Monday, February 24, 2014

Cinnamon Biscotti with Cinnamon Chocolate Drizzle

Hey Hey! Welcome to the last week in Febrrrrary!! Yes! It's almost over! There are so many things I'm looking forward to doing this spring. One thing I'm so pumped about is planting my own garden! I'm extremely nervous because I'm afraid I'm going to do everything wrong and it's not necessarily the cheapest investment. However, I've been scouring the internet looking for as many thrifty ways as possible to make our own little patch of happiness without breaking the bank. I want to do Romaine lettuce (will save us a ton!), cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, maybe carrots and as many herbs as I can. No tomatoes you ask. No, because Hub and I don't like them.

I had a dream of planting fruit trees in the backyard, but after talking to my big sis it seems Indiana is not the ideal state for those. I wanted to do a lemon, an orange, a pear and an apple tree. I think I could possibly have success with the apple trees, but it sounds like all the others are unrealistic in our sporadic climate. If you live in Indiana, you know what I'm talking about. It's the only state I know where you can stay in the same town and experience all four seasons in one day...no matter what time of the year. My birthday is in April and one year it snowed in the morning and then was 64 by late afternoon! Crazy.

Another thing I am looking forward to is traveling! I've been cooped up in this house way too long and this lady needs to spread her wings and fly. Metaphorically speaking that is...this girl doesn't do well in airplanes. I grew up in a VERY large family and if we wanted to go anywhere, we drove. Those long car rides were some of the best times of my life. Half the memories we made on vacations were in the car. I say life is one big journey so enjoy the ride! One of our first trips this year is to Gatlinburg, TN! Hub and I go every year. And of course we drive. And with long car rides comes snacks! Lots and lots of snacks.

Since I'm the queen of finding anyway not to spend money frugality I decided this year I would make most of our snacks. I've already learned how to make my own homemade granola bars, but wanted something with a little more flavor. I thought about maybe some chocolate chip cookies, but those don't last too long and I wanted something that would still be just as good after our four day trip was over. So finally I landed on these: Cinnamon Biscotti with Cinnamon Chocolate Drizzle!
These things are amazing. Seriously. And honestly I'm not a big crunchy person. Unless it's a potato chip, I don't normally like snack foods that have a hard texture and was hesitant to try these. But I've never made Biscotti before, and therefore didn't know if I would like it or not, but decided to give them a try. I am so happy I did. These little cookies are so yummy and have just the right amount of flavor. And they last forever. Well, for at least a week :)
They travel well, too. They'll be perfect in the car. And they smell absolutely amazing! While they were baking our house was filled with cinnamon! Once they had cooled and came out of the fridge they were so hard to resist. Looks like we found a winner!
Just mix up your butter and sugar, add the wet ingredients, then the dry, form into logs and bake. After those have cooked, let them cool then slice 'em up. Bake on each side a few more minutes, top with melted cinnamon chocolate and you're done. I also added some of the sprinkles I used for my carrot cake cupcakes on these. Yes I sat there and hand picked out the orange pieces. Worth it!
 (pre-cooked)
Typically these are served with hot tea. Not sure how I'll manage that driving in the curvy mountains...but good thing these are terrific on their own!
After I cut mine up I had a ton of end pieces left. So while the sticks finished baking I cut up the scraps, added them to a bowl of milk and Hub and I went to town! It was like eating big fat pieces of cinnamon toast crunch! Awesome!
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup butter, softened
1 Cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 Cups flour
2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

1/2 Cup white chocolate chips
1 Tbsp shortening
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper and set aside.

Combine the butter and sugar in a mixer until smooth. Add in the two eggs until fully incorporated then add the vanilla.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Turn the mixer on medium and slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.

The dough will be thick. Take big chunks of the dough and roll it into four separate logs about the length of your baking sheet. Pat them flat and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Let them cool for about 30 minutes.

Cut each log into 1/2 inch pieces and place them cut side down back on the baking sheet. Cook at the same temp for about 5 minutes, take them out and flip each one over. Cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet and let them cool on a wire rack.

For topping:
Melt white chocolate chips and shortening for about a minute, stirring half way. Once fully melted and easy to pour, stir in the cinnamon and drizzle all over these yummy crunchy sticks. Refrigerate for about 20-30 minutes or until chocolate is firm. Make a cup of tea, serve and devour!



So has anyone had luck growing fruit trees? Got any advice for a new gardener with the farthest thing from a green thumb?! I'll take it all!

Thanks for stopping by!

**I linked up to frugal crafty home, much ado about monday, amaze me monday, busy mondaysuper saturday link party, weekend bloggy readingweekend potluckfoodie fridayfreedom fridayskitchen fun and crafty fridaythursday stylefriday flash blogbloom designsthe homeacre hoppin it thursdayall things thursdayfull plate thursdaywicked awesome wednesday, whats cookin wednesday, wake up wednesdays, some2 tuesday, fluster buster, atozebracelebrations, too cute tuesday, tutorial tuesday, tuesday talent show, create link inspire, share your stuff tuesdays, titus 2 tuesday, the scoop

22 comments:

  1. I think you can do the pear tree! Just not the orange. ;)

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  2. I LOVE biscotti but I only make it for the holiday's for some reason.... I must make this recipe. I'll let you know how it turns out. Indianna sounds like Colorado. I live at high altitude and we can also experience all the seasons in one day, heck in the morning! This morning it was foggy and snowing and now the sun is shinning at 9:19 am and it is a beautiful blue sky and 42 degrees! We are supposed to get rain tonight then snow again - we will see. Tips for a gardener - it's hard out here because there really is no spring and a short summer/growing season but I start all my plants indoors in - you'll like this - cardboard egg cartons. yep... no additional cost! Then I gradually move them to the garage and in larger pots then by Memorial Day I move them outside. Let us know how it goes.

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  3. These look amazing! I make biscotti all the time. It is a favorite with my sister's husband, in particular. BTW - I am here following the good advice of your big sister!!

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  4. These look good. BTW you can do the pear tree...I live in Lafayette, IN and we have a pear tree in our yard, also persimmons and hazelnuts!

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  5. I think you'd be ok with the apple and pear. We're in Ohio and also experience the four seasons in a day loveliness- fun, isn't it? My neighbor has good success with apple and my sister has a very old pear that still gives good fruit. The rest most likely wouldn't make it through the winter.

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  6. Hopping over today from your sister's blog. Does she not have the best blog ever?!
    I've read you and had no idea TDC was your sister. I too take my sisters cakes, pies and cookies. Now how do you suppose we could get them to return the favor. haha.

    The biscotti looks so yummy and my BIL would love the burger sauce. Am loving looking through all the recipes. Still a bit to go. I at least will be able to make the biscotti...Anything that I don't have to let rise is my go to kind. Thanks

    Jake's a Girl

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  7. Biscotti dipped in coffee is soooo good, and this cinnamon version sounds divine! Pinning! (And NC is having equally wacky weather..75 the other day, snow/sleet this morning. I've decided Mother Nature is going through menopause.)

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  8. These look awesome! I'm pinning them so I don't forget!

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  9. These sound delicious. I'm here from the Creativity Unleashed party. I'm a new follower too. :) Pinning this asap!

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  10. Yum! Pinning this. Found you on Sugar Bee Crafts!

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  11. I just love Biscotti with my afternoon tea, your recipe will be awesome. Thank you so much for sharing this awesome post with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  12. I love cinnamon! These look delicious, visiting from I'm Lovin It.

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  13. Oh my! Those biscotti sound amazing! Thanks for sharing! Have a terrific weekend!
    Blessings,
    Nici

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  14. These look delicious! I absolutely love cinnamon! I've pinned it to make later!
    Blessings, Diane

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  15. Oh yum! These look awesome! Pinned :) Thanks so much for linking up at Thursday STYLE!

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  16. Thanks for sharing at the Happiness Is Homemade Link Party! Pinning to the party board and can't wait to see what happiness posts you share next week! Have a terrific week!
    Cathy
    APeekIntoMyParadise.com

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  17. These look soooooo yummy. I need one right now to go with my coffee...you can send me some anytime! lol Thanks for sharing them! Pinned!

    Good luck with your garden...I've never attempted one but love the flavor of 'fresh out of the garden'!

    Marti

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  18. Yum! These look AMAZING! I love anything cinnamon, so I know that I would love them. Actually, I'm not sure what would be better...the biscotti or the end pieces in a bowl of milk!

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  19. Oh, these look soooo good! I love anything with crunch, great idea in a bowl with milk!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY...
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  20. I love biscotti, this sounds wonderful! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!

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  21. Can extra butter be used as a substitute for shortening? Excited to try these!

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