Favorite Holiday Bakes

Hi loves! The countdown to Christmas is on with only four days left. I wanted to share with you one of my favorite bakes during the holidays. If you know me, you know that baking is one of my absolute favorite pastimes. I know it's not an option, but I think it's my love language. Filling up the bellies of my loved ones has to be my favorite thing to do. Today, I wanted to share with you a goodie I've been making for the holidays for eight years straight! It has become quite the tradition.

It all started my freshman year of college when I was home for winter break. My parents have been throwing Christmas parties since the first year they started dating-- I think this year is the 34th year! I was home with not much to do so my mom tasked me with making homemade goodies for the dessert table. One of the recipes she gave me was an old magazine clipping from a 2001 issue of Food and Wine. It was a recipe for Almond and Cranberry Biscotti. It was an instant hit! You can find the recipe here.

B's Notes: 

1. I want to let you know that when I make the biscotti I always DOUBLE the recipe. If you're making it as a gift for co-workers, loved ones, etc., I recommend quadrupling the recipe. 
2. To make the biscotti a little more special, I like to dip them in chocolate. Here's how I do it
• Prepare tray or two with wax paper
• Set up a double boiler-- pot with a small amount of water in it with a glass bowl on top of the pot
• Bring water for a medium boil
• Make sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl
• Once the bowl is heated, pour a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips in the bowl
• Stir until the chocolate is melted
• Take the end of the biscotti and dip it into the chocolate
• Place the dipped biscotti on the wax paper
• Once they're all dipped, let them cool and harden.  
3. For gifts: 
• Prepare cute little tags with a hole punch
• Weave through the hole a piece of twine
• Place biscotti in decorative bags
• Tie the tag and twine around the bag opening 
• Gift to your loved ones!