Almond Biscotti

Vegan Biscotti

I've made biscotti as holiday gifts several times in the past, inspired by my fab. Auntie Jill who makes the best biscotti in the world!! (And for the Holidays, what is more perfect in the land of coffee, than a goodie basket with biscotti, coffee, a nice mug and other treats?)

So - I thought this year I would 'try' to find a vegan biscotti recipe to make. This is a variation from one found in "Nona's Vegan Italian Kitchen". I revised it to suit my tastes a bit (a lot!!).
YAY! Here we go!
We've tried these several times in the last couple weeks and they always turn out yummy - and nobody cares that they're vegan!! We also used pistachios and dried cranberries for a different taste . (The green pistachios and red cranberries are VERY festive looking, I might add.)
So - for everyone on my holiday list this year, if you come asking for the biscotti recipe I made, this is it..

(Oh - and they're way easier than they seem - don't be intimidated by the lengthy directions.)
Biscotti:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups unbleached cane sugar
3/4 cup smooth unsweetened applesauce
1-3 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups almonds, (pecans, hazlenuts or pistachios) toasted and chopped
1/2 cup raisins or cranberries or chopped dried apricots

Preheat oven the 325.
Lightly oil two cookie sheets.
Use double layer shiny ones, if you have them.
If yours are very black, line them with foil. (As you'll notice in the pictures, I forgot to do this)
In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, and salt.
Ina medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, applesauce, oil (1TBS for a hard biscotti, 2-3 TBS for a softer biscuit), and extracts.
Stir the sugar mixture into the flour mixture, add the nuts, and fruit and finish mixing with your hands.
With floured hands, shape the dough into two 3-inch wide"logs" about 3/4 inch thick, with the ends squared off.
Place these on the cookie sheets.
Bake the logs for about 25 minutes.
Remove the pans and reduce the oven heat to 300F.
Cool the logs on a rack for 15 minutes. Cut the logs carefully with a sharp knife straight across into 1/2 inch wide slices.
Place the slices cut side down on the cookie sheets.
(you can remove the foil, if using.) Bake 5-10 minutes, or until golden on the bottom.
Turn the slices over and cook 5-10 minutes more, or until golden on bottom.
Cool on racks, then store airtight for up to two weeks