Baking with Tea: Vanilla Rooibos Biscotti Recipe

One thing I love about cooking is when I set out to make a recipe thinking it's going to be screeching-nails-on-a-chalkboard frustrating and it surprises me by being so intrinsically simple that I could probably duplicate with with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back. 

What can I say? I have a flair for the dramatics.

Every time I set out to make biscotti, I dread it a little bit, no matter how satisfying I know the final product will be in the end. You see, you need two bowls: one for the wet ingredients and one for the dry substances. Two bowls = 2 dishes to wash at the end of the day. I mean, directly after I finish cooking, of course. Biscotti also bakes twice - once whole at a higher temperature and once after it's cooled and you've sliced, in a warm-but-not-as-hot oven (that's the technical term).

Now the good news? That's as difficult as it gets.

 

Recently, I was invited to participate in a cook-off with Starbucks and TAZO Tea. This month, I, along with several other bloggers, will create one recipe per week that incorporates Tazo Tea. The kicker? We also have to include a “secret ingredient” that is announced each Monday into the recipe.

This week? It was all about culinary lavender.

Before you indulge in these crispy, vanilla infused Italiano-style cookies that can only be described as sheer bliss when dunked in a hot, frothy latte, I need you to do me a favor. Leave a comment on this post! If I get the most comments among the other bloggers partaking in this challenge, I'll win a gift card to the kitchen store of my choice (translation: I will buy Le Creuset cookware).

I know. It feels like a popularity contest. All you need to do tell me your favorite kind of tea, your favorite kind of cookie, how nice I look today...and so on.

 

Vanilla Rooibos Biscotti
Yield: 18 biscotti

What you need:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tbsp pulverized Tazo Vanilla Rooibos tea leaves, from about 3 tea bags (crushed with a mortar and pestle)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon dried lavender blossoms

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust oven rack to the middle position. Lightly grease three baking sheets (lining the baking sheet with parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup much easier).

2. In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk sugar and eggs to a light lemon color; stir in honey, vanilla extract, orange zest, and lavender blossoms.

3. Sprinkle dry ingredients over the egg mixture; fold in until the dough is just combines. To shape the dough into a log, lightly sprinkle flour on the work surface, on top of the dough, and on your hands. Use just enough flour to form a log and to prevent sticking.

4. Bake 25 minutes or until dough pops back up when lightly pressed with a finger. (After dough has baked 10 minutes, reverse cookie sheets from front to back and move from the top rack to the bottom one. Repeat this again after another 10 minutes). You can't judge the cooking by the color. The biscotti shouldn't change color during the second baking, so poke them to tell if they're done. They should feel dry and offer some resistance. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 275 degrees F.

5. Using a long serrated knife, cut logs diagonally into 1/2-inch thick slices. Turn the slices over, onto their sides; return slices, on baking sheets, to oven. Bake another 15 minutes.

NOTE: Biscotti will continue to crisp up, as they cool, so do not be tempted to over bake. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire racks. Store biscotti in an airtight container. They will keep well for a few weeks.

Disclosure: Tazo provided me with the tea, a few brewing essentials and a grocery gift card to cover the cost of supplies for this project. Tazo did not tell me what to write here and the opinions in this post are 100% honest and accurate.

 

Comments

[Kate]

Love, love, love biscotti. I would paint just a small stripe of dark chocolate along the top crust, because, well, I love chocolate. Then they become both a coffee snack and a dessert. Mmm.

[Josh]

I like an English Breakfast tea, my favorite cookie is good old fashioned Chocolate Chip, haven't seen you in many years but you look great today and lastly good luck.

[ANG*]

i'm a peppermint tea kinda girl! and let's be serious, i'm not gonna be picky about the sweet treat that accompanies it :)

[Sarah]

I remember when you used to make biscotti in college! This looks delicious.

[Doniree]

This timing is ridiculous :) I had biscotti with my coffee this morning and though I'm not much of a baker, vowed to learn to make biscotti from scratch. And then I found this. BOOKMARKED. Thanks, now I don't even have to Google it! :)

[Alexandra]

OMGI adore Rooibos! Fantastic idea for biscotti. I love making biscotti during the holidays. I have an excellent vegan version I can share!

[Daryl]

Those biscotti look absolutely incredible.
Amazing terrific!!! I would love to try this recipe but I know my biscotti will look nothing like that!!!

[DessertForTwo]

I love Tazo tea! I've been trying other flavors for years now, but I keep going back to Tazo. My favorite is Zen.

As much as I love biscotti, the twice baked thing keeps me away...but these look worth it :)

P.S. You're looking gorgeous today :)

[Daryl]

My favorite cookie is any thin crispy cookie

[Steve]

Those Vanilla Rooibos Biscotti sound very interesting. We'll have to try them....maybe this weekend!

[Laurie Starr]

I like any kind of berry tea -- especially with a cranberry biscotti that I make at holiday time.

[Kristina]

My favorite cookies are snickerdoodles but those biscotti look amazing! And you look gorgeous today!

[Kristina]

PS - I also am a sucker for brown butter chocolate chip cookies.

[laura marie]

My favorite kind of tea is smoked black tea. Believe me, I gave the lady at the tea shop a weird look too. It even smells like a campfire when you brew it. BUT, when you add milk and honey it is A-MAZ-ING and so thick and warming. I'd imagine it's also yummy with some kind of ginger or molasses based cookie.

[Jen]

Yumm, those look tasty. I hope they're still around this weekend! And my favorite tea is Mint Medley!!

[Rachel Coolface]

Rooibos Tea is like heaven in a cup. I don't know what Rooibos means (that's I lie, I read about it in my Tea Bible), but I know that any edible food that incorporates it into the recipe is a.o.k. in my book. Keep up the good work!

[lynn]

They sound very yummy. Please come to the east coast and make some :-)

[Penny]

I love all of these! MMMMMMM Good!

[Jessie]

I have never had biscotti or made it, I may have to make it once this heat goes away! I have far too many favorites for tea. I will name 3:
vanilla chai tea (Bigelow)
apple cinnamon (Lipton)
white orange spice (Numi)

[CeCe]

I love this recipe. I've been wanting to try and bake biscotti for a while now. I love using interesting things like lavender in a recipe, so I may try this one and get over my fear of twice baking anything (yeah, potatoes, you've ruined me for everyone else).

[Lori]

I could never bake successfully, unless it once had feathers, but at my old unmentionable age, I am learning. What I've found is there can't be improvisation when you are a novice which is what I like about it. I have to follow the recipe exactly and focus, not leave the room to do several other things. I am a coffee addict, and for years the perfect accompaniment has been biscotti. I'm on the fence about the lavender, but willing to give it try. I think my tea of choice would be Earl Grey with a splash of milk. It all sounds delicious!

[Kelly]

Awww. This makes me a little sad that it is a popularity contest! Should be more about flavor or uniqueness or something but being in marketing myself I understand. :-) That said, I am super sloppy in the kitchen. My sink is always brimming with dishes.

[Katie @ goodLife {eats}]

I have never made biscotti before but I do like it. This one sounds great. Another thing I haven't done is cooked or baked with lavender. I am really intrigued by it and want to try but I always forget to buy dried lavender.

[Colette]

This looks DELISH! Yum yum :)

[jeryl jagoda]

Caramel Vanilla Tea (yes there is such a thing) with dark chocolate biscotti with almonds- and I am done!

[Caz]

Yum! I've been intrigued by cooking with tea for ages (I LOVE tea) but haven't jumped in yet.

These look delicious though.

My fav tea is Earl Grey (but only Twinnings brand :-)

[Christina]

Had raspberry red zinger tea earlier. Hit the spot on a very hot day.

[Kris]

And having read the comments, I now want caramel vanilla tea.

[Joanne]

What a fun challenge! I love biscotti but I dread them as well. I don't know why because they are IMPOSSIBLE to mess up. I love the flavors you put into these! Delicious.

[Amy]

This combo sounds veddy, veddy interesting. Would love to try some. Need my address? I'll be waiting with a warm latte in hand. Oh, and yeah, just choosing one tea would be difficult. Like me some tea.

[Tina]

I just got back from the store after buying some vanilla chai tea.

[Maria]

I love biscotti! I can't wait to try this recipe! Looks fantastic!

[melissa]

Those biscotti look so good! I LOVE roobios teas. It's my favorite by far and makes such a nice soy latte.

oh and culinary lavender...also stellar. I just used some in a Blueberry Lavender Sorbet and the results were delicious.

Thanks so much for sharing your cooking adventures.

[Kerstin]

What a fun challenge! Your biscotti looks amazing!

[Kristen]

Mmmmmmm - I love a nice hot cup of tea in the winter. This makes me almost wish it were that time of year!
Yummy recipe, Maris!

[Molly]

YUM!

[Serene]

Can't wait to show these to my ex-wife, who LOVES cooking with botanicals.

[Amber]

Looks great. I can't wait to make them.

[Robyn]

These look awesome, Its great to see South African teas making their way around the world. Rooibos means "Red Bush", coz it comes from a red bush... :) Its my fav! Definately wanna try this!

[Heidi Renée]

I haven't had biscotti since college, but now you have me wanting it! Lately I've been enjoying green chai.

[Barbara]

I love Earl Grey tea with a blueberry scone, but I think if I was having a cappuccino, I would definitely want one of those biscottis!

[Pamela Farnsworth Smith]

Agree with the previous comment exactly! Dark chocolate goes well with all biscotti and a rich cup of coffee for me.

[Angie Lunghino]

i love biscotti!! that's all i can say. my grandma was born and raised in italy, and she has soo many great recipes... but i think i have tried them all! this one is sure to be next on the list!

[Alanna Kellogg]

You look sooo nice today, Maris! :-))))

[thatShortChick]

you always teach me something whenever I drop by! who knew you could turn tea into a baked good?!

like another commentor said, I haven't had biscotti since college but I used to love hazelnut. This vanilla flavor sounds like a perfectly light treat with some strong coffee in the morning :)

[rachael]

Yum! Looks delicious!

[Eli]

I think I'm inspired to go get some coffee and a biscotti...two biscotti, and a macaroon.

[frani]

I do love me some biscotti and i've never thought of adding tea to it- makes so much sense! brilliant, darling. and i love lavender.

[marla {family fresh cooking}]

This is such a unique and great recipe for biscotti! Love that you used tea and took the time to clean the bowls :) Such a fun contest and I hope you do great......looks like you earned that Le Creuset girl :)

[Brandi]

Those sound super yummy!! Nice work Maris!

[Jennifer]

This recipe sounds great! I love lavender!

[Christine]

If I cooked I would make this!

[Jill, The Veggie Queen]

I love making biscotti and usually make vegan ones. I have never made them with lavender and since I love rooibos tea, I am going to have to try this combo.

I have a cooking class coming up soon in which they might really like these.

Thanks for the post.

[Alicia Aldrich]

wine and biscotti mmmmm :)

[Alice]

I drink Passion Tazo iced tea everyday! Good luck, hope you win!

[ronnie]

What a lovely flavor choice, vanilla and lavender. While I'd prefer to have coffee with my biscotti, I actually have Tazo Chai and Honeybush in my pantry for when my parents visit...they just love tea and cookies! I'm very impressed, Maris. Your biscotti looks beautiful. It's inspired me to give baking biscotti another try (I flopped miserably the first time!).

[Julie @ Willow Bird Baking]

My favorite sort of cookie has to include almond and raspberry, my favorite sort of tea is sweet iced tea, and don't you look nice today! :)

[Paula - bell'alimento]

You had me at biscotti ; )

[Tickled Red]

I adore biscotti...Hope you win darlin' :)

[Serena]

Yum!

[jenjenk]

mmmm...this looks fantabulous!! and the combination of tea & lavender is perfect!!!

[RJ Flamingo]

I love to make biscotti! And now I'll have to make them with CULINARY LAVENDER! Lavender seems to be everywhere, lately!

[Dave C]

I used to make biscotti ALL THE TIME. I may have to again...

[Lisa]

I have a BUNCO party coming up and I think I will bake these up for all to enjoy

[Heather (Heather's Dish)]

i actually adore making biscotti! i think the process of it is so cool, and i love making people think i'm fancy just because i twice-baked a cookie :)

[Kevin E]

Sounds great!

[kelsey]

These look delicious! I love making biscotti! They are a lovely little treat!

[Lindsay Heller]

The biscotti looks absolutely delicious!

[Sarah Caron]

YUM! I adore biscotti ... particularly ones with chocolate or white chocolate in them.

[Dave Wuensch]

I don't usually like Biscotti, but these look AMAZING.

[Jann]

I tried these and love them right out of the oven, before they begin to get crunchy

[mandy]

I love some biscotti! I have one recipe that I go back to time and time again. This one sounds really delicious though.

(Sorry I have been MIA in the comments, I'm reading, I promise!)

[Cora @ Cora Cooks]

Well! I had to scroll down a long list of comments to get here, so I hope that means your chances of winning are good. Your description of the sort-of-dread in making biscotti is exactly the way I feel about making it -- when, in fact, it is really easy and they taste so good. Love the idea of tea and herbal ingredients too. Perfect pairing and now I'm going to try to locate the lavender flowers. Thanks!

[Derek]

I'm a pretty big biscotti guy

[BETSY]

love this good luck with the gift card!

[Libba]

Can't wait to make these! They look delicious!

[Kim]

This looks delish!

[Mary]

I have never seen lavender used in Biscotti. I am going to give this a try. I sounds delicious. THANKS!

[Sonnet]

I have been looking for a recipe that uses lavendar, you see I grew my own this year, that I might actually eat. This one looks wonderful and sounds easy enough for me.

[Jbailey]

This look amazing...Perfect with a nice cup of green tea!!!!!!!!!

[Heather]

Maris the biscotti is yummy. I am a huge fan of the TAZO green china tea. Hot or cold. ABC interview was great! keep the great work maris!

[Nikki Redding]

I love Chai tea and butter cookies <3 I'll have to try your Biscotti it looks delicious!!!

[Nancy Troske]

I love making biscotti but have grown tired of the typical recipes I make, like anise, cinnamon, etc. These sound different and delicious. I'm going food shopping today and will pick up the ingredients. My husband, especially, loves to bake and I think we'll give them a try this weekend! Thanks for the recipe and I'll let you know how they turn out!

[crystal]

I think I would have to add vanilla protein powder so I felt like they were semi-healthy!

[kat]

I love cooking with lavender! It makes for the most delicious scones & I bet is great in these

[Jennifer]

Yummm! Will you please send me some? :)

[Kirsten burke]

These look delicious and I love to make biscotti in the fall/ winter, usually coconut recipe...will try these and hope lavender is easy to find !! Your recipies look great - will bookmark.

[Sarah Sahmit]

I am a huge biscotti fan! This looks and sounds amazing. I can't wait to make it!

[Brandi]

They have a very downsouth home cooked look, the ingredients confirm the goodness, If I had a few of these and some tea I can see a stomach satisfying moment approaching!!

[Gaby]

I love making biscotti for my family and then sending it to them all over the country! It stays good for so long!!! I love it dipped in chocolate too!

[Adam Ross]

Those look delicious!!!! You should kick Rachel Ray off the air!!

[Bonnie Rosen]

I am more of a choco chip cookie baker...but I will give the biscotti a try.

[nancy morrissey lloyd]

i love biscotti its great for dunking in coffee or tea.

[Emily]

Hi Maris! Your site is amazing, This Biscotti looks great!

[Marilyn]

Yum! I can't wait to make another one of your delicious recipes!

[John Farrell]

Mar, I dont biscotti, I dont drink tea. BUT i hate the thought of some other blogger winning a popularity contest, so here we are.

[Sandie {A Bloggable Life}]

Gosh, Maris, I like so many teas---depending on my mood & the weather. Best combo all around? I'd have to go with Constant Comment Tea & snickerdoodle cookies. Delish!

Good luck with your contest :)

[Terry Clarkson Farrell]

what delicate and different flavors! you can't beat biscotti and this is just a delightful take on it.

[Joshua]

I must must must TRY this. Love your recipes! YUM YUM YUM

[alexa - cleveland's a plum]

i like my tea dark, strong and caffeinated... wait, or is that coffee? :)

regardless, the recipe sounds AMAZING.