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A little reason to celebrate

National Biscotti Day

Food · September 29

Biscotti are twice-baked Italian cookies, crisp and dry, made for dunking in coffee, tea or sweet wine. Here is what they are and how to enjoy them.

National Biscotti Day falls on Wednesday, September 29, 2027. That is 337 days away.

Biscotti are long, crisp cookies baked twice. The dough is shaped into a flat log and baked, then sliced on an angle and baked again until the slices dry out and turn firm. The name comes from Italian and points to that double trip through the oven.

The result is a cookie with real structure. Classic versions use flour, sugar, eggs and almonds, often with no butter at all, which helps explain the snap. Bakers also fold in hazelnuts, pistachios, dried fruit, citrus zest, anise or chocolate, and some dip one end in melted chocolate for a tidy finish.

That firmness is the point. Biscotti are made to be dunked, and a quick dip in coffee, tea or a glass of sweet dessert wine softens the edge while the center holds. Eaten dry, they reward patience and a napkin.

They also keep well. Because so much moisture is baked out, biscotti stay crisp for a good while in a sealed tin, which is why they show up in holiday gift boxes and beside the register at coffee shops.

Making them at home is simpler than the shape suggests. The second bake is where the texture is decided, so a few extra minutes gives a harder cookie and a shorter bake leaves a little give in the middle.

Ways to celebrate

• Dunk a biscotto in your morning coffee or tea.
• Bake a batch at home with almonds or pistachios.
• Try dipping one end of each cookie in melted chocolate.
• Share a tin of homemade biscotti with a neighbor.
• Look for an unusual flavor at a local bakery.

Dates

All national days on September 29

Also on September 29

• National Coffee Day
• Goose Day
• VFW Day

Categories: Food days