Biscotti with Dried Fruit and Nuts
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 pieces
- Difficulty: 2 (1 - 5)
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Allergens: Gluten Tree Nuts
- Categories: Brunch Cookies European
A delightful vegan take on a traditional Slovenian biscotti-like treat, known as Domači Prijatelj (which translates to 'Home Friend'). This sweet features a generous mix of dried fruits and nuts folded into a simple dough. The resulting slices are crunchy yet slightly chewy from the fruits, making them perfect for enjoying with coffee or tea. These treats store well, living up to their friendly name by being ready whenever guests arrive.
Dough Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Roughly chop the cashews, dried dates, and dried apricots into small pieces. Place them in a bowl and add the cranberries and sliced almonds. Mix gently and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, ground almonds, baking powder, brown sugar, and salt.
- Melt the coconut oil if it's solid, then add it to the dry ingredients along with the soy milk.
- Using an electric mixer (or by hand with a sturdy spatula), mix until all ingredients are well combined and a soft dough forms.
- Fold in the prepared fruit and nut mixture until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Divide the dough into three equal portions. With slightly wet hands, shape each portion into a log about 4cm (1.5 inches) wide.
- Place the logs on your prepared baking tray, leaving plenty of space between them as they will expand during baking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the logs are lightly golden and firm to the touch.
- Remove from the oven and while still warm (but not too hot), use a sharp knife to cut each log into 1.5cm (0.6 inch) wide slices.
- Allow the slices to cool completely on a wire rack before storing.
Notes
- Unlike traditional Italian biscotti, this Slovenian-style treat known as 'Domači Prijatelj' is only baked once, giving it a texture that's firm but not as hard as twice-baked biscotti.
- For a more traditional flavor, you can add a teaspoon of rum extract or a tablespoon of actual rum to the dough.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- You can customize the dried fruit mix based on your preferences - raisins, dried cherries, or figs would all work well.
- For a festive holiday version, add orange zest and a teaspoon of cinnamon to the dough.