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.

Try 3 issues of Good Food magazine for £3 - subscribe now!

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 61-80

  • Binder photo EmSmith

    22 December 2009

    EmSmith rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made these as part of a hamper for my in-laws and am so glad I made too many. They're delicious and so easy to make! Was a little worried that they would crumble to pieces when sliced but they held together beautifully. I used cranberries instead of cherries too and those, coupled with the pistachio kernels, gave the biscotti a gorgeous (and most Italian) red, white and green colour scheme. So I plan on dunking mine in some Vin Santo on Christmas Eve. Salute!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo lec

    22 December 2009

    lec rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Very easy to make but fantastic results! I used dried cranberries, macadamia nuts, almonds and white chocolate chips, turned out great.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo LittleChef

    24 December 2009

    LittleChef rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Valerie

    01 January 2010

    Valerie rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo CocoVanilla

    02 January 2010

    CocoVanilla rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo k_london08

    05 January 2010

    k_london08 rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo MummySanders

    08 January 2010

    MummySanders rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Sarah

    14 January 2010

    Sarah rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Debbie

    28 February 2010

    Debbie rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo libnrl

    23 March 2010

    libnrl rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo izysticklee

    04 April 2010

    izysticklee rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Makes a LOT of biscotti, but tasted great.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Rabbit

    15 April 2010

    Rabbit rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really easy and fun to make, and so many people enjoyed it, I will have to make some every year now! I bought the bags from Lakeland and made it into Christmas gifts for friends. Would also be a good thing to make and sell at Christmas fayres.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo mmmmmmmmlekker

    18 June 2010

    mmmmmmmmlekker commented on this recipe

    I have made them several times now and I just love them. I just don't want to give them away (but I do ofcourse), perfect birthdaygift as well. Lovely with a cup of tea or coffee.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo mmmmmmmmlekker

    18 June 2010

    mmmmmmmmlekker commented on this recipe

    Thay're also nice as birthdaygift, or just for yourself with tea or coffee. I love them, easy to make and the house smells great and all these fruits and nuts in them, great!!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo HootieMcBoob

    05 July 2010

    HootieMcBoob rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made these for my daughters teachers last christmas and they were hugely popular. One of my daughters teachers, who is Italian was wowed and asked for the recipe! A great idea for a gift, that was made with love by me and my daughter. Huge thumbs up!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Susan

    19 August 2010

    Susan rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo missyali

    12 September 2010

    missyali commented on this recipe

    i love this recipe and never tire of cooking these up. Perfect for gifts. I only seem to get about 50 biscuits out of this though I guess my slices are a little thick but I find it hard to slice them thin with all the whole nuts inside. No ones complaining though!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo HampersGift

    26 September 2010

    HampersGift commented on this recipe

    Thanks for the recipe, I love to include this in my <a href="http://www.bradfordsbakers.com/?target=category&category_id=344">Christmas Hampers</a> it's just that i don't know how to do it, so I buy from a friend. Now I can do it on my own. Thanks. http://www.bradfordsbakers.com

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo beccy_marie

    27 September 2010

    beccy_marie commented on this recipe

    For those of you that froze it how long did you bake before putting it in the freezer and how long did you bake after? Did you slice after second baking?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Anca

    02 October 2010

    Anca rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    A favorite treat! I'm making it without pistachio (unsalted one is very expensive) by doubling up the almonds. I also love to add an extra tsp ground cardamom because it matches better with coffee.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

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
Print this recipe
Add to your binder

PER BISCUIT

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

Advertisement

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons why to sign up:

  • You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
  • You can add your own recipes to this site for others to try; plus, rate and make comments on recipes, and share your views on our blog.

Follow Good Food

Advertisement

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy 100+ triple-tested recipes delivered to your door, every month.

Order today, and receive your first 3 issues for just £3

On TV

Foodie TV

See your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 247, Virgin TV 260 and find their recipes at goodfoodchannel.co.uk.

Good Food Apps

Good Food Apps

For Good Food on the go, download our apps to your phone or portable device.
Find out more here

Buy ingredients

With just one click, the full list of recipe ingredients will be put into a basket at your choice of provider. Choose from:

mySupermarket Compare prices and choose a retailer you wish to buy them from.

Ocado Let Ocado deliver all you need for this recipe, right to your door

Tesco Buy all the ingredients from our recipes through your Tesco online shop.

new

Asda Shop with Asda? You can now buy ingredients for our recipes via your Asda online shop.

In association with the above providers. Terms and conditions apply.

Close