Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pinch fresh ground pepper
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup uncrystallized ginger, chopped
  • 1/2 cup cashews, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped

Method

  • Preheat oven to 325°F; line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, salt and pepper. Sift onto a piece of wax paper. Set aside.
  • Cream the butter and sugar at medium speed, about 1 minute, or until well-blended.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping the sides as necessary.
  • Add the fresh ginger and vanilla extract. At low speed, add the flour mixture, mixing just until blended.
  • Stir in the uncrystallized ginger and nuts and mix until combined.
  • Scrape the dough out onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Moisten your hands with water and shape the dough into a 12-inch log with inch-high sides.
  • Round the ends or taper them as best as you can.
  • Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the log is starting to brown.
  • Remove the sheet from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
  • Loosen the log from the parchment onto a chopping board. With a serrated (bread) knife, cut the log on the diagonal, making each piece about an inch thick.
  • Arrange the slices cut side down on the same parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1/2-inch apart from one another.
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until the biscotti are dry and beginning to color around the edges.
  • Let cool 5 minutes on the sheet and then transfer to a wire rack.