Orange Biscotti

Noo's Note:

These crisp, crunchy cookies are based on the classic Italian version. These contain no nuts and are a slightly softer than the original version, which makes them more child friendly (mine adore them!). Try them with your mid morning cup of coffee..

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 20 cookies

• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• 3 ½ ounces light muscovado sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 orange (rind and 2 tsp juice)
• 6 ounces self raising flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• 2 ounces polenta

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to gas 3/160°C/325°F.
2. Grease a baking sheet.
3. Beat together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat int the egg, then the orange rind, juice, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and polenta.
4. Tip the mixture on to a lightly floured surface and knead. Place dough on the baking sheet and flatten with the palm of your hand to make a rectangle approx 25 x 18 cm.
5. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove from the oven and leave to stand for 5 mins until slightly cooled. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the mixture widthways into thin sticks about 1 cm wide.
6. Space the cookies out slightly on the baking sheet, then bake for a further 20 minutes until crisp.
7. When cool, dust with icing sugar.

Reviews

[littlemafia]

Great taste! First time making biscotti so I had a few mistakes.I used cornmeal, after I read a review I saw that I was supposed to actually use polenta (even if it says very clear in the recipe). Mine came out a bit too hard, so probably I baked it for to long. But those were all my mistakes. I actually liked the texture from the cornmeal. I'll make these again and pay more attention!

[bluemoon downunder]

This is one of three of Noo's biscuit and brownie recipes I've made to take to my brother's for our family Christmas, the others being Dark Chocolate Chip and Vanilla Cookies and Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies: all delicious. We all love orange biscotti, and this is a very fine recipe for them. My mother and I have enjoyed the two that we've sampled and I know that they are going to be a hit! Very easy to follow instructions. Thanks for sharing this super-easy and wonderfully flavoursome recipe, Noo!

[Chef Kate]

These are particularly nice biscotti. Not too sweet, not too hard--just right! I think the only change I would make next time would be to, like Sydney Mike, intensify the orange flavor. I particularly like the textural impact of the polenta. Thanks, Noo!