Ingredients
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
pinch salt
1 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1 c whole raw almonds
3 T unsalted butter
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t almond extract
2 t grated orange zest
8 oz good quality Semi-sweet Chocolate (optional)
Preparation
Lightly toast the almonds and grind 1/2 a cup until a fine meal. In a mixer, stir together the dry ingredients, the whole almonds and ground almonds. Add the butter and mix well. In a small bowl whisk the wet ingredients and the zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and beat until a unified dough forms. Remove from bowl and divide into 2 equal portions. Shape each into a log about 12 inches long. Place on one lined baking sheet and flatten to 3/4 inch thickness. Bake 20 min and remove to cool 10 minutes. Leave oven set on 350. Carefully cut logs diagonally with a serrated knife into 1/2 inch slices. Place slices cut side down on second lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown (8-10 minutes per side). While the biscotti cools, melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Drizzle generously over top of biscotti in a zig zagging pattern.
