Vanilla Biscotti

Every Christmas I give cookies to my friends, family, neighbors and clients. I usually decorate and package them for the season. This holiday I got a great idea from Food TV. Sandra Lee created gifts by filling clear glass mugs with cookies and hot chocolate. I loved the presentation so much that I decided to put my own spin on it.

I found the most perfect ruby red glass mugs at the Christmas Tree Shop for get this (2/$1.00). I bought all that they had left on the shelf!! Unfortunately, with all the hustle and bustle I forget to take a photo of them all done up. I really regret that because they were really cute.

I rapped 2 biscotti in clear cellophane paper and filled holiday goody bags with 3 tablespoons of Ghiardelli Hot Chocolate (enough for one cup of hot chocolate). I attached a small note with heating directions for the hot chocolate and placed it all in the mug.

Vanilla Cinnamon Biscotti
Recipe adapted from Carol's Biscotti of Scialo Bros. Bakery in Providence, RI Printed in the Providence Journal, December 2001

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 tablespoons pure vanilla
Egg wash(egg mixed with a little water)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Combine the suar, baking powder, and butter.
2. Blend in the vanilla.
3. Mix in the eggs and add the flour one cup at a time.
4. Spoon dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet to form two logs 1 1/2 inches wide by 1 inch high.
5. Brush logs with egg wash and bake for 20 minutes turning pan half way through.
6. Remove them from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes. Move the logs to a cutting board and cut logs diagonally into slices 1 inch thick to produce cookies. Turn each onto its side and rebake at the same temperature for another 5 to 10 minutes depending on how crisp you like your cookies.
7. To decorate melt dark and milk chocolate in separate bowl and spread a thin layer over cool cookies. One dried, drizzle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle with colored sugar or jimmies.

I felt like these were the easiest and safest cookies to give a large number of people. I always worry about nut allergies and some people just don't like nuts, which I can't imagine, but it's true. Cinnamon and vanilla seem to be flavors that everyone likes. They seemed to be a hit, so I guess I did good!!