You know those incredible Cranberry Bliss Bars from Starbucks? Yeah, well.. those but in crisp biscotti form with dried cranberries, orange zest, and lots of white chocolate. Delicate, crisp, and flavorful - Gluten Free Cranberry Bliss Bar Biscotti will complete your holiday season. Plus, they’re the perfect, impressive gift.
One of Starbucks’ fan favorites for the holidays is the Cranberry Bliss Bars. I mean, they are divine. However, I’m not paying that much money every time I want one. Plus, they’re not gluten free - for those of us who are high maintenance. In pursuit of something that doesn’t break the bank or my digestive system, the Cranberry Bliss Biscotti was born.
All the flavors, colors, and textures of the bar from Starbucks, but a fraction of the cost and in a format that’s more friendly for coffee-dunking.
We already know I adore homemade biscotti. It’s so much easier than you think, because I’ve been in your shoes. I’ve always loved biscotti, but I never attempted to make it because I thought it was too much work. I decided to attempt it one Christmas and was shocked by how simple it really was.
I’ve never gone back to buying them from a coffee shop or prepackaged from Costco. Homemade biscotti is life changing, and it’s rather impressive to the outside world. Make this for a Holiday party, to give as a Christmas gift, or keep a stash in the freezer for when guests pop by. You’ll quickly become everyone’s favorite person, and they’ll think you’ve been training as a pastry chef.
What is Biscotti?
Biscotti is a twice-baked Italian cookie. This biscuit is traditionally made with almonds. You can add any mix-ins, citrus, and flavors that you want. I love changing it up for what I have in my pantry.
So, Biscotti is essentially a cookie that has been baked in a slab, cut into pieces, and then baked again to dry it out a bit more.
They are known for being more on the dry and crumbly side, because they are traditionally dunked into coffee, an espresso, or a cup of tea. It is so delicious.
How is Biscotti Made?
It all starts with a simple sugar cookie dough, essentially. From here, you can add in dried fruit, citrus zest, nuts, chocolate chips, toasted coconut, or whatever else you might like.
Next, the dough is put on a parchment lined baking sheet and shaped into a log (roughly 13 inches by 3 inches,) baked, and then cooled for about 15 minutes. Once slightly cool, the large cookie is sliced into pieces about 1 inch thick, with a sharp knife, and arranged back on the baking sheet laying cut-side down.
The biscotti are then baked once more to further dry out the cookie's crumb. This gives it the classic biscotti biscuit texture that is perfect for dipping in coffee or tea.
Other Biscotti Variations to Check Out
Ingredients for Homemade Cranberry Bliss Biscotti
- gluten free flour blend without xanthan gum (or all purpose flour) :
When making gluten free baked goods, I like to be able to control the amount of xanthan gum that goes into each product. Different types of baked goods require different amounts of xanthan gum to achieve specific textures. So, this is my key for making delicious gluten free treats, always.
- xanthan gum
- baking powder
- kosher salt
- ginger, ground
- cinnamon, ground
- unsalted butter, softened
- light brown sugar
- fresh orange zest
- vanilla extract
- eggs, room temperature
- dried cranberries
- white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
Steps to Make Cranberry Bliss Bar Inspired Biscotti
2. In a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, salt, ginger, and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, and orange zest until light and creamy, 3-5 minutes. Add vanilla extract and the eggs, one at a time, mixing in between. Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in the cranberries and white chocolate chips.
4. Transfer the dough onto the prepared baking sheet and press the dough into a flat log, roughly 13 inches long and 3 inches wide. If your hands are sticking to the dough, spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray.
5. Once shaped, bake the large "cookie" for about 35-40 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on the pan for 20-30 minutes.
6. Transfer the biscotti slab to a cutting board or cut directly on the pan and, with a serrated knife, slice 1-inch thick pieces of biscotti.
7. Place the biscotti pieces cut-side down back on the parchment lined baking sheet and bake again at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or until slightly dried out and golden brown.
8. Remove from oven and cool completely. Feel free to dip or drizzle these in melted chocolate and decorate however you desire. Store in an airtight container for up to a week, or wrapped very well in the freezer for up to 4-5 months.
Helpful Tools for Making Biscotti at Home
- a stand mixer: my go-to is always Kitchen Aid
- a rubber spatula: here's my very favorite one. I have it in many colors, and I've never found a better spatula.
- parchment paper sheets: for easy prep and cleanup
- baking sheets : Nordic Ware makes the best baking sheets.
- a good serrated knife: I love this one, but anything from Mercer is good.
- dried orange peel: this is a great alternative to keep in your pantry if you don't always have fresh citrus hanging out.
- white chocolate chips: I know it's tempting to buy the cheapest white chocolate chips, but a lot of times the cheaper ones do not melt well or taste good. So, Ghirardelli is my forever favorite.
- dried cranberries : For biscotti, I always use sweetened dried cranberries.
- piping bags: I love keeping them on hand for whenever I need them, and I love using them to drizzle white chocolate on the biscotti. However, you can always use a ziplock bag with a corner snipped off.
Shop all of my favorites for making biscotti here on Amazon.
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Can I Freeze Cranberry Bliss Biscotti?
Absolutely. Prepare the biscotti as directed and place the cooled biscotti in a ziploc bag or airtight container. Place in the freezer for up to 4 months. When ready to enjoy, remove from the freezer, let thaw, and dunk in coffee or tea.
I Don't Need a Gluten Free Recipe - Can I use Regular Flour?
Yes! Simply swap the gluten free flour in the recipe for 2 cups of All Purpose Flour, and omit the xanthan gum.
Recipes that I Love Enjoying with Biscotti
- This specific drink has been my JAM lately. A Gingerbread Chai is a spectacular choice for dunking biscotti in. It’s comforting, sweet, creamy, and full of gingerbread & chai flavors
- Perfectly spiced, a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte pairs well with just about anything. The homemade syrup is easy to throw together and uses lots of real spices and pumpkin puree. Nothing fake here! I love this drink both iced or hot.
- When in doubt, coffee is always the answer. You can never go wrong with an Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso. It’s easy, non dairy, and so delicious. Biscotti longs to be dunked in coffee.
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