Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (2024)

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These Traditional Christmas Cookies from Naples, Roccoco Biscotti are the perfect dunking cookie. A fast and easy cookie recipe that is full of almonds and so tasty. Serve with a glass of wine, Spumonte or even a cup of tea or an espresso!

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (1)Roccoco Biscotti

An Italian Christmas is very different then the Canadian one I grew up with. No stuffed Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy or even Shortbread!

But I have to say I can’t complain about the Roast Lamb, Crepe Cannelloni, Panettone or Biscotti. Including these Simple but very tasty Roccoco Biscotti.

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (2)
Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (3)
Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (4)

Where do Roccoco come from?

These cookies are originally from Naples and are served at Christmas Time, preferably with a class of wine, Spumonte, Limoncello or Marsala or if you prefer a cup of tea.

Interesting to know, the longer you bake them (without letting them burn) the harder they get. I bake mine for about 18 minutes and they are neither hard nor soft.

Although they could have gone another 3-5 minutes if you prefer harder biscuits, I have even heard an extra 10 minutes!

They are not a terribly sweet cookie, but have a distinct fall taste and aroma.

It’s best to store these cookies in an air tight container and they will keep for up to a week.

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (5)

How to Make Roccoco Biscotti

  • Toast the whole almonds, remove about 10 to top the biscotti with.
  • The remaining almonds coarsely shop.
  • In a large bowl add the flour, make a well in the middle and add the sugar, honey, chopped almonds, allspice, baking powder and the lemon and orange zest, stir to combine.
  • Add the water a little at time until you have a soft, compact dough that isn’t sticky.
  • Knead a few times on a lightly floured flat surface.
  • Remove pieces of dough and roll into about 4 inch ropes, then form into circles.
  • Place the circles on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Brush the cookies with an egg wash.
  • Cut remaining almonds into large pieces and place 3 pieces on each cookie. Bake for about 18-20 minutes.
  • Let cool before serving.

How to Roast Almonds

Preheat oven to 350F (180C), spread the almonds in an even layer on a cookie sheet, bake for about 8-12 minutes, stir the nuts 2-3 times while baking.

Remove the nuts from the oven and immediately transfer to a clean plate. Do not let the nuts cool on the cookie tray or they could burn.

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (6)

What is Pisto?

The traditional Naples Roccoco Recipe calls for an ingredient called Pisto. Which is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper and cloves.

I was not able to find it where I am, and I wasn’t going to go all the way to Naples to get a jar of spice, although Pizza al Napoletana, I wouldn’t say no to!

So I came to the conclusion that all spice would be the perfect substitute, and that is what I used.

More Delicious Italian Christmas Sweets

Italian Almond Cookies

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (7)

Chocolate Torrone

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (8)

Lupin Beans

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (9)

Struffoli

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (10)

So whatever you bake for your Christmas Celebration be sure to include something traditionally Italian. Enjoy!

Roccoco Biscotti

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (11)

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (12)

Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe

Rosemary Molloy

These Traditional Christmas Cookies from Naples, Roccoco Biscotti are the perfect dunking cookie. Almonds a fall spice make them perfect.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Total Time 28 minutes mins

Course Christmas Cookies

Cuisine Italian

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 85 kcal

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole almonds
  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons all spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • zest 1 orange
  • zest 1/2 lemon
  • 1/3 cup + 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoons water

EGG WASH

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C), line one or two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

  • Place the almonds on a cookie sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes. Stirring the almonds 2-3 times during baking time. Remove the almonds from the oven and immediately place in a clean bowl to cool. Once cool, remove 10 almonds, chop each almond into 3 pieces and set aside. The remaining almonds ground coarsely.

  • In a large bowl add the flour, make a well in the middle and add sugar, honey, ground almonds, all spice, baking powder and zest. Stir to combine.

  • Add the water a little at a time and and stir and bring together until almost combined, then move to a lightly floured flat surface and knead a few times until you have a compact soft, but not sticky dough.

  • Cut off pieces of dough and make 4 inch (10 cm) long ropes, form into circle shapes, overlapping one end a little on the other. Place cookies on prepared cookie sheets, brush with egg wash and top with 2-3 pieces of almonds. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes. Let cool before serving. Enjoy!

EGG WASH

  • In a small bowl beat together the egg and water.

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 58mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.7mg

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Italian Roccoco Biscotti Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between American and Italian biscotti? ›

Here it is, a biscotti recipe everyone can enjoy — unlike classic Italian biscotti, which are quite hard, these are light and crunchy. Biscotti bake twice rather than once, and thus take a bit longer start-to-finish than normal drop cookies.

What do Italians dip their biscotti in? ›

That's why in Italy, the crunchy are almost always dipped in a sweet wine called vin santo. Like cantucci, vin santo has its origins in Tuscany. It's usually made with trebbiano and malvasia grapes, and the slightly syrupy, amber-hued wine can have flavors of honey, hazelnut, and dried apricot.

What is traditional biscotti made from? ›

The mixture is composed exclusively of flour, sugar, eggs, pine nuts, and almonds that are not roasted or skinned. The traditional recipe uses no form of yeast or fat (butter, oil, milk).

What does biscotti mean in Italian? ›

1. The History of Biscotti – Biscotti comes from the Latin word biscoctus, which means twice-baked. While Italians use biscotti as an umbrella term, of sorts, to designate many different varietals of cookies, Americans use it as the name for this delicious long, crisp, twice-baked Italian cookie.

Is it better to use butter or oil in biscotti? ›

While some recipes use oil, I like to use butter for a better flavor and texture. Use unsalted, softened (not melty!) butter. Sugar. Since they are cookies, biscotti should be sweet!

Should you refrigerate biscotti dough before baking? ›

You guessed it, add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with the wet ingredients. Fold in the pistachios, cardamom, and vanilla extract. Because the dough can be sticky and hard to form, it's important to chill the batter for a good 30 minutes before baking the first time.

What Italian liqueur is served with biscotti? ›

"A uniquely delicious spirit, the famous Faretti liqueur comes from Northern Italy where wonderful biscotti cookies are baked in rustic brick ovens. Enjoy its delicately layered taste which combines hints of nuts, citrus and fennel in a symphony of flavor.

What is the right way to eat biscotti? ›

Apart from a classic Vin Santo or coffee pairing, our Biscotti cookies are incredibly versatile. You can garnish an affogato with a Cantucci, crumble the Dried Fruit & Seed cookies over yogurt for a parfait, serve the Candied Lemon on a cheese plate, or crumble the Double Chocolate Chunk into a decadent ice cream cake.

What are biscotti called in Italy? ›

Biscotti, also known as cantuccini or mandelbrot (Mandel bread), are traditional Italian cookies with a long history and rich cultural significance.

Are biscotti healthier than cookies? ›

Unlike many traditional cookies, biscotti are often lower in fat and sugar. Add some heart healthy nuts and you have a satisfying and relatively light treat! This delicious cookie can easily be made vegan & vegetarian friendly.

How long will homemade biscotti last? ›

How Long Does Biscotti Last? Your homemade biscotti will last for up to one month in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want to keep the biscotti longer, you can freeze it for up to three months.

What's the difference between biscotti and cantucci? ›

The main difference between Cantucci and Biscotti is their origin, Cantucci is from Tuscany, and Biscotti is from the region of Emilia-Romagna. Cantucci is typically made with almonds, while Biscotti are made with all-purpose flour and a variety of nuts and chocolate or nothing.

What is the difference between biscotti and biscotto? ›

The answer requires a bit of context: in Italy, all cookies are called "biscotti" - it's the direct translation of the word "cookies". In a world where every single cookie is called a biscotto (the singular form of the word) there needs to be a word for what we know to be biscotti.

What is ghost biscotti? ›

STRAIN PROFILE

The spirits of Gelato #25 and OG unify in this hybrid to create a cookie taste that lingers. Biscotti's densely tricomed nuggets beauty will keep the consumer buzzing from head-to-toe with sweet cookie sensations.

What are American biscotti called in Italy? ›

'biscuits') or cantucci ( Italian: [kanˈtuttʃi]) are Italian almond biscuits that originated in the Tuscan city of Prato. They are twice-baked, oblong-shaped, dry, crunchy, and may be dipped in a drink, traditionally Vin Santo. Smaller biscotti may be known as biscottini or cantuccini.

Do Italians eat biscotti with coffee? ›

Biscotti are Italian almond biscuits originating from Tuscany. They are twice-baked, oblong-shaped, dry, crunchy, and are often dipped in a hot cup of coffee before being enjoyed.

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