Fruity Christmas biscotti

Fruity Christmas biscotti

The perfect make-ahead gift, these will keep for up to a month after baking and look really impressive

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes about 72 biscuits

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Cook time

Cook 1 hr

Freezable

Can be frozen part-baked and sliced

Method

  1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper. Put the flour, baking powder, spice and sugar in a large bowl, then mix well. Stir in the eggs and zest until the mixture starts forming clumps, then bring the dough together with your hands - it will seem dry at first but keep kneading until no floury patches remain. Add the fruit and nuts, then work them in until evenly distributed.
  2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 pieces. With lightly floured hands, roll each piece into a sausage about 30cm long. Place 2 on each tray, well spaced apart. Bake for 25-30 mins until the dough has risen and spread and feels firm. It should still look pale. Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire rack for a few mins until cool enough to handle, then turn down the oven to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1.
  3. Using a bread knife, cut into slices about 1cm thick on the diagonal, then lay the slices flat on the baking sheets. The biscuits can be cooled and frozen flat on the sheet at this point, then bagged and frozen for up to 2 months. Bake for another 15 mins (20 mins if from frozen), turn over, then bake again for another 15 mins until dry and golden. Tip onto a wire rack to cool completely, then store in an airtight tin for up to one month, or pack into boxes or cellophane bags if giving as gifts straightaway.

PER BISCUIT

50 kcalories, protein 1g, carbohydrate 9g, fat 1 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 0g, sugar 6g, salt 0.06 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2008.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 101-120

  • Binder photo Terri Talbott

    22 December 2010

    Terri Talbott commented on this recipe

    Found some pretty jars and Christmas ribbon - went down a treat as gifts for work!

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  • Binder photo Bundlebrent

    23 December 2010

    Bundlebrent rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made these last night - very easy and delicious! Pretty and festive. Did not have raisins but added more cherries (which our family prefer anyway). Great recipe to do with kids as my 5 year old was very happy to get her hands mucky kneading the dough. Have put into pretty tins for gifts. A keeper!

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  • Binder photo Mairi

    13 January 2011

    Mairi rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo Catarina Trindade

    20 January 2011

    Catarina Trindade rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo woo

    23 April 2011

    woo rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made these for Christmas gifts and have been asked for repeat presents! I have made them several times since. I followed the recipe exactly and this gave me a decent looking biscotti which tasted really fruity. They are perfect served with strong coffee to dip them into or just as they are. I gave these biscuits in little gifts boxes with tissue paper surrounding them to make sure they didn't break up. I have also made the almond and chocolate biscotti recipe also on this site and these really complement each other. (http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4988/double-chocolate-almond-biscotti )

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  • Binder photo Simon

    24 July 2011

    Simon rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I found this recipe needed a lot more flour than recommended as the dough was very wet & sticky - keep more available close to hand.

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  • Binder photo Robyn Connor

    26 October 2011

    Robyn Connor rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made this recipe twice now and although it can be a bit fiddly it is so worth it. I added a couple of drops of almond essence and a handful of dried cranberries, both of which added to the deliciousness. This is now a favourite of mine to make for presents- my Mum refuses to buy biscotti anymore as she says theres no comparison :) biscuitsandblackites.blogspot.com

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  • Binder photo Hil

    18 November 2011

    Hil commented on this recipe

    I have made these the last 2 Christmasses and given as gifts...will be doing the same again this year. Easy to make, taste great and look impressive :-)

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  • Binder photo Cupcake

    20 November 2011

    Cupcake commented on this recipe

    Made this at the weekend, used cranberries instead of cherries, turned out really well. Will be making again.

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  • Binder photo Ellie

    28 November 2011

    Ellie rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Just finishing these off in the oven now, the smell of christmas is slowly drifting up the stairs :) I've frozen 3/4 which will be given as presents and cooking the rest. The dough was a bit fiddly and it was a bit awkward getting the fruit in, I added juice from half the orange to make the dough a bit more pliable and a little more flour which worked fine. I'm looking forward to giving them out as christmas presents :)

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  • Binder photo scotster

    03 December 2011

    scotster rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    These are the best biscotti I've ever tasted and I can't believe how easy they are to make! I used dried cranberries instead of cherries and they were delicious, and they made a lovely festive gift in a jar with a nice ribbon on it.

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  • Binder photo alex's food

    03 December 2011

    alex's food rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I have made these for Christmas hamper for family. I am very impressed how they turned out, even my husband likes the fruit ones and he hates dried fruit. Just a tad sweet - I will add less next time, I had large eggs as well but only added some of the three egg mixture until I got the right texture - turned out well . large eggs would be too much I think. I added cranberries, raisins, chopped walnuts, chopped almonds in one half and choc chips, cranberries and walnuts in the other - all taste great. Great recipe - thanks.

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  • Binder photo MummySanders

    03 December 2011

    MummySanders commented on this recipe

    Ridiculously good and look so impressive. Easy to make. I forgot to put them on this year's Christmas to do list and had lots of sulking to contend with!

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  • Binder photo Kim's Miracle Cafe

    06 December 2011

    Kim's Miracle Cafe commented on this recipe

    Wow just made these today. Turned out great. Very traditional and I am so happy they didn't have any extra added fat or oils. They are going to be a part of my Christmas gifts for co-workers.

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  • Binder photo Recipes

    06 December 2011

    Recipes commented on this recipe

    Nice recipe BUT......good thing I've made biscotti before. The printed recipe in the magazine calls for 50g of flour......I thought the mixture was much too runny for biscotti and decided to look online for the recipe. Good thing I did, as the flour calls for 350g!!! Easily fixed, but if you've never made biscotti before you may not know how the dough should look/feel.

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  • Binder photo charly3989

    10 December 2011

    charly3989 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Just finishing the last of the biscuits off in the oven, the ones that are done taste so yummy! I used cranberries instead also. One thing I did want to know is how long will they keep fresh? Thi page says a month, is this correct? Its 2 weeks to xmas and i'm thinking of giving them as gifts but don't know if i should make another batch just before xmas?!

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  • Binder photo Almond

    10 December 2011

    Almond commented on this recipe

    Made this today and it smells great. Used only almonds and a mixture of sultanas and cherries as that's what I had. Think I would use a little more orange zest next time. DOn't know how you'd get 72 out of it - I go t about 44. Great recipe :)

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  • Binder photo pinkprincess

    13 December 2011

    pinkprincess rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    After reading the comments and intending to make this for Xmas pressies, I also changed the cherries for cranberries. Also used white sugar instead of golden as I didn't have any golden in. I don't think this effected the flavour much as they still taste delicious! They were very quick and easy to make, although when cutting they did crumble a little like some of the other comments said. We did use a bread knife and a normal sharp knife and found the bread knife easier. We made the 4 logs and 3 are in the freezer ready to just pop in the oven to finish off before putting them in hampers. The 4th one we finished baking as we had to taste test it! ;) Can confirm that they are delicious. Will definitely be making again. We didn't quite get 72 though, I think this is because hubby cut them a little thicker!

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  • Binder photo Munchie

    14 December 2011

    Munchie rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I baked these for the first time this weekend and brought them into work as a christmas treat for my work colleagues. They all loved them, and some of them even requested the recipe! I changed the fruit to Cadbury Chocolate chunks and they worked excellently. Really pleased, will defo make again!

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  • Binder photo chocolate buffaloec

    19 December 2011

    chocolate buffaloec commented on this recipe

    Yet again, a Christmas winner. I made them for a friend who swore they were better than his Italian mother's and proved it by finishing off almost a plate of them after a 3 course meal. A fabulous recipe! Only thing I changed was swapping the cherries for Cranberries. Enjoy!

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes about 72 biscuits

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Cook time

Cook 1 hr

Freezable

Can be frozen part-baked and sliced

Ingredients

  • 350g plain flour , plus extra for rolling
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp mixed spice
  • 250g golden caster sugar
  • 3 eggs , beaten
  • coarsely grated zest 1 orange
  • 85g raisins
  • 85g dried cherries
  • 50g blanched almonds
  • 50g shelled pistachios
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PER BISCUIT

50 kcalories, protein 1g, carbohydrate 9g, fat 1 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 0g, sugar 6g, salt 0.06 g

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