Peanut Butter Pecan Biscotti

January 30, 2011

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My life is so orderly.  Most afternoons I make up a pot of coffee, whip up some cookies, take out my fancy napkins and invite a friend over for coffee.

Nothing is ever out of place.  My hair is always shiny and perfect.  My lipstick never wears off.  I could totally walk down a read carpet… like, now.

My dishes wash and dry themselves… and hop right back in the cupboard where they belong.

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Occasionally there are crumbs, but I keep them contained to my lined baking sheets.

Everything is easy and perfect.  You should see just how neat and tidy my closet is. Too good to be true.

And I don’t have to pay taxes…

… oh man… if only that were true.

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In real life, no one is coming over for coffee and cookies.  Nope.

I’ll drink the coffee… I’ll eat the cookies… I’ll push the cat away as soon as he realizes there are cookies on the table for him to lick.

My dishes don’t do themselves.  They can’t.  They have no conscience.

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Perfect is dumb.  I’m totally over it.

Can I tell you about these Peanut Butter Biscotti?

I love biscotti a certain way.   No teeth shattering crunch.  Lots of flavor.  A little bit of soft cookie give.  Is that too much to ask?

These peanut butter biscotti totally fit the bill.  They’re sugar topped and twice baked , but still have a some softness.  Pecans don’t bake up into teeth breaking monsters… that’s why I like them.

Here’s what I want you to know:  these cookie dippin’ sticks are good.  If your instinct is to add chocolate… we are best friends.

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Peanut Butter Pecan Biscotti

Makes: about 2 1/2 dozen biscotti

Print this Recipe!

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/3 cup natural peanut butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk (save the egg white for the egg wash)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup pecans

egg wash and 1 tablespoon of milk for egg wash

sugar for topping

Place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment, beat together butter, peanut butter and sugar.  Beat until well incorporated and slightly fluffy in texture.  About 3 minutes.  Stop the mixer, scrape down the bowl and add egg and egg yolk.  Beat on medium speed until well blended, about 2 minutes.  Add the dry ingredients, all at once to the peanut butter mixture and beat on low speed until just incorporated.  Stop mixer.  Add pecans and remove the bowl from the mixer.  Finish incorporating ingredients with a spatula.  Dough will be slightly dry.  That’s ok.

Divide the batter between the two baking sheets and shape dough into two logs about 8-inches long and 1 1/2-inches wide.  Brush with egg wash and sprinkle generously with granulated sugar.

Bake on alternating racks for 15 minutes.  Switch baking racks and  bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking pans until cool enough to handle, but still soft.  Use a serrated knife to slice biscotti about 1-inch thick.  Place cut side down on the baking sheet and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Biscotti will last, in an airtight container at room temperature, for up to 10 days.

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{ 177 comments… read them below or add one }

Nancy Marie February 18, 2011 at 11:51 am

I made these last night and they were fantastic! I had to get them out of my house (so I didn’t eat them all in one sitting) so I brought most of them to work with me this morning. Word of mouth spread fast and an hour later there are only crumbs left.

Oh, and a half-dipped mine in semi sweet chocolate! I highly recommend it :)

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April February 23, 2011 at 12:39 pm

I just made these biscotti with a few alterations. I also posted a blog entry (http://wp.me/pzj0m-bx) on them. I hope you don’t mind. These are amazing and life changing.

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Barbara Bell Capozzi March 2, 2011 at 1:13 pm

Just looking at these cookies make me happy. Keep up the good work.

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Enid Barnes March 5, 2011 at 9:25 pm

These are excellent! Texture is perfect–some give in the centre and chewy. I replaced the pecans with chocolate chips. There were groans of ecstacy from all.

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TheGourmetCoffeeGuy March 6, 2011 at 9:50 pm

Your peanut butter pecan biscotti recipe sounds delicious and worth trying. Nice post and great pictures, thank you for sharing.

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Hannah March 28, 2011 at 12:04 am

Haha, oh Joy, thats so cute, that you think this delicious biscotti will be around for 10 days. om nom nom

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lauren March 30, 2011 at 1:03 pm

These biscotti are amazing!!! It turned them vegan with flax substituting the egg, earth balance for the butter, maple sugar for the sugar and ww pastry flour for the flour and they were still awesome! Thanks so much for the recipe. :-)

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joythebaker March 30, 2011 at 7:04 pm

nice substitutions!

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Kerry April 16, 2011 at 12:47 am

WOW!!! These are the best biscotti I’ve ever had! I substituted honey roasted peanuts for the pecans, and used raw turbinado sugar for topping. I’ll definitely be making these again soon. Maybe I’ll add some dark chocolate chunks next time.

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Halley (Blunder Construction) August 14, 2011 at 8:40 am

I’m going to make these with almond butter + almonds, and I hope my cat doesn’t try to lick them!

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Shugrr September 16, 2011 at 7:39 pm

Love this! Added chocolate chips to one loaf…in the oven now and I can’t wait to have a taste!

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Kristi October 17, 2011 at 1:23 pm

Great biscotti!! I made one big log and substituted dry roasted peanuts for the pecans and added chocolate chips…..soooooo good!

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Kelly November 8, 2011 at 2:39 pm

Amazing. I blogged about it and made sure to link the recipe. Tomorrow I think I’ll atempt a soup….

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Scottie Dawg November 30, 2011 at 9:32 pm

I’m really nervous about my first craft show tomorrow, so I made these to calm my nerves, and- they smell and taste amazing!!! I added mini chocolate chips (because mini things are adorable, and chocolate because, well, because chocolate). You make the whirling tornado of creepy wing-ed insects in my belly feel a little less hectic, with magical foodstuffs and fun reading. Thank you!

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