Crunchy, chocolatey, and utterly delightful! These Vegan & Gluten-Free Almond Chocolate Biscotti are the ultimate treat for guilt-free indulgence. Packed with the nutty goodness of almonds and a rich chocolatey twist, they’re perfect for dipping into your morning coffee or pairing with a cozy cup of tea. Whether you're hosting friends or savoring a quiet moment, these biscotti will have you saying ‘just one more!’

Techniques Used:

1. Preparing the Dough:

• Cream together plant-based butter with granulated white and brown sugars until smooth.
• Incorporate pure vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest for a fragrant base.
• Combine gluten-free all-purpose flour, baking powder, and ground cinnamon in a separate bowl.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, followed by almond milk, to form a cohesive dough.
• Fold in slivered almonds and Pascha Semi-Sweet Dark Chocolate Chips for added texture and flavor.

2. Shaping and Baking:

• Divide the dough into two portions and shape each into a log approximately 1/2 inch thick and 2 to 3 inches wide on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Sprinkle a cinnamon sugar cookie blend over the logs for an extra touch of sweetness.
• Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes until firm.
• Allow the logs to cool for 30 minutes to 1 hour, then slice diagonally into 3/4-inch wide biscotti.
• Return the biscotti to the oven, baking at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through, and then an additional 7-8 minutes until edges are crunchy.

3. Optional Chocolate Dipping:

• Melt additional Pascha Semi-Sweet Dark Chocolate Chips and dip the tips of the cooled biscotti into the chocolate.
• Allow the chocolate to set before serving.

Why You'll Love This Recipe:

• Vegan and Gluten-Free: Crafted without animal products and gluten, these biscotti cater to various dietary preferences.
• Rich Flavor Profile: The combination of almonds and dark chocolate offers a satisfying and indulgent taste.
• Simple Preparation: With straightforward steps and readily available ingredients, these biscotti are easy to make at home.
• Perfect for Pairing: Their crunchy texture makes them ideal for dipping into coffee, tea, or your favorite beverage.

Enjoy these delightful biscotti as a treat for yourself or share them with friends and family.

This recipe was created by sprinkledwithbalance as part of Pascha's Bake Off Competition.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Plant Based Butter, salted (At room temperature)
• 1/3 cup Granulated White Sugar
• 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
• 2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 tsp Almond Extract, or a little more to taste (optional but recommended)
• 1 1/2 tsp Orange Zest
• 292 grams (2 1/3 cups) Primal Palate Gluten-free All-Purpose Flour
• 2 tsp Baking Powder 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/3 cup Almond Milk (unsweetened, unflavored)
• 1/3 cup Slivered Almonds (Blanched)
• 2/3 cup Pascha Semi-Sweet Dark Chocolate Chips (plus more for melting)
• 1/2 tsp Primal Palate Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Blend, more or less to taste

Directions

1. Add the butter, white sugar and brown sugar to a large bowl. With a hand mixer (or regular mixer) beat them together until creamed and smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Add the vanilla extract, almond extract and orange zest, and stir them in with a spatula until fully incorporated.
3. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and cinnamon (and salt if butter is unsalted, see notes).
4. Add this flour to the butter and sugar mixture and stir it in with a spatula until flour is no longer visible.
5. Then add the almond milk and stir it in until incorporated.
6. Stir in the slivered almonds and chocolate chips. Place the bowl in a fridge for 30 minutes minimum.
7. Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
8. Remove the bowl from the fridge.
9. Add parchment paper to a large baking sheet. Add a little gluten free flour on it.
10. Cut the dough into 2 balls, then shape them into 2 logs about 1/2 inch thick and 2 to 3 inches wide on the baking sheet, apart from each other.
11. Sprinkle the log with a little cinnamon sugar cookie blend.
12. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
13. Remove baking sheet from oven and let logs cool down for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
14. Then cut each log diagonally into about 3/4 inch wide biscotti.
15. Place all the biscotti back onto the baking sheet flat, and bake for 10 minutes at 350.Then carefully flip the biscotti with tongs, and bake for another 7-8 minutes until crunchy edges.
16. Let cool down, then melt chocolate chips and dip the tip of the biscotti if you wish. Let rest until the chocolate has harden. Enjoy!

Notes

If your vegan butter is unsalted, add 1/2 tsp of salt to dry ingredient mixture. After baking the biscotti the 2nd time, the middle might feel a little soft but it's ok, it will get crunchier as it cools. Store leftovers for up to 10 days in an airtight container on the counter. You can use whole or chopped almonds instead of slivered or any nuts of choice. The recipe yields about 20 biscotti.