Spiced Date Biscotti

by Michele Pesula Kuegler | May 24th, 2022 | Desserts, Recipes
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A crunchy version of a hermit that could be served as breakfast or dessert!

Biscotti with dates, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice

This recipe was made with one specific person in my- my mom. I knew that I’d be headed to Florida to visit her this spring and wanted to bring a treat just for her. Although I’d be flying and would arrive in a few hours, it needed to survive being packed in a suitcase. So, whatever treat I brought needed to be sturdy. That basically screams biscotti. How to create the biscotti was also an easy decision; my mom adores hermits. Thus, it was time to make biscotti that tasted like a hermit.

I have never made hermits. However, I have eaten a few of them, so I had a general understanding of the flavor profile. I did a little research and then played with spice rack to get the flavor just right. I was most excited when my mom tried the first one, which I presented as a spiced date biscotti, and she announced that it tasted just like a hermit!

I decided not to call them hermit biscotti because they aren’t true replicas; they’re more of a riff on that recipe. Plus, they have a glaze topping, and most hermits don’t have that. Maybe I should call them Better Than a Hermit Biscotti?

What you should know about this recipe:

  • I used dates as the dried fruit filling because I like their flavor and level of sweetness. You could use golden raisins or regular raisins instead.
  • Some people include nutmeg in their recipes. Honestly, I was out of it when I made the biscotti but found that the cloves delivered enough flavor.
  • I topped these biscotti with a sweet cinnamon glaze. For me it added a nice amount of sweetness to balance the spice element of the biscotti. If you like a more savory treat, skip the glaze.

Although I made these with my mom in mind, I was pleased to find that they were appealing to all. I had my test batch cooling on the counter when my husband came home. A few minutes later I heard him mutter, “I need to stop eating these.”

While  he was disappointed that he had eaten so many (which I fully understand), as the creator I was excited that they were so enjoyable. Now it’s your turn to make a batch and see how your friends and family react.

Spiced Date Biscotti

Yields 2
Basically a crunchy version of a hermit




Print

Prep Time
10 min

Cook Time
50 min

Total Time
1 hr 30 min

Prep Time
10 min

Cook Time
50 min

Total Time
1 hr 30 min

Ingredients
  1. Biscotti
  2. 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
  3. 3/4 cup sugar
  4. ½ cup brown sugar
  5. 2 eggs
  6. 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  7. 2 cups flour
  8. 1 tsp. baking powder
  9. 1/4 tsp. salt
  10. 1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  11. 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
  12. 1 cup chopped dates
  13. Glaze
  14. 1 cup powdered sugar
  15. 1 tsp. vanilla
  16. 1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  17. 1-1/2 Tb. milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Combine butter and sugars in stand mixer; mix on speed 2 for 3 minutes.
  3. Add eggs, one at a time, until combined.
  4. Add vanilla, mixing until blended.
  5. Add flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cloves, mixing until combined.
  6. Add dates, stirring until evenly distributed.
  7. Divide dough in half.
  8. Shape each half into 6″ x 4″ rectangle, using floured hands.
  9. Set each loaf 2″ apart on a baking sheet.
  10. Bake for 30 minutes or until the dough is set.
  11. Leaving the oven on, remove the biscotti loaves and cool for 15 minutes on cookie sheet.
  12. Using a serrated knife, cut the loaves into diagonal slices, 3/4″ thick.
  13. Place slices on cookie sheet with the cut sides down; bake for 10 minutes.
  14. Turn over slices, and bake for 10 minutes more.
  15. Remove biscotti from oven, and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.
  16. Combine powdered sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and milk, stirring until smooth.
  17. Using a spoon, drizzle glaze over biscotti.
  18. Glaze should set in 5-10 minutes.
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