ALMOND BISCOTTI w/whiskey

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                               Makes 4 logs for                slicing to twice bake
  
                                  6 oz. whole natural     almonds with skins on – toasted
• 1-1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon Chinese five spice
• Zest from one large orange
• 1/2 cup salted butter – optional = browned butter
• 6 tablespoons whiskey - your choice (Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey is my favorite for these cookies)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3-1/2 cups sifted unbleached AP flour (plus extra on hand if needed for rolling)
• 1/4 cup almond meal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 large eggs

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. lightly grease two baking sheets
2. PREP THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS
3. Toast almonds on a baking sheet, lightly salt...let sit until needed.
4. In a small bowl, mix the sugar, five spice and orange zest together...let sit until needed.
5. In measuring cup with spout for easier pouring, melt the butter; take off heat, cool a bit then stir in the whiskey, almond extract and vanilla...let sit until needed.
6. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, almond meal and baking powde...let sit until needed.
7. COMBINING THE INGREDIENTS
8. Beat the sugar mixture with the eggs until it is pale looking.
9. Stir in the butter mixture.
10. Using a wooden spoon, fold in half the flour mixture until almost incorporated. Fold in the remaining flour, and again, until the flour is almost incorporated.
11. Add the almonds; fold the dough and almonds together, until incorporated.
12. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.
13. FORMING THE BISCOTTI LOGS AND BAKING TWICE
14. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide into four equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a log 12 inches in length.
15. Place 2 logs on a lightly greased baking sheet; flatten them to 1/2 inch thickness. Note: stick both sheets in the oven and half way through switch them from top to bottom.
16. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the temperature down to 250° F. Let the logs cool for 15 minutes before slicing.
17. Slice each log diagonally into 1/2-inch thick cookies. Note: If the biscotti log is crumbling then let it cool a few minutes more.
18. Lay the sliced cookies flat onto the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes; turn cookies over and bake an additional 25 minutes – until golden brown or they are crisped to your preference. The longer in the oven the crisper they will get.
19. Cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container to help keep them crisp - should keep up to a month.