Chocolate-Wrapped Ginger Biscotti

Recipe by: Barbara Selley | from 150 Best Diabetes Desserts

Cookstr

Course: Dessert

Total Time: Under 2 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

Photo by: Mark Shapiro

A dark chocolate dough wraps around a lighter ginger dough to form attractive two-toned biscotti.

Yield: Makes 30 biscotti (1 biscotti per serving)

INGREDIENTS

2 cups (500 mL) all purpose flour
2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder
¼ tsp (1 mL) salt
1/3 cup (75 mL) butter, softened
2/3 cup (150 mL) granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp (25 mL) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
¼ cup (50 mL) finely chopped crystallized ginger
½ cup (125 mL) miniature semisweet chocolate chips
¼ tsp (1 mL) ground ginger

Equipment:

Baking sheet, greased or lined with parchment paper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

1. On a sheet of waxed paper or in a bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture, beating until blended. Divide dough into halves. With a wooden spoon, stir cocoa powder and crystallized ginger into 1 portion and, using your hands, knead until thoroughly integrated. Add mini chocolate chips and ground ginger to the other portion and, using your hands, knead until thoroughly integrated.

3. Divide each portion into halves to make 4 portions. Between two sheets of waxed paper, roll 1 portion of chocolate dough into an 8- by 6-inch (20 by 15 cm) rectangle. Remove top sheet of waxed paper. Shape 1 portion of light dough into a roll 8 inches (20 cm) long. Place roll in the center of chocolate dough and wrap chocolate dough around it. Repeat with remaining dough and place the 2 rolls about 4 inches (10 cm) apart on prepared baking sheet. Flatten slightly, leaving top slightly rounded.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until set. Cool for 15 minutes on sheet, then transfer to a cutting board. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F (160°C). Cut rolls into ½-inch (1 cm) slices. Place upright on baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until crisp and center is light golden. Cool for 5 minutes on sheet, then transfer to a rack and cool completely.

Notes

To distribute cocoa evenly and avoid streaks in a dough, knead the dough with your hands on a lightly floured surface.

Cocoa tends to lump during storage. Before mixing, even the smallest amount should be sifted to remove the lumps, as they won’t disappear during baking.

A sharp serrated knife works best for cutting biscotti.

The name of a food can tell us a lot, sometimes in a single word. “Biscotti” is an Italian word meaning “twice cooked” (bis cotti). To make these hard, dry cookies, the dough is first baked in a loaf, then it is sliced and baked again.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Calories 89kcal (4%)

Calcium 23mg (2%)

Vitamin C 0mg (0%)

Vitamin A 22mcg RAE (1%)

Potassium 31mg

Magnesium 7mg

Protein 1g

Sugar 7g

Fiber 1g

Total Carbohydrate 14g