Breakfast Biscotti
Maple Butter Walnut Biscotti
Grab some of this biscotti in morning on your way out and let it start your day right.
Preparation Time:
50 Minutes
Ingredients:
| 1 cup | unsalted butter, melted | |
| 1 cup | white sugar | |
| ¾ cup | brown sugar, firmly packed | |
| ¼ cup | pure maple syrup | |
| 1 teaspoon | pure maple extract * | |
| 1 ½ teaspoons | pure vanilla extract | |
| 3 | eggs | |
| 4 cups | all-purpose flour | |
| 1/3 cup | toasted walnuts, finely ground | |
| 2 teaspoons | baking powder | |
| ½ teaspoon | salt | |
| ½ cup | chopped toasted walnuts | |
| 2 cups | icing sugar | |
| ½ teaspoon | maple extract | |
| Cream, as required |
Instructions:
* Maple extract is usually available in supermarket baking ingredient aisles.
** These biscotti are luscious without any finishing touches but a coating of maple fondant or melted white chocolate makes them company-special.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Stack two baking sheets together and line the top one with parchment paper. Line an 8 by 11 inch rectangular pan (a brownie or pan used for squares is ideal) with parchment paper. If you don't have that size, use a 9 by 9 inch pan. Spray the pan (parchment lining as well) with nonstick cooking spray.
Have walnuts prepared and nearby.
In a large bowl, hand whisk the butter with the white and brown sugar. Blend in the maple syrup, extracts, and eggs. Fold in most of the flour, salt, baking powder, ground walnuts and chopped walnuts to make a thick batter. If it is very gloppy, add in another ¼ cup of flour to make a stiff batter. Spread or pat into pan.
Bake 40 minutes until set and seems firm to the touch; lower temperature to 325 F and bake another 15-20 minutes if biscotti seems not quite baked through (i.e. sides seem down but middle seems ‘tender').
Remove and cool 30 minutes and then invert on a platter. Freeze one hour (this facilitates cutting it).
Prepare the Maple Fondant by whisking all ingredients together to make a stiff fondant (soft icing). Alternatively, melt white chocolate (about ½ cup, chopped; Baker's works nicely) in a microwave for 1 minute. If you want plain white chocolate coating, use as is. For maple flavored coating, drizzle in a few drops of maple extract.
Smear fondant or white chocolate on the biscotti (it's nice to have some with white chocolate and leave some pure and simple).
Makes 1- ½ dozen, depending on size. You can leave some in long sticks (café style) or cut the biscotti in half, for more modest sized treats. Makes a great gift.