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From the Italian Christmas kitchen

Coconut Almond Biscotti

Almonds, citrus and a little Christmas tradition.

Golden biscotti with finely shredded coconut and sliced almonds in a crisp crumb.

Golden biscotti with finely shredded coconut and sliced almonds in a crisp crumb.
Coconut Almond Biscotti
Cookies

Coconut Almond Biscotti

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Hands-on30 min
Chill / rest10 min
All batches74 min
Cooling45 min
Total time159 min
Yield28 cookies

Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.

Allow about 159 minutes: 30 hands-on, 10 chilling or resting, 74 whole-batch cooking and 45 cooling/setting. Cooling includes tray rest. Follow the method for batch sizes and doneness cues.

Golden biscotti with finely shredded coconut and sliced almonds in a crisp crumb.

Ingredients

Optional sprinkles are for decoration and are not included in the nutrition estimate. Spice weights are approximate.

Instructions

Prepare and mix

  1. 1Prepare and mixWhisk flour, baking powder, salt and unsweetened coconut together. Beat butter and sugar until smooth, then mix in eggs, vanilla and milk. Fold in the coconut-flour mixture and then the sliced almonds. Let the dough stand for 10 minutes so the dried coconut hydrates before shaping; this is the listed rest time.

Shape and first bake

  1. 2Shape and first bakeHeat oven to 350°F (177°C) conventional or 325°F (163°C) fan. Line two baking sheets. Divide dough equally and shape two logs, each 10 inches long, 2 inches wide and about 3/4 inch high, on one sheet, leaving 4 inches between them. Smooth with the spatula; do not add unmeasured flour. Bake on the middle rack for 25–30 minutes, until tops are set and the centers feel firm when gently pressed. Keep the second sheet ready for drying.

Rest and slice

  1. 3Rest and sliceRest the baked logs on their sheet for 15 minutes, included in cooling time. Reduce oven to 300°F (149°C) conventional or 275°F (135°C) fan. Transfer carefully to a board. Cut each log on a slight diagonal into 14 slices, about 5/8 inch thick, including the end pieces: 28 individual cookies. Saw gently rather than pressing through the inclusions.

Dry both trays

  1. 4Dry both traysArrange 14 slices cut-side down on each sheet. Bake one sheet at a time for 11 minutes, turn every slice and bake another 11 minutes. Repeat with the second sheet: 44 minutes of drying in total. The crumb should feel dry at the edges; fruit or chocolate pockets will remain softer. First baking and both drying batches total up to 74 minutes.

Cool and finish

  1. 5Cool and finishTransfer to a rack and cool for 30 minutes after the final drying tray. Cookies become crisper as they cool. The listed 45 minutes of cooling includes the earlier 15-minute log rest. Seal only when completely cool.

Chef’s Science & Pro Tips

Ingredient science

Finely shredded coconut cuts more cleanly than long flakes.

Technique & texture

Use unsweetened dried coconut; sweetened moist coconut changes the formula.

Finishing & serving

Fold sliced almonds gently so some visible flakes survive.

Storage and make-ahead

Keeping your cookies fresh
MethodHow longWhat to do
Room temperatureUp to 5 daysStore completely cooled cookies in an airtight tin in a cool, dry place, separated from soft cookies.
RefrigeratorNot recommended for textureHumidity can soften the dried crumb; use a cool pantry or freeze instead.
FreezerUp to 1 monthFreeze cooled cookies in a sealed freezer container with parchment between layers.
ThawingAbout 1 hourThaw in the closed container at room temperature to limit condensation on the cookies.
RefreshingServe after coolingFor uncoated cookies that have softened, heat at 300°F (149°C) conventional or 275°F (135°C) fan for 5–8 minutes, then cool completely.

Notes

  • Finely shredded coconut cuts more cleanly than long flakes. Use unsweetened dried coconut; sweetened moist coconut changes the formula. Fold sliced almonds gently so some visible flakes survive. This home formula has not been kitchen-tested.

Nutrition

Approximate nutrition per serving calculated from ingredient weights divided by 28; required fillings and toppings included, optional decorations excluded. Brands, unused coating and actual serving size affect the estimate.

Calories89 kcal
Fat3.8 g
Saturated fat2.1 g
Carbohydrates12.1 g
Sugar5.0 g
Fiber0.7 g
Protein1.8 g
Sodium43 mg
Serving size1 cookie
A platter of Italian Christmas cookies
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS BAKINGReal ingredients. Clear steps. Italian Christmas magic.Almonds, citrus and thoughtful baking
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use coconut flour?

No. Coconut flour absorbs far more liquid than shredded coconut.

Why is milk included?

It provides a measured little extra moisture for the dried coconut.

Can I use thick almond slices?

Use thin sliced almonds as listed; thick pieces alter cutting and the distribution of nuts.

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Share a little Italian Christmas joy

Send this recipe to someone who loves to bake.