I think I told you how much I love a nice Biscotti, but these... ridiculous!!! A dark chocolate cookie, dried cherries and almonds, topped with an extra drizzle of dark chocolate!! If that's not heaven, then I don't know what is!!! Seriously, they are off the charts. So easy to make, yet such a decadent treat!! They also look absolutely gorgeous!!! It is hard to see in the picture, under all that chocolate, but the bits of red cherries add beautiful color!!! Dunk these in a cup of coffee, oh boy!!!!!
CHOCOLATE CHERRY & ALMOND BISCOTTI
2 1/2 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR 1/3 CUP HERSEYS SPECIAL DARK COCOA POWDER 1 TBLSP BAKING POWDER 1 CUP SUGAR 3 EGGS 1 TSP VANILLA 1/2 TSP SALT 1 CUP DARK CHOCOLATE MORSELS 3 TBLSP BUTTER 1 CUP ALMONDS CRUSHED 1 CUP DRIED CHERRIES ROUGHLY CHOPPED
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a small bowl....sift together the flour, baking powder, cocoa and salt.....
In a bowl of a stand up mixer or with a hand mixer, in a large bowl....mix the sugar and eggs. Add in the vanilla and mix all well......
Put the chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave them for about a minute. Stir and depending on your microwave they made need 30 seconds more, but when they are almost melted, add the butter. Stir to combine together.
Slowly add, while mixing, to the egg mixture. Mix well.....
Next....slowly add the flour mixture in small additions until all combined......
Beautiful....now just crush your almonds slightly and roughly chop your cherries. Add them all in and mix slightly......
That looks awesome!!! Lay two pieces of parchment paper out. Divide the dough in half and put half on each. Pull both sides of the parchment paper up and over the dough and use your hands to mold the dough into a log shape. pushing down gently and keeping the width about 3 inches...... It will make two logs. You can bake them separately or put them both on the same baking tray. Either way is fine!!!
Great...it's so easy to shape using the parchment paper. Now bake in a 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. It is hard to tell when it is beginning to brown with the color of these but try not to over bake. These will look little crackly on top when they are done,,,,,
Let them cool for at least an hour or more before cutting them. You will want to cut them on a diagonal and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide. Lay them flat on a baking tray and bake them again in a 350 degree oven for an additional 12 to 15 minutes.
Again, let them cool completely. Then....more chocolate....because why not!!! The more chocolate, the better!!! Right???? I like to lay them on a wire rack to do this part, so any extra chocolate will drip off the sides. Melt some more dark chocolate morsels in the microwave. Using a spoon or a whisk, dip it in the chocolate and slightly "throw" the chocolate back and forth to make thin lines. Or....you can dip one side of the cookie totally in the chocolate. Whichever way you prefer, both will look beautiful!!! You can also add some colored sugar, red or green, if you like!! Go ahead....get creative!!!
Are they gorgeous or what????? There your go.....these will look amazing on your Christmas Cookie Tray. If they make it on there.....you just might eat them all before they get on!!!