Chocolate Chip Biscookies

I have to be honest … I think this is the best recipe on this entire My Global Kitchens site. I feel like it was inspired from above. I just had to repost! (Originally posted in June 2011)

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My Own Global Kitchen

As you can see from this video, I have filled my kitchen with all the things I love. But, for me, there’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked cookies emanating from the oven to warm up My Global Kitchen. And chocolate chip “biscookies” are, perhaps, my favorite recipe. They are a cross between a cookie and biscotti, hence my name “biscookie.” When I want to give someone I love a special gift for a birthday or anniversary, I often bake a batch of these treats. I’ve been perfecting biscookies for over ten years and it is the recipe everyone requests.

This recipe is very forgiving. It contains butter and eggs so it slices easily – making it far superior to other biscotti recipes that tend to be dry, rock hard and difficult to eat. And my favorite trick – using an electric knife! Typically these utensils are reserved for the one day a year when we carve our Thanksgiving turkeys. I pull mine out every time I bake biscookies and it allows me to make every slice symmetrical. I never figured I’d get so much use out of this little-utilized gadget I received as a wedding present 39 years ago!

Mise en place

I like to measure out my ingredients the night before and when I wake up early the next day I quickly put the batter together, toss it in the refrigerator and then bake the cookies. I often keep a jar of these on the counter and, from time to time, have one with my morning coffee. There are countless kinds of biscotti recipes out there. Some others I enjoy include white raisin and orange and chocolate with course ground pepper. Yet the combination of bittersweet chocolate and toasted almonds is my personal favorite.

Though I’ve been asked to share this recipe countless times over the years – I’ve never disclosed all the details. I figured it’s finally time to divulge my secrets – I hope you enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Biscookies

Makes approximately 24-30 large cookies

Ingredients
  • ½ cup salted butter (1 stick), room temperature
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. instant espresso powder (many grocery stores carry this in the coffee section)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups unbleached white flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup whole almonds with skins, toasted and cooled, then coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli is my favorite)
Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place rack in center of oven.

Using a mixer, cream the butter with the two sugars and espresso powder. Then add the eggs one at a time.

Stir together the flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Add this mixture slowly until just incorporated. Then add almonds and chocolate chips, stirring just until mixed.

Refrigerate the raw dough for 60 minutes in a bowl, covered well.

Divide refrigerated dough in half and form into thick logs – approximately 10 inches long and one inch thick. Place each log about 2 inches from the long edge of the cookie sheet so it has room to spread.

Cover the top of the logs of dough (it will be somewhat soft) with a sheet of parchment, then place a second empty cookie sheet on top and push down on the top sheet so the tops of the logs compress, are even. They will now be about 12 inches long and 2 inches wide. You can use a bench scraper to even out the sides too.

Place in oven and rotate the sheet halfway through the baking time. Bake 30 minutes total until nicely browned all over. Remove from oven and let rest on the baking sheet for six minutes.

Baked goods

Carefully lift each log onto a cutting board (I use a very wide spatula to do this, or use two spatulas). Slice on the diagonal with an electric knife into ½ inch wide strips, place slices on parchment lined sheet about ¼ inches apart from each other and bake 8 more minutes. If you don’t have an electric knife, use a serrated knife and slice gently. Remove sheet from oven and let cool on a cooling rack until they are room temperature.

Store in an airtight container – they’ll keep for about 14 days. Or you can freeze them for up to two months. This recipe can be easily doubled!

End note: I have a special blade for my stand mixer that scrapes the sides of the mixing bowl while it is mixing! In other words, it’s like having a rubber spatula do the work except you don’t have to stop the machine, scrape down the sides of the bowl, etc. It goes into the dishwasher too. If you order this, be sure to check the serial number and make of your stand mixer!

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