Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti

These chocolate biscotti are one of my favorites. They have a rich chocolate flavor with the delicious aroma of toasted hazelnuts. These crunchy treats definitely deserve a place among the homemade sweets you can give as holiday gifts 

Ingredients

• 1 cup hazelnuts (150 g)

• 1 cup brown sugar (200 g)

• 120 g chocolate (I used chocolate chips)

• 1 3/4 cups flour (220 g)

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder (40 g)

• 1 tsp baking soda

• A pinch of salt

• 3 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• White chocolate for decorating (I used white chocolate with candy cane pieces)

Steps

1. Toast the hazelnuts in a dry hot skillet, shaking and stirring occasionally, until golden and fragrant. Let the nuts cool, then remove the skins with your fingers

2. Grind the hazelnuts in a blender, but do not grind them too finely

3. Combine the sugar and chocolate chips and grind them in a blender as well (if using a chocolate bar, break it into pieces first)

4. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt

5. Beat the eggs with the vanilla using a mixer

6. Reduce the speed, add the sugar mixture, then the hazelnuts, and mix until a dough forms

7. Dust your hands with flour and shape the dough into 2 logs (25 × 5 cm each)

8. Bake in a preheated 160°C (320°F) oven for 35 minutes

9. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes, then cut diagonally into 1 cm thick slices

10. Place the slices flat-side down on a baking sheet and bake for another 10 minutes on each side

11. Once cooled, decorate the biscotti with melted white chocolate, if desired