Biscotti is a twice baked cookie.  It is shaped long, then baked, cooled, then baked again after slicing on an angle. Adding Brazil nuts with the biscotti batter shows very nicely in these slices and have a similar crisp texture.

A little chocolate never hurt a biscotti either!

Biscotti with Brazil Nuts and Coffee
One only needs to eat three Brazil nuts to get the most nutritional benefits these crisp yet buttery nuts have to offer, and they have many healthy benefits.

Nutrition

Brazil Nuts are a good source of many antioxidants, fibre and vitamin E.  It's always better to get your vitamins from a natural source rather than supplements if you can, especially vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps with vision and healthy skin.
Brazil nuts are best known for being an excellent source of selenium, a mineral that helps to protect against cell damage.  Too much selenium is not good for you either, but not too many people eat too many Brazil nuts every day.
Biscotti with Brazil Nuts ingredients
Ingredients for Biscotti with Brazil Nuts

One Brazil nut contains about 80mcg selenium, so a two cookie serving of Biscotti with Brazil nuts is probably perfect!

Toasted Brazil Nuts for Biscotti
Toasted Brazil Nuts for Biscotti

Preparing raw Brazil nuts

I toasted raw organic Brazil nuts.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and spread the Brazil nuts out on a baking sheet.

Bake these for about 8 minutes.  If you can smell them, take them out right away.  Then I rub them a bit because the thin brown skin starts to peel off.

You can also preheat a frying pan, preferably a heavy one like a cast iron frying pan and stir them in there until fragrant, also for about 8 minutes, but you must keep an eye on them and stir frequently!

Note! Any leftover Brazil nuts I keep in the freezer to prevent them from going rancid.

Biscotti with Brazil Nuts and chocolate

How to prepare 2 dozen Biscotti with Brazil Nuts

Sift the dry ingredients together and set aside.

Beat the eggs and sugar until pale yelow and fluffy and add the vanilla.

Add the just melted butter and beat in on low to start so it doesn’t splash.

sift dry ingredients
beat eggs with sugar
add vanilla to biscotti batter
add butter to biscotti batter

Mix in half of the flour mixture, then the rest of it.  When the second addition is almost mixed in, add the Brazil nuts to finish combining. I just find it easier to mix the nuts in this way.

The dough will be soft and sticky.

add half flour mixture
add Brazil nuts to biscotti batter

On an ungreased baking sheet lined with baking parchment, form into 2 -30cm (12”) long logs about 8cm (3”) wide using wet hands so the dough doesn’t stick. A silicone spatula also helps.

The dough will spread a bit.

Brush with beaten egg white.

Spread the biscotti batter
Smoothing the biscotti batter using wet hands
Beat egg white for brushing
Brush the biscotti with egg white

After the first baking, cool for at least 30 minutes.

Cut diagonally into ¾” slices. Some recommend using a serrated knife, I use a sharp knife.  There tends to be less crumbs. 

Place back onto the baking parchment. I stand them up if they will, so one side doesn’t brown too much.  The bottom is already brown, so I just keep it that way.  Unless the bottom is already more toasted than you would like, then lay them on their side to be baked again.

The second baking is to dry them crisp.

First baked biscotti
Biscotti sliced on an angle
Place biscotti on baking sheet to bake a second time

For the chocolate

Chop the chocolate into small chunks to make melting easier.

Place in a microwave safe bowl and microwave ¾ of the chocolate for about 20 seconds.  Let stand for about half a minute and microwave for another 15 seconds or so.  

Once it is almost all melted, start stirring until it is smooth, then add the other ¼ chocolate using only the heat from the melted chocolate. This is a quick, tempering to help the chocolate set quickly and with a nice finish.

Once melted, keep stirring until the chocolate holds a line when you drizzle it on itself.

I spread the chocolate on the bottom and place them on the parchment upside down, or sideways.

melting chocolate
tempered chocolate
spread chocolate on the biscotti
Biscotti with Brazil Nuts for recipe

Biscotti with Brazil Nuts

Delicious Biscotti with crunchy Brazil nuts spread with semi sweet chocolate
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Italian
Servings 2 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • cup All purpose flour (220g)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter (75g) mostly melted, not hot
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (156g)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups Brazil nuts whole, toasted
  • 6 oz semi sweet chocolate (170g)

Instructions
 

  • Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together, set aside.
    1¾ cup All purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt
  • Beat the eggs and sugar until fluffy.
    2 large eggs, 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • Beat in the vanilla and the butter starting on low speed to reduce splashing
    2 tsp pure vanilla extract, 1/3 cup unsalted butter
  • Mix in the flour mixture and the Brazil nuts. The dough will be soft and sticky.
    1 1/2 cups Brazil nuts
  • On an ungreased baking sheet lined with baking parchment, form the dough into 2 -30cm (12”) long logs about 8cm (3”) wide using wet hands so the dough doesn’t stick. The dough will spread a bit.
  • Brush with beaten egg white.
  • Bake 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
  • Cool for at least 30 minutes.
  • Then cut diagonally into ¾” slices.
  • Place back onto the baking sheet.
  • Bake for about 15 minutes longer at 350°F (180°C).
  • Chop the chocolate into small chunks to make melting easier. Place in a microwave safe bowl and microwave ¾ of the chocolate for about 20 seconds. Let stand for about half a minute and microwave for another 15 seconds or so. Once it is almost all melted, start stirring until it is smooth, then add the other ¼ chocolate using only the heat from the melted chocolate. Once melted, keep stirring until the chocolate is cool enough to hold a line when you drizzle it on itself.
    6 oz semi sweet chocolate
  • I spread the chocolate on the bottom and place them on the parchment upside down, or sideways.
Keyword Biscotti, Brazil nuts