Cinnamon-Vanilla Biscotti

I am an awful baker!

This is not modesty... this is fact. You can ask anyone... especially the youth. Once I attempted a simple birthday cake for a youth outing and it totally flopped. I was out of butter so I used the butter spray instead. That was 10 years ago and  I still haven't lived it down. 

So you can imagine how insane it was for me to want to bake biscottis. I just had this desire, and it wouldn't go away. I decided to overcome my past fears and attempt it.. and they didn't turn out 1/2 bad!

{I just made some changes to Rocco DiSpirito's Anise Biscotti recipe}

I'm excited to give some of them as a thank you gift to some people who have made my life easier lately. I decided to pair it with some of my favorite teas and some fresh ground cinnamon coffee. I got the idea Martha Stewart here.

 

   Cinnmaon-Vanilla Biscotti

1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon cinnamon

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract until well blended. Combine the flour and baking powder, stir into the egg mixture to form a heavy dough. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Form each piece into a roll as long as your cookie sheet. Place roll onto the prepared cookie sheet, and press down to 1/2-inch thickness. 

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When the cookies are cool enough to handle, slice each 1 crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet. (I egg washed the tops and sprinkled with sugar) Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Cookie slices should be lightly toasted. Serve with your favorite coffee or hot tea!
REMEMBER: Biscotti cookies are going to be harder than a normal cookie. They are for dunking in your favorite beverage and they get soft as they soak it up.