Biscotti

Biscotti dough is made from flour, sugar and eggs, often with no butter at all, mixed with whole almonds and sometimes anise, citrus zest or chocolate. The dough is shaped into flat logs and baked, then cut on a slant into slices that go back into the oven to dry out completely.

This double baking gives biscotti a hard, crunchy texture and a long shelf life. The classic version from Prato in Tuscany, called cantucci or biscotti di Prato, is traditionally dipped into a glass of vin santo, a sweet dessert wine. Elsewhere they are a familiar partner for coffee.