Vanilla Biscotti

6 tablespoons (85 grams) butter

2/3 cup (135 grams) sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 large eggs

2 cups (241 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour

Heat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a biscotti pan or small baking sheet.

In a medium-sized bowl, beat the butter, sugar, salt, vanilla, and baking powder until the mixture is smooth and creamy.  Beat in the eggs; the batter may look slightly curdled.  Add the flour using the low speed of the mixer, stirring until smooth; the dough will be sticky.

Scoop the dough into the prepared pan, shaping it into a rough log and leaving about 3/4-inch bare around the edges of the pan.  The dough should be mounded in the center.

Bake the dough for 25 to 30 minutes, until it is golden brown all over.  Remove it from the oven, and allow it to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.  Remove from the pan.  Using a spray bottle filled with room-temperature water, lightly but thoroughly spritz the log, making sure to cover the sides as well as the top.  Wait 5 minutes before slicing; softening the crust just this little bit will make slicing the biscotti much easier. Use a serrated knife to cut diagonal 1/2" to 3/4" slices.

Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.

Set the biscotti on edge on a large baking sheet; there's no need to grease the pan.  Return the biscotti to the oven, and bake them for 25 to 30 minutes, till they feel very dry and are beginning to turn golden.  They'll still feel a tiny bit moist in the center, if you break one in half, but they'll continue to dry out as they cool.  Remove the biscotti from the oven, and transfer them to a rack to cool.

Makes about 18 biscotti, depending on size.

From King Arthur Flour website

Note:

Can add up to 1 1/2 cups nuts, dried fruit or berries, or chocolate chips to the dough, along with the flour.  Adjust the flavoring to suit the add-in, if desired; reduce the sugar slightly if add-in is sweet.