Saffron, Pistachio and Chocolate Chunk Biscotti
Saffron, Pistachio and Chocolate Chunk Biscotti
I’m on a roll! Yup, I’m actually taking the time to do some Christmas baking this year! I have always wanted to make biscotti as it seems slightly exotic to me, and this recipe really stood out! I’ve been cooking with saffron a lot this year, but had never imagined it in biscotti. Well, let me assure you, this recipe is stunning. Imagine the sunny fragrance of saffron; the rich bite of dark chocolate; the sweet tangy acidity of orange rind, and the bright green, salty crunch of pistachios. I dunked my biscotti in white chocolate, but these cookies don’t really need it. The choice is yours, but no matter what, these biscotti will be the star of your Christmas baking this year.
I discovered this recipe in the Winter 2014 issue of Taste magazine and will be sharing it with my blogging buddies over at Fiesta Friday this week. Come and join us! Our host, Angie, from The Novice Gardener hosts this virtual blog party every week, and we are so happy she does. We get to mingle a bit and share our latest and greatest.
Merry Christmas everyone, and I hope you enjoy the biscotti.
These are gorgeous, even if you don’t dip them in chocolate!
Saffron, Pistachio and Chocolate Chunk Biscotti
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon saffron, lightly crushed
2 large eggs
½ cup roughly chopped pistachios
2 ½ ounces dark chocolate, roughly chopped
White or dark chocolate for decoration
Method:
Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix together flour, salt and baking powder in a small bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, orange zest and saffron, until pale and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined.
Stir in the pistachios and chocolate chunks by hand with a wooden spoon.
Gather together the dough and divide in half on a prepared baking sheet. Shape each portion into a log, 2 inches wide by ¾ inch high. Be sure to space the logs 3 inches apart to allow for expansion while baking. You may want to use a wet spatula to make this easier.
Bake until almost golden: 30 – 35 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool on the tray for 10 minutes.
Cut diagonally into ½ inch slices and stand them up on a cooling rack. Place the cooling rack on a new baking sheet and return to the oven. Bake for an additional 20 – 30 minutes until the biscotti are very firm and golden brown. The centers may be a bit soft, but they will continue to dry out as they cool.
Dip in melted chocolate and place on parchment paper to cool.
Store in an air-tight container for up to one week at room temperature, or freeze for up to one month.
I love to serve these with a rich cup of coffee.
Foodie On Board 
37 Responses to “Saffron, Pistachio and Chocolate Chunk Biscotti”
When I see yummy treats like these – with many ‘mix-ins’, I call it a happy food. 😀 And the glaze makes this even happier. Thanks for bringing these to today’s party, Chef Julianna. Happy FF!! ❤
Thanks so much, Jhuls! This is certainly “happy food” for me too! What I have learned about making biscotti, is that we can put almost whatever pleases us in these cookies. I am going to do a bit more experimenting for sure! Merry Christmas to you, Jhuls! 😀
Yum yum Julianna biscotti are exotic to me too! My husvabd loves them maybe these are just what i need to make in the xmas break 😊
Oh, I think he may just like these biscotti, Naina! Merry Christmas to you! 😀
I have never thought to use saffron! It imparts such a beautiful color and subtle flavor. Just in case you dont know about this, i used to use safflower threads when I wanted a similar color, but didn’t need the flavor. You can buy a thousand pounds of safflower threads for the same price as one ounce of saffron! Beautiful biscotti!
Wow, Mimi! Thanks so much for the info about the safflower threads! I am on Christmas break now, so I have a bit of time to search out this ingredient! This is such an excellent tip! Merry Christmas to you! 😀
A new discovery! Saffron biscottis! Brilliant and gorgeous. Merry Christmas Juliana!
Merry Christmas to you too, Johanne! 😀
I am such a biscotti fan! Loved the addition of saffron in it with orange zest.
Thanks Sonal! I think you would really love these flavours! 🙂
Biscotti are my favorite treats, Julianna, I like them crunchy and so good with a strong coffee 🙂 Happy FF and Merry Christmas!
Hey Linda! We are so on the same page! 😀
Oh wow! these look SO GOOD!! I love that you added Saffron! It’s added a beautiful colour to it! I love biscotti and having this on the side of coffee would be perfect!!
Thanks so much, Giramuk! Saffron is just the most amazing ingredient, don’t you think? So versatile too! Happy FF to you! 😀
Once again: you are amazing!!!!
You are too kind, Elaine! 😀
[…] Julianna […]
These look like really beautiful biscotti, and such an interesting flavour combination. I love saffron but don’t use it very often as its so expensive
Thanks so much! I know what you mean about the price of saffron, but I have found a little market that sells it at a reasonable price! It really is lovely though, every time that I use it!
Saffron in biscotti? Genius, Julianna!! Love these… especially with that smidgen of dipped chocolate. 🙂
Hey Nancy! So glad you love this! I have been learning about how versatile saffron is!
Merry Christmas to you, my dear! 🙂
Oh these look downright amazing Juliana. I think the addition of saffron definitely took it to another level. I’ve never tried to make biscotti before, but I’ve seen a few wonderful recipes lately, and promise myself that I’ll give it a go soon.
Hey Loretta
Trying again… well, biscotti is so much easier than I had thought, and it makes such a lovely gift! Let me know if you give this recipe a try! 😀
Oh my these biscottis are filled with all my favourite stuffs and sounds perfect… just yummmm
Hey Chitra! Thanks so much! I hope you give this recipe a try and that you really enjoy it! Happy Fiesta Friday to you!
Oooh biscotti, my faav. And that too saffron flavor, amazing.
We love our biscotti especially because you can make it to taste using ingredients you like. Me – I will take mine dipped in chocolate. How much saffron did you use – I do not see the amount 🙂
I tsp. lightly crushed under the orange zest – at first glance I did not figure it out as the word “saffron” was not there 🙂
Thanks a million for pointing this out! I’m going to fix that right now! I think I have “holiday” brain! To much going on! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Judi! 🙂
Nice job on your first biscotti – they look pretty professional to me. Merry Christmas to you too!
This biscotti looks absolutely wonderful and ‘out of this world’! WIth saffron and pistachios and citrus flavors I can only imagine the deliciousness! I have been meaning to bake a biscotti too – maybe I shall finally do it this holiday season! 🙂
Biscotti are one of my fav cookies! And you can’t go wrong with such a great combo of pistachio and saffron!
Delicious, Julianna! 🙂
Saffron used for biscotti sounds as a great idea! You shaped them perfectly!
Oh these look so delicious and decadent!😍😍
Missed this post previously. What an interesting blend of flavors. I’m not a big fan of any sweets but these certainly look appealing. Happy weekend Julianna. 😀
Thanks Geraldine! I try not to eat too many sweets, but these are a wonderful treat, and I made them mostly to give away! Glad you like the look of them! Have a great weekend too! 😀