Twelve Days of Baking - Day 1

For some unknown reason, I'm not in the mood to make all the traditional Christmas goodies that I usually make each year for Christmas. So, this year I've given myself a challenge of making twelve new holiday recipes for the twelve days leading up to Christmas.

I have a list which I'll be working through in the next few days and posting the results here.

My first recipe is for Cranberry Swirl Biscotti. I adapted this from a recipe in a Taste of Home Cookies cookbook. They're a little time consuming to make, but the results are festive and delicious.

 

Cranberry Swirl Biscotti

 

2/3 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup plum jam

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

 

Process cranberries, jam, and cinnamon in a food processor until smooth; set aside. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture and mix well.

 

Divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface roll each half into a 12x8 inch rectangle. Spread each half with the cranberry filling then roll up, jelly-roll style.

 

Place on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes. Cool for five minutes then slice diagonally with a serrated knife. Bake 15-20 minutes more, turning the biscotti over once, until the center are firm and dry. Makes about 30 cookies. 

 

Notes: The original recipe calls for cherry jam, but I changed it to plum because that's what I had on hand. Either would be good. It also calls to drizzle them with a powdered sugar glaze, but I decided that was unnecessary as the filling makes them sweet enough for my taste.