Your Biscotti Questions, Answered (2024)

What are Biscotti?

Biscotti are a popular Italian cookie that have been enjoyed in Italy since ancient Roman times. Traditionally baked twice to elongate the cookies’ shelf life, they were initially made as a safe food for the Roman Legions to carry in their packs. To help soften the cookie, soldiers would often dip them into a sweet wine as they ate. A few centuries later during the Renaissance, biscotti were popularized by a baker named Antonio Mattei. The cookie has since remained a Tuscan staple.


Your Biscotti Questions, Answered (1)


Are Biscotti Italian?

Yes, Biscotti cookies were invented by the Italians during ancient Roman times and have since remained an Italian staple.


What does Biscotti mean in Italian?

Directly translated, Biscotti (or biscotto) simply means cookie in modern day Italian. However, the word originates from the Latin word biscoctus, meaning “twice-cooked,” referring to the method used to make traditional Biscotti.


Whyare Biscotti so hard?

Named after its traditional method of cooking, biscotti are generally baked twice, rendering the rather dried out and hard version associated with the cookie. This is why biscotti are often served alongside an espresso or vin santo as dipping helps to soften the cookie’s texture. What differentiates Bona Furtuna’s biscotti is that they are only baked once, rendering a softer, easier cookie to savor at any time of day with or without an accompanying drink.

Your Biscotti Questions, Answered (2)

How do you eat Biscotti?

Due to their hard nature, most biscotti cookies are best enjoyed with a softening agent. Bona Furtuna Biscotti, however, does not need to be served with any sort of dippable as our cookies are soft and buttery.

Your Biscotti Questions, Answered (3)


What should I serve Biscotti with?

Apart from a classic Vin Santo or coffee pairing, our Biscotti cookies are incredibly versatile. You can garnish an affogato with a Cantucci, crumble the Dried Fruit & Seed cookies over yogurt for a parfait, serve the Candied Lemon on a cheese plate, or crumble the Double Chocolate Chunk into a decadent ice cream cake.


What are Biscotti made of? / How are Biscotti made?

Traditional Biscotti is made with flour, almonds, sugar, eggs and olive oil. Today, most biscotti is made with butter, instead of olive oil. Biscotti is made by forming the dough into an oblong log and baking it until cooked through. The log is pulled from the oven, cooled completely, and sliced into the long thin cookies you’ve come to know. Traditionally, the heat of the oven is then reduced, and the sliced cookies are baked for a second time. Our Biscotti cookies are made with organic ingredients, and are only baked one time to ensure a delectable, buttery texture.


Is your Biscotti Gluten Free?

Bona Furtuna Biscotti cookies are not gluten free.

Your Biscotti Questions, Answered (2024)

FAQs

Your Biscotti Questions, Answered? ›

What are Biscotti made of? / How are Biscotti made? Traditional Biscotti is made with flour, almonds, sugar, eggs and olive oil. Today, most biscotti is made with butter, instead of olive oil. Biscotti is made by forming the dough into an oblong log and baking it until cooked through.

What is biscotti and what does the term mean literally? ›

The word biscotto, used in modern Italian to refer to a biscuit (or cookie) of any kind, originates from the Medieval Latin word biscoctus, meaning 'twice-cooked'. It characterised oven-baked goods that were baked twice, so they became very dry and could be stored for long periods of time.

What are some interesting facts about biscotti? ›

The History of Biscotti – Biscotti comes from the Latin word biscoctus, which means twice-baked. While Italians use biscotti as an umbrella term, of sorts, to designate many different varietals of cookies, Americans use it as the name for this delicious long, crisp, twice-baked Italian cookie.

Why didn't my biscotti get hard? ›

If your biscotti are too soft then it is likely that the cookies were not baked for long enough second time around.

How can you tell when biscotti are done? ›

If the biscotto feels soft, like a piece of cake, give it another 5 minutes in the oven. If it feels firm but still gives a bit when you poke it, take it out for rather soft-textured but still crunchy biscotti.

What is another name for biscotti? ›

Biscotti cookies, also known as cantucci, are traditional Italian cookies. They are known for their long shelf life and crisp texture. They can be enjoyed with coffee or tea, dipped in wine, or used as a dessert topping.

What is the difference between biscotti and biscotti? ›

First of all, the strict answer to the question “When is a biscotti not a biscotti?” is “never”, because in Italian “biscotti” is a plural word, meaning biscuits, while the singular is “biscotto”.

Can I use baking soda instead of baking powder in biscotti? ›

If you can't find baking powder you can make you own.

Baking soda is a common leavener used in baking, cookies muffins and biscotti when certain ingredients are also included.

Is biscotti better with oil or butter? ›

Despite their centuries-old heritage, there is no one perfect way to make biscotti. Some recipes call for eggs only, which is the traditional method, while others swear by butter or oil. The choice is yours; just keep in mind that those made with butter or oil will have both a softer texture and a shorter shelf life.

Should biscotti be refrigerated? ›

To store biscotti, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. Lining the container with a paper towel will help soak up any excess moisture that finds its way in.

Is biscotti a bread or a cookie? ›

Biscotti, also known as cantucci, are twice-baked Italian cookies made of almonds and originated in Prato, Tuscany, in the 14th-century, where almonds were abundant.

Why are biscotti baked twice? ›

In those days, biscuits were baked twice to dry them out so they wouldn't get moldy on a trip that would last for weeks. Later known as hardtack, they weren't sweetened or coated with chocolate either. They were made from a simple water and flour dough, and baked until they were hard. Really hard.

Are you supposed to dip your biscotti in coffee? ›

chocolate, hot tea or any other hot drink, to get it nice. and soft, and enjoy!!

What does biscotti translate to in English? ›

Biscotti Meaning

The word “biscotti” is derived from the Latin word “bis,” meaning “twice,” and “coctus,” meaning “cooked,” referring to the fact that the dough is baked twice to create a hard, dry texture.

What do Italians call American biscotti? ›

Italians use the word biscotti when referring to products that Americans call cookies. The word cantucci is used by Italians when referring to the product Americans call biscotti.

Does biscotti mean twice baked? ›

The word biscotti is derived from the Latin biscoctus, meaning twice baked or cooked: The dough is formed into logs, baked, cooled and baked again. Whereas Italians use the word "biscotti" to refer to various cookies, Americans use the term to refer to the singular long, crisp, twice-baked Italian cookie.

What does biscotti mean in Latin? ›

Directly translated, Biscotti (or biscotto) simply means cookie in modern day Italian. However, the word originates from the Latin word biscoctus, meaning “twice-cooked,” referring to the method used to make traditional Biscotti.

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