Cranberry Almond Biscotti with Lemon Zest

The holiday season is just around the corner, so let’s spice this season up and replace traditional cookie recipes with this pleasing tea time treat.

Cranberry Almond Biscotti with Lemon Zest

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
1 stick of unsalted butter @ room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup of white granulated sugar
1/2 cup of golden brown sugar
Pinch of Nutmeg
Pinch of Cinnamon
zest of one whole lemon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons almond extract
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped salted dry roasted almonds

Preheat oven at 350 F

1. Place dry ingredients; flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.
2. In another large bowl, with an electric mixer beat together butter, brown & white sugar, lemon zest, almond extract, vanilla extract and beat in eggs 1 at a time.
3. Add dry mixture and beat together just until fully incorporated (*beware of over beating)
4. Fold cranberries and almonds into batter.
5. On parchment paper, very lightly flour the paper so dough will not stick. Roll dough into a 13-inch long, 3-inch wide log and bake on parchment paper until light golden brown about 35-40 minutes.
6. Cool for 30 minutes (Not allowing the cookie to cool completely will make it difficult to cut without it crumbling)
7. Using a serrated knife cut log into 1-1 1/2 inch thick slices. Place slices back onto cooling rack and place a baking sheet underneath. Put back into the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes at 350 F.

*Allowing biscotti to cool completely will give it that extra crunch

And then pair the biscotti with Coffee or Tea.

Cranberry Almond Biscotti with Lemon Zest

New Orleans is what I believe to be the food capital. If you love po-boys, crawfish boils, beignets, king cakes, crab, shrimp etc. you best believe me NOLA is the place to go.  Since my mom was born and raised in New Orleans, her whole side of the family still resides there and since I was born I have gone to New Orleans at least 30 times in my lifetime.  I suggest everyone to go there at least once!

Those that know me well know how much I love to cook and entertain. Thus, I am turning this blog into foodie blog filled with my family recipes and some of my own personal recipes I have created through trial and error.  For those who share the same passion as I do and love to cook, this blog will provide a flare to your everyday cooking routine. The only problem here my friends is most of the cooks I have met in New Orleans don’t really measure ingredients and have the “eye-ball” method  and since my dear mother falls into this category, I have followed in her footsteps.  But, work with me and I will start measuring & share some of my favorite family and personal recipes!