Cooking with Kids: ‘Tis the Season for Baking Cookies – Bella Biscotti Cookies

Tis the season!

While your kids are making their lists for Santa and the Hanukah Fairy, it’s important to remember this time of year is also about giving back. Spend time with your kids making homemade treats for your friends and family. Personalize these cookies with your favorite toppings.

Bella Biscotti Cookies

Makes about 20 biscotti cookies (great for dipping in hot chocolate)

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour (1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 ½ all purpose)
1/2 teaspoon salt (sale)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup sugar (zucchero)
5 eggs (uova)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup sliced almonds
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon of butter (burro)

Tools:
Baking Sheet
Cutting Board
Large Bowl
Measuring Cup and Spoon
Serrated Knife
Small Bowl
Wooden Spoon

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
2. Grease a large baking sheet with a light coat of burro and then sprinkle the sheet with flour.
3. Mix the flour, zucchero, baking powder and sale together in the large bowl and make a hole in the middle of the mixture.
4. Add the 4 uovo, cinnamon, and vanilla into the hole and use the wooden spoon to stir it thoroughly.
5. Add the almonds evenly throughout the dough and using your hands make the dough into 2 logs.
6. Place each log onto the baking sheet, leaving 4 inches between the edges and the dough.
7. Beat 1 uovo in the small bowl and use the pastry brush to coat the logs with the uovo.
8. Bake the logs in the oven for 15 minutes, until they are a nice golden brown color.
9. Allow the logs to cool for 10 minutes and place them on the cutting board and cut them diagonally into 2 inch slices.
10. Arrange the slices back onto the baking sheet so that the cut sides are facing up and bake for another 5 minutes.
11. Cool the slices and bite into the crunchy goodness!

Alternative: Add 1 cup of chocolate chips (or your favorite treat) to the dough. Also, melt chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute and dip the ends of the cooled biscotti into the mixture. Refrigerate dipped biscotti for 1 hour and enjoy!

Yvette Garfield is the author and creator of the Handstand Kids Cookbook Series (www.handstandkids.com). Contact her at yvette@handstandkids.com. Get 20% off your Handstand Kids Cookbook by using the coupon code: HSK20!