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From the Italian Christmas kitchen

White Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

Almonds, citrus and a little Christmas tradition.

Crisp pistachio biscotti finished with narrow ribbons of white chocolate.

Crisp pistachio biscotti finished with narrow ribbons of white chocolate.
White Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti
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White Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

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Hands-on35 min
Chill / restNot required
All batches70 min
Cooling75 min
Total time180 min
Yield28 cookies

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

Allow about 180 minutes: 35 hands-on, 0 chilling or resting, 70 whole-batch cooking and 75 cooling/setting. Cooling includes tray rest. Follow the method for batch sizes and doneness cues.

Crisp pistachio biscotti finished with narrow ribbons of white chocolate.

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 mixReserve all white chocolate for the finish. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Beat butter and sugar until smooth, then mix in eggs and vanilla. Fold in the flour mixture and pistachios. Use cooled, ready-roasted nuts so no roasting time is needed.

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 10 minutes, turn every slice and bake another 10 minutes. Repeat with the second sheet: 40 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 70 minutes.

Cool and finish

  1. 5Cool and finishCool the slices on a rack for 30 minutes after the last tray. Melt reserved white chocolate in a dry microwave-safe bowl at half power in 15-second bursts, stirring after each, just until smooth; allow about 3 minutes of hands-on time, already included in active time. Arrange all 28 cookies on parchment and drizzle the entire 85 g over them in narrow ribbons. Let set for about 30 minutes in a cool room. Total cooling and setting is 75 minutes including the earlier 15-minute log rest.

Chef’s Science & Pro Tips

Ingredient science

Buy white chocolate with cocoa butter for a smooth drizzle.

Technique & texture

Keep the chocolate bowl completely dry.

Finishing & serving

Spread the full measured finish across all 28 cookies.

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 coolingDo not reheat the chocolate-finished cookies; thaw and serve.

Notes

  • Buy white chocolate with cocoa butter for a smooth drizzle. Keep the chocolate bowl completely dry. Spread the full measured finish across all 28 cookies. 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.

Calories104 kcal
Fat4.5 g
Saturated fat2.0 g
Carbohydrates14.0 g
Sugar6.8 g
Fiber0.6 g
Protein2.2 g
Sodium44 mg
Serving size1 cookie
A platter of Italian Christmas cookies
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS BAKINGReal ingredients. Clear steps. Italian Christmas magic.Almonds, citrus and thoughtful baking
THE COOKIE INDEXITALIANCHRISTMAS COOKIES

Frequently Asked Questions

Is white chocolate baked into the dough?

No. All 85 g is melted for the finishing drizzle.

Can I use salted pistachios?

Unsalted nuts are specified so the measured salt stays predictable.

Why is my drizzle soft?

White chocolate can stay soft in a warm kitchen. Set and store in a cool dry place; untempered chocolate may be less firm.

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