.
  10. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.  Do not over bake!
  11. Immediately press your thumb into the top of each cookie.  Drop 6 white chocolate chips into the well you just created then remove cookies to a wire rack.
  12. After chocolate begins to melt, use a toothpick to swirl the chocolate together into a pretty swirl.
  13. Cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Recipe adapted from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody

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