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Cherry Almond Biscotti

Unlike many crumbly cookies, these biscotti are sturdy enough to mail. For a holiday gift, send a batch along with a pound of your favorite coffee beans.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 3 dozen

Ingredients

1

3/4 cups dried cherries

1

/2 cup amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur), plus more if needed

3

cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface

2

teaspoons baking powder

1

/2 teaspoon coarse salt

4

tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1

cup granulated sugar

4

large eggs (3 whole, 1 lightly beaten)

2

teaspoons pure vanilla extract

3

/4 cup whole blanched almonds, chopped

3

tablespoons coarse sanding sugar

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat cherries and liqueur in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until cherries have softened, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid. If liquid equals less than 2 tablespoons, add enough liqueur to make 2 tablespoons.

    Step 2

    Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Put butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in 3 whole eggs, one at a time. Mix in reserved cherry liquid and the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, and gradually mix in flour mixture. Stir in cherries and almonds.

    Step 3

    On a lightly floured surface, halve dough. Shape each half into a 12 1/2 by 2 1/2-inch log. Flatten logs to 1/2 inch thick. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush logs with beaten egg; sprinkle with the sanding sugar.

    Step 4

    Bake 35 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer to wire racks to cool, about 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.

    Step 5

    Cut each log on the diagonal into 16 to 18 pieces. Transfer pieces to racks, laying them on sides. Set racks on baking sheets. Bake 8 minutes; flip. Bake 8 minutes more. Let cool until crisp. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

Martha Stewart's Cookies