Walnut Chocolate Biscotti

Walnut Chocolate Biscotti Recipe

2 cups walnut halves (about 8 oz.)
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate
5 tbsp. plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the walnuts on a cookie sheet and toast until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

In a double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter together. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Sift together the flour and baking powder. In a large bowl, beat the eggs lightly. Gradually beat in the sugar. Add the orange zest. Stir in the cooled chocolate until blended. Stir in the flour and baking powder until incorporated. Fold in the chopped walnuts.

Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

Butter a large cookie sheet and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Shape each half of the dough into a 14 x 2-1/2-inch log. Place about 4 inches apart on the prepared pan. Smooth the tops and sides with a rubber spatula. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the logs are firm when pressed in the center. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Do not turn off the oven.

Slide the logs onto a cutting board. With a large knife, cut each log diagonally into 1/2-inch slices. Stand the slices upright on edge on the prepared cookie sheet. Return to the oven and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until crisp. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

For more biscotti recipes, see Biscotti, Bars and Brownies (Specialty Cookbook Series).