Poor Santa’s Lemon-Walnut Biscotti

Lemon Walnut Biscotti are a delicious addition to any holiday festivity. Here Poor Santa presents you with an elegant biscotti recipe which will yield gourmet results, and not hurt your wallet. The bright buttery lemon flavor of this biscotti, will stand out against the usual holiday cookies. Lemon Walnut Biscotti are great with tea, or as a light dessert after a rich meal, and make a wonderful hostess/Christmas gift.

Poor Santa’s Lemon-Walnut Biscotti

3 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 stick room temp. unsalted butter (if you want to use salted only use 3/4tsp. of salt)
1 1/3 cups sugar
Shaved peel of 1 large lemon (or 2 small)
2 lg. eggs
all the juice of 1 large lemon (aprox. 3-4 tblsp.)
1 3/4 c. chopped walnuts (8oz. bag)
Confectioners sugar for dusting

1. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
2. Beat butter, sugar, and lemon peel in separate bowl until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just to blend after each addition. Beat in lemon juice.
3. Slowly add flour mixture, while still beating, then stir in walnuts.
4. Split the dough into 3.
5. Use plastic wrap to help form dough into 8-inch-long logs. Flatten them slightly, to about 2 ½ inches wide.
6. Keep in plastic wrap and chill until firm, (min. 3 hours / max. 3 days)
7. Preheat oven to 325°F & line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
8. Transfer flattened dough logs to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.
9. Bake until golden brown and just firm to touch (approx. 45 min.).
10. Transfer to cooling rack , and allow to cool completely.
11. Lower oven temperature to 300°F.
12. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
13. Cut the logs crosswise into 3/4 to 1″ thick slices.
14. Arrange the slices on prepared baking sheets.
15. Bake until golden brown around edges ( approx. 20 min.).
16. Dust the biscotti with confectionary sugar while still warm. Allow to cool completely, before storing to ensure crispness of the biscotti.
These can be stored at room temp, in an airtight container, for several days.