Mocha Toffee Biscottis~

We've had about 7 inches of snow since last night..

It's as pretty as pretty can be..♥

The shoveling and snowblowing we could do without..

So I put some CDs on since this morning:)

My fave again this year..Rod Stewart 's Merry Christmas Baby ..

Along with old favorites like James Taylor..The Carpenters..Tony Bennett..André Hervieux..André Gagnon..

Michael Bublé..Josh Groban..to name a few..

99.5 on the radio has some lovely music too..100.7..not so much this week:)

Feels so nice with snow falling..

Some coffee.. and biscottis:)  

In the last few weeks..

My holiday issues of Canadian Living and Chatelaine featured Biscotti recipes..

I know we have all made our share:)

But I wanted to play with a Snowflake plunger..Available on Ebay for under $3.00 for 3 sizes with free shipping from Malaysia..

I don't know why it seems important for me to tell you this..but I think it is because we sometimes feel things are epensive for food decorating..There are many venues..apart from high end stores like..well I won't name them..that would not be in keeping with the spirit of the season:)

Just want you to know Ebay is a great source of friendly vendors..and reasonable prices.

You can do what I do and search only the Buy Nows..I am terrible at auctions..:)

I am so impressed with the quality ..to price ratio..in 100% of the small items I have purchased..such as cookie cutters etc..

So ...I used the plunger for the snowflakes..w/ fondant..

And decided on Canadian Living's Biscotti~

You start with the Basic Recipe~

Basic Biscotti Dough~

La Recette

Courtesy of Canadian Living Magazine

Dec 2013

1/2 cup butter softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsps baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

In a large bowl beat butter with sugar until fluffy..beat in eggs one at a time.

Beat in Vanilla.Whisk together flour baking powder and salt..stir into butter mixture in 2 additions unti just combined..

My Notes: I used my KA stand mixer..

So that's the basic..and then they offered us variations..

I let Jacques chose  and he chose the Mocha Toffee..~

They say this recipe is SCREAMING to be dipped in a cup of coffee..

I agree..they are sublime.

We will serve these Christmas Morning..

Stir the instant espressointo the chocolate while it is still warm to impart the most flavor

So..

to 

1 batch of basic dough

add 

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup toffee bits  3/4 now..the other 1/4 cup gets sprinkled on top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You will also  need 1 egg white mixed with a bit of water..

and 6 squares of semi sweet chocolate chopped

3/4 tsp instant espresso powder.

Stir the dough..chocolate chips and 3/4 c of the toffee bits and mix until combined

Divide into 2 logs and roll to about 12 inches..

Place 2 inches apart on parchment paper on rimless cookie sheet,,

Flatten slightly..**** I did not..they flatten on their own..

Brush each w/ egg white mixture..

Bake in a 325 degree pre heated oven for ap 35 mins..untillight golden and firm to the touch.

Let cool on pan on rack 10 mins..

Slice diagonally and place upright ..return to a 300 F oven for ap 35 mins until almost dry..

( I liked the idea of baking upright instead of flipping and baking twice.. and it works..

Transfer to rack..let cool completely..

In a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water melt chocolate stirring unstil smooth..whisk in espresso powder until dissolved..Let cool slightly..I didn't..

Dip one end of each biscotti in chocolate mixture  letting excess drip off..

Place on parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle with remaining toffeee bits..  and a snowflake or 2:)Refrigerate until set..(no need here..air temp is fine..)

Make ahead..layer between waxed paper  in airtight contained..store up to 5 days (longer here)or freeze up to 2 weeks..

Enjoy~

For a direct link to the rceipe..Just go here~