Cookies/ Dessert/ Recipes

dark chocolate pistachio biscotti

I’m having a hard time letting Christmas go.

We had such a great day. It might sound a little unconventional, but to celebrate Jesus’ birthday my parents and I went to see True Grit and then grilled out burgers in the yard. My mom wants me to tell you that they were fig glazed burgers though, and the reason we had them in the first place was because my dad forgot to pick up the scallops the day before.

Regardless, I’m experiencing that post-holiday slump and I’ve determined it can only be remedied by one thing: more cookies.

I love biscotti.

Especially when dipped in hot chocolate with plenty of whipped cream. I also love them because I like to tell myself themselves they are practically a health food since they don’t contain butter.

Did you know biscotti are often eaten for breakfast in Italy? Cookies for breakfast?? Now those are my kind of people.

Can we all agree that pistachios are underrated? And chocolate….well, chocolate goes with everything. You can never overdo it on the chocolate.

These biscotti are perfect dipped into your favorite hot beverage, boxed up and given as a gift or, of course, eaten for breakfast. If chocolate ain’t your thang, you could replace the chips with dried cranberries but please don’t tell me about it. These are just too good as is.

Actually, next time I’ll probably cover them in chocolate. What can I say? I’m a purist.

Dark Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

adapted from Gourmet

Print this recipe!

makes about three dozen cookies

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup shelled pistachios

1 egg beaten with a little warm water (for egg wash)

Preheat the oven to 325.

Combine the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix with your hands to create a soft dough. Turn dough out on a floured surface and knead for a minute until smooth.

Divide dough in half and form each half into a long log, about 10-by-two-inches. Flatten each log and place on a lined baking sheet. Brush with egg wash.

Bake for twenty five minutes. Remove from oven, let cool for ten minutes, and then carefully slice diagonally into cookies. Place each cookie cut side down back on the baking sheet and bake for an additional twenty five minutes, flipping cookies over halfway through.

Christmas over? Not in this house. I’ll be sharing with you one of my favorite gifts later on so stay tuned!

You Might Also Like

  • Jenna
    December 27, 2010 at 5:04 am

    mmmm…I lOVE biscotti! it’s one of my favorites! It’s super easy to make as well.

  • Nora@LifeLifeEatRight
    December 27, 2010 at 5:20 am

    I think as long as you are in the company of loved ones it’s still Christmas :). It’s in your heart right?? LOVE biscotti! My dad has a cappuccino machine and always makes HUGE extra foamy cappuccinos when I am home. His love for cappuccinos has caused him to become a biscotti connoisseur over the years so I always try to bake something special. I made a vanilla almond dipped in dark chocolate this year and it has an awesome dipping quality to it. The twice baked cookie softening with chocolate…YES PLEASE! I made pistachio and cranberry “holiday” biscotti last year and I wouldn’t mind dipping those in a little 70% yum! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:37 am

      I used to have a cappuccino maker but it broke! My dream kitchen would include one in the wall…maybe someday!!

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat)
    December 27, 2010 at 5:30 am

    Yum, I love biscotti but have never made it. This is inspiring me, though! Christmas seems to take forever to build up then it’s over in the blink of an eye. Too fast!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    December 27, 2010 at 5:32 am

    i love making biscotti…it’s one of those things that’s so easy buy feels like it should be so intricate!

  • Blog is the New black
    December 27, 2010 at 5:35 am

    I bought pistachios specifically to make biscotti. Def overrated. So overrated, in fact, that my bf ate THE WHOLE bag before I could bake it! I’m glad I waited because I like your recipe. 🙂

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite
    December 27, 2010 at 5:35 am

    Biscotti is one of those special cookies that I truly love! While I love all the different flavors, my favorite is good old anise biscotti.

    So glad you had a wonderful Christmas 🙂

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:37 am

      anise has always been my very favorite flavor since I’m a black licorice FREAK! Now I want to make a batch of those!

  • Brittney
    December 27, 2010 at 5:37 am

    I LOVE the idea of pistachio and dark chocolate together in Biscotti! Genius!!

  • Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun
    December 27, 2010 at 5:52 am

    Isn’t it crazy how fast the holidays come and then go? It always feels so odd when they pass.

  • Erika @ FoodFitnessFun
    December 27, 2010 at 5:53 am

    Those look delicious. I only eat biscotti with chocolate in it! 😛

  • Lisa @ Dishes of Mrs. Fish
    December 27, 2010 at 5:53 am

    I love this! My hubby loves pistachios, so I will have to make this for him! 🙂

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga)
    December 27, 2010 at 5:54 am

    anything dipped in hot chocolate with plenty of whipped cream is a winner in my book. And dipped in chocolate (like those oreos of yours!)…even better!

    And your fig-glazed meal sounds good. Fig glaze. That’s all i need, sounds perfect!

    Merry xmas (belated), Jenna! Glad you’re enjoying your time at home!

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:35 am

      Merry Christmas to you, Averie! Thank you for all your sweet comments every day…they always make me smile!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
    December 27, 2010 at 5:54 am

    I think you’re the only person in blogland that is still posting desserts. Somehow, I love that about you.

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:35 am

      bahaha you’re probably right. I have no shame.

  • Emily
    December 27, 2010 at 6:02 am

    I’m SO eating one with my coffee this morning 🙂 Merry belated Christmas Jenna!

  • amanda
    December 27, 2010 at 6:06 am

    We went and saw True Grit too! No burgers though, turkey 🙂

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
    December 27, 2010 at 6:16 am

    Mmm…I love biscotti too! I made a batch of gingerbread biscotti last week and they were fabulous. But I think they’d be even better made with pistachios and chocolate. Yum! 😀

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:35 am

      gingerbread biscotti sounds amazing as well!

  • Krystina (Basil & Wine)
    December 27, 2010 at 6:17 am

    Biscotti are basically a food group for me.

  • Camille
    December 27, 2010 at 6:17 am

    Your biscotti looks amazing. Biscotti is one of those foods where I always think I don’t like it and then I try it and remember that I kind of do. As soon as I saw your recipe I was like, “Nah, it’s cool. I don’t like biscotti.” But now I am second guessing myself.

  • Marian
    December 27, 2010 at 6:26 am

    Jenna! Those look amazing. what size silpat do you use? half or full?

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 6:31 am

      half because I’m using a regular sized sheet pan. I have a full one but it really only fits industrial sized pans!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
    December 27, 2010 at 6:39 am

    I’ve never made biscotti because I’ve always been under the impression that it is dry. These do look super delicious though!

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:34 am

      They are dry…but still have great flavor! I have these to Adam’s mom and grandma for Christmas and they loved them!

  • Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen
    December 27, 2010 at 6:43 am

    Cookies-for-breakfast-people are my kind of people, too! These sound amazing! and those burgers sound great. How was True Grit?

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:34 am

      It was good not great, in my opinion. I think I had just worked it up in my mind to be “the best ever” and then felt sort of let down. I love a good Western and think 3:10 to Yuma was better…however, True Grit was very, very well done and I loved the character of the young girl especially!

      • Hannah H.
        December 27, 2010 at 10:08 am

        Hehe, My parents and I saw True Grit on Christmas evening too! That sassy little girl was awesome.

  • Baking 'n' Books
    December 27, 2010 at 6:49 am

    They look like they might be fun to make.

    Christmas – over?! Pshwah (how DO you spell that?). No, I know I have major post-slump depression over it – especially since I’m back to work as usual and it seems everyone has the week off! Oh well – I still have lights up and Christmas cookies…and chocolate…so it ain’t over ’till the New Year 😉

  • Fi
    December 27, 2010 at 6:52 am

    That biscotti looks just as good as Hollys Nutella biscottti! ive never been a fan of biscotti, but thats the store bought stuff, it always taste stale to me!maybe homemade will be diffferent? xx

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    December 27, 2010 at 6:54 am

    I recently tried to make biscotti but it ended up just tasting like dry cookie… yours however, looks fabulous as always!!!

  • Marie @ peoniesncupcakes.wordpress.com
    December 27, 2010 at 6:59 am

    Italy knows how to do things right…cookies for breakfast with a fabulous cappuccino…what more could you want in life! Jenna, your recipe looks fabulous & I can’t wait to see what other recipes you’ll bring out in the New Year. I love your French pastry inspired recipes!!!

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:33 am

      Thank you so much!

  • Natalia - a side of simple
    December 27, 2010 at 7:18 am

    My mom’s on a biscotti kick right now so I’ll going to have to surprise her with this recipe. As far as I’m concerned, Christmas is good all week 🙂

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:33 am

      Christmas is good all year! 🙂

  • Dorry
    December 27, 2010 at 7:23 am

    I say keep celebrating Christmas as long as you’d like! Looking forward to the other recipes.

  • Daisy
    December 27, 2010 at 7:29 am

    Glad you had a nice holiday grillin burgers! 🙂

  • Lacey @ Lake Life
    December 27, 2010 at 7:39 am

    I’ve got the after-Christmas slump and the last thing I could take is more cookies lol. I’m ready to detox from sugar!

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 7:45 am

      somehow I can always eat another cookie! I have issues, clearly.

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
    December 27, 2010 at 7:46 am

    Those sound great. I love almond biscotti, but you can’t go wrong with chocolate ever.

  • Christine (The Raw Project)
    December 27, 2010 at 8:33 am

    Oh, I want to see True Grit so bad! The biscotti looks wonderful! And Christmas isn’t over for us either, the tree will be staying up until New Year’s day. 🙂

  • sisters running the kitchen
    December 27, 2010 at 8:55 am

    hey jenna! These look great…bet my dad would LOVE them- he is a huge fan of chocolate and especially pistachio.

    my sister and I made Giada’s Fig and Almond Biscotti. To be honest, im not a HUGE fan of Giada’s cooking but these are honestly the best bicotti I have tasted. I can never find one I like better. I would highlyyyy recommend you try them out! here is the link:
    http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/recipes/dessert/fig-almond-biscotti/

  • maria
    December 27, 2010 at 8:58 am

    Love the dark chocolate and pistachio combo. Glad you had a nice Christmas with your family!

  • Anna S
    December 27, 2010 at 9:17 am

    We went to see True Grit on Christmas too! Sounds like a good day.

  • Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum
    December 27, 2010 at 9:31 am

    Isn’t it kind of sad when Christmas is over? I feel the same way. Now maybe I’ll go make some of these to cheer me up. 🙂

  • Clizia
    December 27, 2010 at 9:34 am

    Did you know biscotti simply means cookies in Italian?
    Merry Christmas, Jenna!

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 10:24 am

      I love that!

  • Nancy~The Wife of a Dairyman
    December 27, 2010 at 9:46 am

    Glad to hear you’re enjoying your Christmas holiday back at home! The biscotti looks great! I’ve never attempted to make biscotti, but it’s always been on my list….and I would definitely include chocolate in mine! Have a great day with your family!

  • Frances
    December 27, 2010 at 9:56 am

    Hi Jenna!

    I love desserts. And I love your blogging style, especially your photography. Keep it up.
    And remember, it is technically still Christmas until January 5! (You know, the 12 days of Christmas). You don’t need to let Christmas go because it is still here! Don’t let the fun pass too quickly! 🙂

  • Kristi
    December 27, 2010 at 10:20 am

    I love biscotti!!!

  • J.
    December 27, 2010 at 10:38 am

    Technically, Christmas does not start until December 25th. Then you have the “12 days of Christmas” and January. 6th is considered “old Christmas day”. The only reason people feel christmas is “over” after the 25th at midnight is because of all the commercialism and gift craziness. Otherwise , the holidays are just starting. Unfortunately, the media and businesses and people in general don’t feel that way anymore.
    As for the biscotti, they look great. But I disagree with you’re statement that they are healthy because they have no butter. I think things are healthy because they have butter!!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
    December 27, 2010 at 11:12 am

    I have a case of the post-holiday blues too. I hate how it just comes and goes so quickly! Can it be next Christmas already? 😛

  • Justeen @ Blissful Baking
    December 27, 2010 at 11:20 am

    biscotti are definitely my kind of breakfast! 🙂 these would be perfect with a cup of coffee!

  • Annie@stronghealthfit
    December 27, 2010 at 11:28 am

    They make dark chocolate biscotti at the bakery where I work, and it’s probably my favorite thing we sell! Amazing combo.

  • Denise (the apple hill adventurer)
    December 27, 2010 at 11:36 am

    hey jenna! these look DELISH. i just made the switch to veganism though, do you think i could use egg replacer?

    hope you had an amazing christmas!

    • jenna
      December 27, 2010 at 11:53 am

      You could try! I’m not sure since I’ve never done it, but you could definitely experiment with that. 🙂

  • Cara Craves...
    December 27, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    Those look perfect!

  • Katie @ www.princessofpavement.com
    December 28, 2010 at 9:23 am

    Thanks for the biscotti recipe … I’ve been looking for a new one to use for the annual Italian-themed birthday meal I do up for my husband … now I’ve just got to come up with the actual dinner part 🙂
    Hope you had a great Christmas!

  • Tara
    January 8, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    I made these for my New Year’s Day brunch, and they were amazing! I used whole almonds since I didn’t feel like shelling all the pistachios (and couldn’t find them shelled). Great Recipe!

  • kindra
    January 26, 2011 at 8:35 am

    Remembered this recipe from about a month ago because it looks so great and am making them now! But the dough is very dry… missing oil or butter?

  • Michelle
    May 1, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    Just made these today as I was looking for a way to use up a bag of pistachios. This was my first time making biscotti but it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Now my biscotti fear is conquered. Oh, and the cookies turned out great too. 🙂

  • Dessert Dietitian Work «
    December 22, 2012 at 9:12 am

    […] used this recipe for my first biscotti experience.  I ran into trouble once I blended the wet and dry […]

  • Dark Chocolate Buttons {happy days equals lack of posts} | healthninja
    March 12, 2013 at 10:25 am

    […] (Jenna’s Dark Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti, with additional cranberries) […]

  • What I Ate Wednesday {balancing it out} | healthninja
    March 13, 2013 at 1:49 am

    […] recipe from one of my favorite bloggers, whose book I read this week, were Jenna’s dark chocolate pistachio biscottis. Dunk them in some hot tea… and just […]

  • Dark Chocolate Buttons {happy days equals lack of posts} | With An Open Mind
    October 21, 2013 at 11:05 am

    […] (Jenna’s Dark Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti, with additional cranberries) […]

  • Shelly Hukill
    January 2, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    Sounds cool!