What’s on Your Holiday List?

I’ve got more books, to read, for sure, but right now my mind’s on holiday cookies. Specifically, these:

Double Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti

1 3/4 cups flour

3/4 c sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp instant coffee powder (to intensify chocolate taste. For mocha, bump up to 1 T)

1 stick butter

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease cookie sheet. Cream butter and sugar, whip in eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl between. Beat in vanilla. Whisk dry ingredients together and stir into the egg mixture, adding the chips and cranberries last. Dust a work surface with flour and turn out the dough. Flour your hands and shape into a ball. Cut in two pieces and shape each into a log, flattening until it’s about 3/4″ high and 2-3″ wide; leave space between for the dough to spread. Bake for 35 minutes, until firm. Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes and remove to cutting board with 2 spatulas. Slice diagonally into 3/4″ pieces and lay each on its side on the cookie sheet (touching is OK). Return to the oven for 10 minutes. Cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then remove to a wire rack. Optional garnishes: a dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of melted white chocolate, a dip into melted chocolate. Store in an airtight tin.

Happy Holidays!