Walnut Biscotti

Name: Walnut Biscotti
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour (*); 1½ teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ cup unsalted butter ((softened to room temperature)); 1 cup cane sugar (*); 3 eggs (room temperature); 1½ teaspoons vanilla; 1½ tablespoons bourbon (*); 1 cup walnuts ((chopped)*)

This easy recipe is walnut biscotti perfection. Crunchy, buttery, and cozy. The perfect dipper in your favorite drink. Share the love or savor them solo. There is no judgment here.

Twelve walnut biscotti assorted on a metal cooling rack with a latte to the side.

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My nonni's biscotti recipe is one of the best gifts I have ever received. I've wowed friends and family with these year-round, from the holidays to summertime. They are a bit softer than traditional Italian biscotti, giving them the perfect crunch. The secret ingredient (ahem... bourbon) adds a rich and cozy flavor. They even travel and keep well, making the perfect gift.

When hosting parties, I love serving these biscotti on a cookie platter for dessert. For fellow biscotti lovers, they go great with my pumpkin biscotti. They are also delicious alongside other Italian cookies, like these amazing pignoli with rich almond flavor. They also go great with these 2 ingredient peanut butter cookies, 3 ingredient brown sugar cookies, and lemon blueberry cookies.

If you're looking for more delicious Italian recipes, check out this espresso ice cream. You can dip the biscotti in the ice cream for a fun twist on the traditional coffee and biscotti treat, or crumble the biscotti on top! It's also amazing when crumbled on top of this salted caramel budino, adding a great contrast in texture with the velvety custard. For another dessert with nuts, try this Italian almond cake that pairs very well with biscotti. I also love this chocolate ricotta cake that is very rich and indulgent! You can add a savory snack with this Ligurian focaccia, which goes great as an appetizer for this biscotti. Biscotti is also the perfect dessert for a pasta meal, like this delicious pasta al pesto or 6 cheese mac and cheese.

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Ingredients
Substitutions and Variations
Instructions
Equipment
Storage
Expert tips
FAQ
Related
Pairing
Recipe
Reviews

Ingredients

Sugar, walnuts, bourbon, baking powder, vanilla, butter, eggs, salt, and flour measured in glass bowls.

Ingredient Notes:

Eggs should be room temperature, since we are also using room temperature butter in this recipe.
All-purpose flour should be measured properly for best results. I recommend using a food scale to weigh the flour in grams since this is the most accurate method. If you don't have a food scale, the next best option is to "spoon and level" the flour. Do this by lightly spooning the flour into the measuring cup, not packing it down. Once the flour has reached the top, use the back of a knife to level off the measuring cup. This method prevents you from using too much flour and should be used whenever you're baking without a food scale, not just with biscotti recipes!
Unsalted butter should be softened to room temperature (not melted). Butter boosts the flavor and yields a slightly softer biscotti with the perfect level of crunch. I prefer to use grass-fed butter since it has a richer taste and is higher in certain nutrients, like omega 3's. But conventional butter will work just fine in this recipe.
Cane sugar is made of sugar cane and is less processed than granulated sugar. The sugar crystals are a bit larger and have a slight golden color. I prefer to use cane sugar over granulated because it's the less processed option and I believe it has a deeper, more complex flavor.
Bourbon elevates the flavor profile. After baking, the bourbon leaves deep notes of caramel and oak that add a cozy depth to the flavor and aroma. I prefer to use Knob Creek since it has a smooth, rich flavor, but other types of bourbon will work.
Chopped walnuts add a rich, nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch. I love baking with walnuts because they contain antioxidants and omega-3s that may support heart health and reduce inflammation.

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions and Variations

Granulated sugar: instead of cane sugar you can substitute with the same amount of granulated sugar.
Different mix-ins: the chopped walnuts can be substituted for a different nut of your choice. Some delicious options are chopped almonds, pecans, or pistachios.
Omit the bourbon: leave this ingredient out if you prefer not to use it.

Instructions

A glass bowl with flour, baking powder, and salt whisked. A whisk is in the bowl.

Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt.

A glass bowl with butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and bourbon mixed.

Step 2: In a large bowl using a handheld or standing mixer, mix the butter, cane sugar, eggs, vanilla, and bourbon until combined.

A glass bowl with the wet and dry biscotti ingredients combined and the walnuts mixed in.

Step 3: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing together until combined. Then stir in the walnuts.

A large glass bowl with a ball of biscotti dough placed on a marble countertop.

Step 4: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a ball. Then chill the dough for 30 minutes.

Two logs of biscotti dough placed diagonally on a metal baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 5: After the dough is done chilling, divide it in half and place it onto a lined baking sheet. With lightly floured hands, shape each half into a log that is 8 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 1 inch thick.

Two baked loaves of walnut biscotti on a metal baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 6: Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 30 minutes until the tops of the loaves are golden brown with some cracks. Let the biscotti cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.

A hand holding a serrated knife is slicing biscotti loaves on a wooden cutting board.

Step 7: Once cool enough to handle, transfer the loaves to a cutting board and slice diagonally into ½ inch pieces with a serrated knife.

Sixteen slices of baked biscotti on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 8: Place the slices cut side down on the lined baking sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes, then flip over the biscotti and bake for another 5-10 minutes. They should be lightly golden brown when done. They will harden more as they cool. Allow to cool completely before serving. Enjoy!

Equipment

Standing or handheld mixer
Baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat
Mixing bowls
Scale/measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Serrated knife. You can use a regular knife if you don't have a serrated one, but cut the biscotti very gently so they don't break.
Air tight container for storage

Storage

Store the biscotti for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. If freezing, place pieces of parchment paper between the rows of cookies so they don't stick together.

See the USDA Leftovers and Food Safety guide for more information.

Expert tips

1. Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping and baking the biscotti. This makes the dough easier to work with. It also prevents the dough from spreading too much when baking.
2. Lightly flour your hands before handling the dough and shaping the biscotti logs. This will prevent the dough from sticking to your hands.

FAQ

Is biscotti a bread or a cookie?

Biscotti is a sliced cookie that is long and finger shaped. It has been cut from a loaf of dough and baked twice to give it a characteristic crunch.

What do you eat biscotti with?

Biscotti is a crisp and crunchy cookie, making it the perfect dipper in your favorite beverage. In Italy, biscotti is traditionally served after dinner and paired with a dessert wine like Vin Santo from Tuscany. Outside of Italy, biscotti is often served with tea, coffee, or an espresso-based drink like a latte or an americano.

Are biscotti healthier than cookies?

Biscotti can be lower in fat and sugar than some other types of cookies. You can also add nuts that are a great source of nutrients and antioxidants, like walnuts or almonds.

Looking for more delicious cookie recipes? Check out these favorites: