Italian Lemon Biscotti (Cantucci)
Lemon Biscotti, a classic Italian cookie recipe that is crunchy and nutty with toasted hazelnuts and almonds. Biscotti is easy to make, and the lemon flavor in these cookies is just perfect. A great cookie any time of year!
The absolute best cookie for dunking in coffee (or wine, as Italians often do) is biscotti. Biscotti are twice-baked cookies that are crunchy and so delicious.
There are endless biscotti recipes, and I honestly can’t choose a favorite. I’ve shared many recipes over the years and love them all, from my chocolate almond biscotti to cranberry almond biscotti. I’ve even made savory biscotti with olives and Parmesan!
Of course, I love lemon, so I am sharing these easy lemon biscotti. Like my other favorite recipes, they are so crunchy with a great nutty flavor from toasted nuts. The lemon flavor is so bright – they really are a wonderful treat.
Like many cookie recipes, these are easy to adapt to create a different taste. I’m sharing tips in the post so be sure to read through and try some of the suggestions.
Ingredients
- Butter (melted & cooled)
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract or lemon extract
- Large eggs
- Lemon juice
- All-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt (if you use unsalted butter increase the amount by 1/4 teaspoon)
- Baking powder
- Lemon zest
- Toasted hazelnuts
- Toasted almonds
How to toast nuts
Place nuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking / cookie sheet. Bake in a 350F/180C pre-heated oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until they are lightly golden, remove immediately to a clean bowl, they will continue to bake if left on the hot pan.
Instructions
With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl for one to two minutes. Beat in the vanilla and eggs and then add the lemon juice and mix until well combined.
Whisk the flour, salt, baking powder, and zest in a separate medium bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix to combine. Stir in the toasted nuts. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for 30 minutes.
Pre-heat oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Transfer the chilled dough to a lightly floured work surface. Divide it in half and form each half into two logs about 12 inches (31cm) long. Place the logs on the prepared baking sheet and bake them for 30 to 35 minutes or until lightly brown.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and cool the logs at room temperature for five to ten minutes.
Slice the logs on the diagonal into 1/2 inch slices. Lay the pieces cut side up on the cookie sheet. Bake them for approximately eight to ten minutes. Flip the cookies over and bake them again for about five minutes.
Cool the lemon biscotti on a wire rack before serving, or store them in an airtight container.
Biscotti Variations
There are a few ways to switch the flavors in these cookies. You can use lemon extract instead of vanilla to give the biscotti an extra punch of flavor. Or, try using almond extract instead.
You can change the nuts – use all almonds or hazelnuts. Or swap one for a different kind of nuts like walnuts or macadamia nuts. Just don’t skip the toasting. Toasted nuts have a lot more flavor than untoasted.
Instead of lemon juice, add the same amount of limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur.
I prefer them plain, but you could dip the cooled cookies in melted chocolate or drizzle them with a simple lemon glaze made with powdered sugar and lemon juice.
Recipe Tips
To make slicing the log easier, use a serrated knife. It will make it easier to cut without squishing the logs.
Biscotti are a great cookie to make for gifts or during the holiday season because they keep really well. Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container and they will keep for up to two weeks.
You can also freeze them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They will keep well in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to serve them, let them thaw at room temperature.
Make a batch of lemon biscotti to share with friends and family, but be sure to keep a few for yourself. It’s such a special treat to go with a cup of coffee. Enjoy!
More Lemon Cookies
Italian Lemon Biscotti (Cantucci)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter (melted & cooled)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla ( lemon extract if desired)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1¾ cups all purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt*
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- zest of 1-2 lemons
- ½ cup hazelnuts (toasted)**
- ½ cup almonds (toasted)**
*If using unsalted butter then add ¼ teaspoon of salt.
**Place the nuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking / cookie sheet. Bake in a 350F/180C pre-heated oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until they are lightly golden, remove immediately to a clean bowl, they will continue to bake if left on the hot pan.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until well combined 1-2 minutes. Add vanilla, then add the eggs beat, then add the lemon juice and beat to combine.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and zest.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, when almost combined add the the nuts and combine.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Pre-heat oven to 300F (150C). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Move the dough to a lightly floured flat surface, divide in two and form into 2 logs (about 12 inches/31cm long). Place on the prepared cookie sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes or until lightly brown.
- Remove from the oven and let sit 5-10 minutes.
- Cut the logs on the diagonal into 1/2 inch slices. Lay the slices cut side up back on the prepared cookie sheet and bake for approximately 8-10 minutes. Then flip the cookies over and bake again for approximately 5 minutes. Move the biscotti to a wire rack to cool and dry completely before serving. Enjoy!
35 mins and still soft and no near brown. At 300°. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Linda, it just may need more time baking. Try raising the heat to 350F. Hope that helps. Take care!
Can these be made with gluten free flour ?
I have a gluten intolerant person in my family.
Thank you..
Hi Lynn, I have never made them with gluten free flour, apparently you can you may need to add a bit more liquid (I would add a bit of milk a tablespoon at a time if necessary). Let me know if you try it. Take care!
Yes, you can use a 1 for 1 / cup for cup substitute blend. The dough will be very sticky and more difficult to work with. It will also be much more crumbly than a regular biscotti. The flavor is still good. Definitely add more lemon, zest, and vanilla regardless of the flour.
This was my second time making a biscotti. Excellent recipe, I love lemon. I ended up using all hazelnuts and no almonds. After roasting the whole hazelnuts I rubbed them together and got most of the husks off. When slicing the logs I was worried about the hazelnuts causing disruption, but they sliced nicely when still hot. Excited to try a savoury biscotti recipe one day. Thank you and all the best.
Hi Robear, thanks so much so glad you enjoyed them, let me know if you try the savory biscotti. Take care and Happy New Year.
Excellent recipe..the best biscotti ever with amazing lemon flavours
Hi Aisha, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care!
These were very good! Easy recipe, good lemon flavor. The only problem I had the dough was very, very sticky. I use more than a lightly floured surface, but they came out fine. WIll make them again!
Hi Diane, it can also depend on the flour that you use, some flour absorbs more liquid than others. Glad you enjoyed them. Take care.
I love the idea of a lemon biscotti however. I’m severely allergic to nuts. Do you think these could hold their own without the addition of the nuts? I was wondering if your mention of the lemony glaze would help make them work.
Hi Dee, I don’t know that they would hold together without the nuts, what about adding some dried fruit? I do have other lemon cookies on the blog, on search write in “lemon cookies” you might find something you prefer. Hope that helps.
I added dried cranberries, and they were delicious
Hi Sara, thanks so much, so glad you liked them. Take care and have a great week!