Thursday, December 17, 2009

Putting the biscotti to bed... and gifting them...

Ok, time to wrap up the biscotti chapter with a perfect choice during the holidays:


Gingerbread Biscotti

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, beating well; beat in molasses.

Combine flour and next 7 ingredients; add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended.

Divide dough in half; using floured hands, shape each portion into a 9" x 2" log on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake at 350° for 28 minutes or until firm. Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°.

Cut each log diagonally into 3/4"-thick slices with a serrated knife, using a gentle sawing motion. Place slices on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes; turn cookies over, and bake 8 to 10 more minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.

I put a squiggle of white chocolate on some and white chocolate with sugar crystals on top for others. Very festive!

Now, for the gift idea....


Clearly label your gift bags (I got mine from Oriental Trading pretty cheap- search for 'goodie bag', the ones that are cellophane not paper)

This is in case your friend forgets which is which...






Make sure you have one of each flavor.

I put in two or three of each biscotti, depending on their size.


Yes, you are sneak peeking at some chocolate macaroons here!





Select some kind of beverage. Cocoa, tea, coffee, hot cider...










Bag the loot.....










Stuff in some tissue paper








These are great so your friends have something to snack on when they are wrapping their presents late with some coffee/tea. Your friends can use these for an emergency dessert for unexpected guests. These could also be eaten Christmas morning if you didn't feel like cooking! Don't wait until right before Christmas to give these, you want you loved ones to have the full range of advantage of having sweets around if they don't feel like baking themselves!

Happy Ha-ra-days! (lol)

2 comments:

Brittany said...

These are beautiful! Such a perfect gift for someone who has everything.

Susan Parran said...

Hi Jenny, cousin Sue here! Judging from your post last summer, and now these-- I think you must love your biscotti! And these LOOK AWESOME!

And, I wish I would have known you were desperately seeking this macaroon recipe--I have it! These are the same macaroons my mother makes and you're right, they are fudgy and crunchy and so tasty! I think my mom said she got it from the back of a can of sweet condensed milk; either Bordens or Eagle. Merry Christmas Girl!