Best Double Chocolate Biscotti

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Double the chocolate. Dark cocoa and mini chocolate chips give these biscotti a rich chocolate flavor in every bite.
• Perfect for dipping. Their crunchy texture makes them ideal for dunking into hot chocolate, coffee, or milk.
• Easy to make. The dough comes together with basic baking ingredients, then gets baked twice to create the signature biscotti crunch.
• Customize the toppings. Dip the finished cookies in melted chocolate or almond bark, then add mini chocolate chips, crushed peppermint, or chopped nuts.
• Great for holiday gifts. Package the biscotti in a cellophane bag with ribbon and pair it with a container of your favorite hot chocolate mix.

What Others Are Saying

These were fabulous! Dipped in chocolate, they were amazing with coffee. Undipped were supper yummy dunked in cabernet. Definitely will make again and again!---Sandy

Easy, full of chocolate flavor.I used the Hershey's special dark cocoa powder.
I added 1 teaspoon of expresso powder to bring out the chocolate flavor even more.---Lori

Tips and Tricks for the Best Chocolate Biscotti

• Use dark baking cocoa for a richer flavor. I recommend Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder. Regular unsweetened cocoa powder also works, but the finished cookies won't be quite as dark or intense.
• Chill the dough before shaping. The dough is naturally soft and sticky. Refrigerating it for 30 minutes makes it easier to handle.
• Flour your hands and work surface. Biscotti dough is stickier than traditional cookie dough. Sprinkle your work surface with flour and use just enough additional flour to help you shape the logs without making the dough dry.
• Leave room between the logs. The dough spreads during the first bake, so keep the logs several inches apart or bake them on separate baking sheets.
• Use a sharp knife. Let the baked logs rest for about 5 minutes before slicing. A sharp knife helps you cut clean slices without crumbling the edges.
• Bake the slices on both sides. Turning the biscotti halfway through the second bake helps them dry out evenly and develop their signature crunch.
• Let them cool completely. Biscotti become crispier as they cool, so give them time to set before storing or dipping them in chocolate.

What Is Biscotti?

Biscotti means “twice-baked.” Unlike traditional drop cookies, biscotti are baked in long logs, sliced, and baked a second time.

The first bake cooks the dough into firm logs. After slicing, the cookies return to the oven to dry out and develop their crunchy texture. This second bake is what makes biscotti especially good for dipping into hot drinks.

Traditional Italian biscotti recipes often omit butter or oil and may include anise. My version is a little different: it uses butter for extra flavor, skips the anise, and adds plenty of chocolate.

Double Chocolate Biscotti Ingredients

• Butter: Adds richness and flavor. Traditional biscotti often skips butter, but I like the difference it makes in this chocolate version.
• Dark cocoa powder: Gives the cookies their deep chocolate color and rich cocoa flavor. Special Dark cocoa is my preference, although regular baking cocoa works, too.
• Brown sugar and granulated sugar: Using both adds sweetness and depth of flavor.
• Eggs: Provide moisture and structure, helping the dough hold together when shaped into logs and sliced after baking.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances the chocolate flavor.
• All-purpose flour: Gives the dough enough structure to form the biscotti logs.
• Baking soda and salt: Help with the texture and balance the sweetness.
• Mini chocolate chips: Add little pockets of chocolate throughout the biscotti.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Optional Chocolate Dipping Ideas

The biscotti are delicious plain, but you can dress them up for holiday cookie trays or homemade gifts.

• Dip one end or one side in melted chocolate.
• Use melted almond bark for an easy coating.
• Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips while the coating is still wet.
• Add crushed peppermint candy for a festive Christmas version.
• Sprinkle with chopped nuts for extra crunch.

Allow the coating to set completely before storing the cookies.

How to Make Double Chocolate Biscotti

1. Mix the cocoa and butter. Combine the melted butter and cocoa powder in a mixing bowl, stirring until smooth.

2. Add the sugars and eggs. Beat in the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition, then stir in the vanilla.

3. Add the dry ingredients. Mix in the salt, baking soda, and flour until combined. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.

4. Chill the dough. Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This makes the sticky dough easier to shape.

5. Shape the biscotti logs. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle your work surface with a little flour, then transfer the dough to the surface. Divide it in half and shape each portion into a log approximately 9 inches long and 3 inches wide.

The dough will be sticky, so flour your hands as needed. Avoid adding too much extra flour, which can make the finished biscotti dry.

6. Bake the logs. Place the logs on the prepared baking sheet, leaving 3–4 inches between them because they will spread. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.

7. Slice the logs. Let the logs rest for 5 minutes. Using a sharp knife, slice each log into pieces about ¾–1 inch thick.

8. Bake the slices a second time. Arrange the slices on their flat sides on the baking sheet. Bake for 9 minutes, flip each piece, then bake for another 9 minutes.

9. Cool completely. Let the biscotti rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They'll become crunchier as they cool.

10. Dip in chocolate, if desired. Dip the cooled biscotti in melted chocolate or almond bark. Add your favorite toppings while the coating is still wet, then let the chocolate set before storing.

How to Store Chocolate Biscotti

Store completely cooled biscotti in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. If you've dipped the biscotti in chocolate, allow the coating to set completely before stacking them. Separate layers with parchment paper if needed to protect the coating.

Double Chocolate Biscotti FAQs

More Christmas Cookies to Bake

Looking for more cookies to fill your holiday trays? Browse my 40+ Best Christmas Cookie Recipes for Holiday Cookie Trays and Platters for more festive favorites, from classic Christmas cookies to chocolate treats and easy cookies for sharing.

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