Chocolate and Hazelnut Biscotti: Niki Louca shares her favourite recipe

Niki Louca from My Greek Kitchen shares her favourite recipe for Chocolate and Hazelnut Biscotti with The Greek Herald. You can follow her on Instagram @mygreekkitchen for more!

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups plain flour
• ½ cup good quality unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 ½ tsp baking powder
• 3 eggs lightly whisked
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup light olive oil
• Zest of 2 oranges
• ¾ cup of roughly chopped hazelnuts
• ½ cup of dark chocolate (70%) cut into small chunks (I sometimes use Cadbury’s Hazelnut chocolate and roughly chop it up – 180 gm worth).  It is nicer using the dark chocolate.

Method:

1.  In a bowl combine the flour, cocoa and baking powder together.  Mix to combine with a fork and set aside.
2. In a stand mixer, add the eggs, oil and sugar together and whisk for 4-5 minutes using the paddle attachment.
3. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and whisk on low till all the flour is combined.
4. Add your orange zest, dark chocolate and hazelnuts and gently whisk till combined.
5. Divide dough into 2 portions and with a little cocoa rubbed in your hands, roll each piece of dough into a log of approximately 3cm thickness.  Transfer logs onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper.  Gently press each log to flatten them a little, making sure you allow enough room between them as they will rise and expand when cooking.
6. Put tray in your freezer (5-10 minutes) to firm dough a little, then bake in a preheated oven of 160C.  Bake for approx. 25-30 minutes, then remove from oven and allow to cool down slightly before you cut them.  After about 20 minutes, cut logs into 2 cm thickness on the diagonal, turn them sideways and bake for a further 6-7 minutes, then turn them the other way and bake them on the other side for approx. 6-7 minutes as well.
7. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet.  Store in an airtight container.

Niki Louca runs cooking classes in Melbourne. For more or to book classes visit My Greek Kitchen at www.mygreekkitchen.com.au or Instagram @mygreekkitchen. You can email Niki at: niki@mygreekkitchen.com.au.