The Brighter Side of Gluten Free: Almonds

gluten free biscotti

I've been wanting to try gluten free biscotti for awhile now, but I couldn't seem to find a recipe that I liked. I took a chance and decided to develop a recipe on my own with a little input from various internet recipes, both traditional and gluten free. The biscotti turned out delicious, but a bit crumbly. Not all of the pieces stuck together (well like half did), so I had a lot of little biscotti chunks by the end of it. I considered leaving this recipe off the blog until I could perfect it, but everyone who tried the biscotti really liked it and said I should post it, so here you go.

Just for the record, next time I try it I will make a few changes. I think it might help the pieces stick together if the loaves aren't completely cooled before you slice it. Another egg or some extra guar/xanthan gum might help it keep it's shape too. Or maybe thicker slices is the answer I'm looking for. When I make it again I will report back!

I usually avoid recipes with almond flour because it's so expensive, but I thought I would splurge a little for this biscotti. This recipe uses 1/2 cup of almond meal (almonds ground in a coffee grinder) and 1/2 cup of chopped almonds. I think next time I make biscotti I might try replacing hazelnuts for the almonds.

making almond flour in the coffee grinder

You could definitely alter this recipe with your own add ins. A popular Christmas biscotti includes red cranberries and green pistachios. You could also drizzle dark or white chocolate over the cookies. The possibilities are endless!

some of my more intact cookies

I'm not exactly sure how many cookies this recipe makes because so many of them broke. Probably close to 30 depending on the width of your slices.

Ingredients

1/2 cup Ground Almonds/Almond Flour/Almond Meal (I just ground whole almonds in the coffee grinder)
1 1/2 cups All Purpose GF Flour Blend
1 tsp Guar Gum (or 3/4 tsp Xanthan Gum)
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

3/4 cups Sugar

2 Eggs (next time I would try 3 eggs)

1/4 cup Margarine softened

1 tsp Vanilla Extract (or Almond Extract)

1/2 cup Chopped Almonds

Directions

Cream together sugar and margarine.

Beat in eggs and vanilla.

Grind almonds in your coffee grinder and sift out large pieces. (or use almond meal/flour)
Add flour, almond meal, salt, guar gum, and baking powder.
Mix until it forms a dough, then mix in chopped almonds.
Scoop dough onto greased (or parchment lined) cookie sheet in two equal portions.
Grease hands and pat the dough into 2 logs about 3/4" high, 3 1/2" wide, and 7" long.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Let cool on sheet for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
Once completely cooled, cut into 1/2" slices.
Bake slices at 350 for 10 minutes per side. Let cool on sheet.