Bake

Mocha Hazelnut Biscotti

by:
October 20, 2021
4.6
10 Ratings
Mocha Hazelnut Biscotti
Photo by Bette Blau Prop Stylist: Brooke Deonarine Food Stylist: Sophia Loche
  • Prep time 40 minutes
  • Cook time 1 hour 30 minutes
  • makes about 24 biscotti
Author Notes

I grew up in the ’80s. We had a curved glass-brick wall in the living room, I had unironic Jordache jeans and an asymmetrical bob, and it was cool to order biscotti for dessert. That hairdo is a pretty hard sell today, but these firm but tender cookies deliver. Dunk them in rum, amaro, cold milk, or espresso and, if you’re like me, be thankful you went through your awkward phases in an era before digital photography. —lallimusic

Test Kitchen Notes

Reprinted with permission from That Sounds So Good by Carla Lalli Music Copyright © 2021 by Carla Lalli Music. Photographs copyright © 2021 by Andrea Gentl and Martin Hyers. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup (67 g) hazelnuts
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons (16 g) instant coffee or espresso
  • 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (20 g) unsweetened
  • Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons (10 g) baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon (3 g) kosher salt
  • 8 tablespoons (4 ounces/ 112 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (192 g) sugar, plus more for sprinkling
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (90 g) semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Place hazelnuts on a small rimmed baking sheet and toast until darkened and fragrant, 10 to 12 minutes. Wrap in a clean kitchen towel to trap steam and let cool, 10 minutes. Using towel, vigorously rub hazelnuts to remove skins (it’s okay if not all of them release); roughly chop nuts and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
  2. Separate 1 egg, placing white and yolk in separate small bowls. Cover egg white; set aside. Crack remaining 2 eggs into the bowl with egg yolk. Add the instant coffee to the whole egg mixture and beat to combine. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl, then add the egg mixture and vanilla and beat on medium until combined, 1 minute. Scrape again and beat until creamy. Add the flour mixture and mix on low until combined, 20 seconds; scrape the bowl. Add the nuts and chocolate chips; mix on low to combine.
  4. Scrape dough out onto one prepared baking sheet. With damp hands, press dough into a loaf about 14 inches long, 4 inches across, and 1 inch thick. Beat egg white until foamy, then brush it over the top and sides of the dough. Sprinkle an even, generous layer of sugar over top.
  5. Bake until the loaf is firm in the center when pressed and starting to crisp around the edges, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating pan halfway through (it will spread as it bakes). Remove from the oven; let cool 15 minutes (longer is okay, but it needs at least this much time to firm up a bit). Carefully transfer loaf to a cutting board, then use a serrated knife to cut it crosswise into ½-inch-thick pieces. Using both prepared baking sheets this time, lay slices on a cut side and bake until the surfaces feel dry and crisp, 35 minutes. Let biscotti cool completely before eating. Store airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Tags:

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Popular on Food52

7 Reviews

brettxdavis@gmail.com
[email protected] December 4, 2022
These burnt for me after about 25 minutes on the second bake. The side touching the pan turned black before the side facing up reached the "dry and crisp" stage described in the recipe. If I make this again, I think I'd try to resolve this by flipping the biscotti after about 10-15 mins on the second bake.
 
jackieyoung
jackieyoung December 12, 2022
This happened to me as well and then I realized I accidentally didn't turn the oven down to 325 after the hazelnut toasting! Not saying that's what happened to you but just wanted to share.
 
cathyr8bd
cathyr8bd December 30, 2021
Scrumptious!
 
Bread4Me!
Bread4Me! December 5, 2021
They are quite bland. I made the recipe three times. The first as directed, too bland. Second time I added orange zest and extract, also bland. Third time I added dried cherries, still not great. I will stick to my friend and true Dried Cherry and Pistachio Biscotti
 
Ccchocolate
Ccchocolate November 25, 2021
These are now my absolute favourite I skimmed on the hazelnut and chocolate but next time ill go for a cup.
These are my new favourite i will try n bake them as cake as i love the perfect balance of flavours
 
Gina H.
Gina H. November 3, 2021
I watched the YouTube video and I was so excited to make these. The batter tasted delicious and the scent while baking was divine. About 20 minutes into the second bake I smelled a burning smell and they're totally burnt. I'm so sad. I would definitely start checking your cookies at 15 min on the second bake - of course it depends on your oven.
 
MD2662
MD2662 October 24, 2021
I did everything to possible to wreck this recipe (a distracted baker). I added the flour elements after I put the chocolate and nuts in the bowl. I sprinkled the sugar before the egg wash. And even so the biscotti turned out amazing! The flavour and texture is perfection!