Action Figure Annie

Adapted from Cook’s Illustrated

Recipe under the cut

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

pinch salt

1 tablespoon ground ginger

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 1/4 ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 tbs unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

2 lg eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup whole almonds with skins, toasted, cooled and chopped coarse

- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350. Whisk flour, baking powder spices & salt together in medium bowl; set aside.

- Either by hand or with electric mixer, cream butter & sugar together until light and smooth, about 2 min with mixer set at med speed. Beat in eggs one at a time, molasses then extract. Stir in almonds. Sprinkle dry ingredients over egg mixture, then fold in until dough is just mixed.

- Halve dougn & turn each portion onto an oiled cookie sheet covered with parchment. Using floured hands, quickly stretch each portion of dough into rough 13×2 inch log, placing them about 3 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Pat each dough shape to smooth it. Bake, turning pan once until loaves are golden and jus beginning to crack on top, about 35 min.

- Cool the loaves for about 10 min; lower oven temp to 325. Cut each loaf diagonally into 3/8 inch slices with a serrated knife. Lay the slices flat, about 1/2 inch apart, on the cookie sheet and return to oven. Bake, turning each cookie over halfway through baking, until crisp and golden brown on both sides, about 15 min. Transfer biscotti to wire rack and cool completely.