Biscotti get a fun modern makeover with a cake mix base and Coffee Nut M&M’s® exterior!
I’ve been accused of being a ‘quiet classicalist.’ I’ve been chided for disregarding wines that favor plastic or screw-tops over proper cork. I’ve been told to keep an open mind as Cava leaves the shady comfort of relative obscurity on its journey into the vogue of posh dinner party limelight. I’ve been encouraged to broaden my reading taste, assured that truly good and classical literature didn’t stop at the turn of the last century. I’ve also been assured that Americanized and Fused Mediterranean cuisine, featuring out-of-region ingredients, is still somehow wholly Mediterranean.
So, you can imagine my skepticism over the modern biscotti, skepticism that has only grown as the legion of low-end-posh cafés began serving them en masse wrapped in little slips of plastic, or stuffed inside oversized jars.
For me, the twice baked cookie holds far too many fond memories of proper preparation, proper presentation, and, yes, proper consumption to truly embrace the modern incarnation…or so I thought.
From childhood, you see, I remember the biscotti baked by first generation Italians, who brought their recipes and cooking methods from what was, at the time, indeed the ‘Old World.’ Those biscotti were then brought to our tables in neat bakery boxes, and I can recall my grandfather dipping them in wine, or as a side to demitasse.
These were not, I assure you, the customs, or lack thereof, surrounding the modern-café incarnation of the twice baked cookie.
Which, oddly, brings us to today’s cookie, and my own entirely modern take on the confection.
This all started because I was having friend over for what would either be a late breakfast, or just coffee, and so I wanted something would fit either occasion, either as a sweet bite after breakfast, or something that would go nicely with dark roasted coffee. Of course, when my daughter suggested biscotti, I realized that fit perfectly.
While I wanted to make the biscotti as close as to what I remembered eating growing up, my schedule, as often happens, began getting away from me, and so I did in fact have to make a few quick shortcuts. For example, rather than start from the scratch, I used a yellow cake box mix as the base, and worked from there. Then, just as the cookies were baking for the first time, it became definite that our morning get-together was in fact just going to be coffee rather than a breakfast, and I decided I wanted to put a little something extra into the cookies.
And that is precisely where the chocolate half-coating came in, as shown below. To add a bite of crunch and decoration, I chopped up some Coffee Nut M&M’s®, dusted those over the chocolate, and my biscotti were complete.
Chocolate Dipped Biscotti
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
For the biscotti:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tbs. vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup Coffee Nut M&M’s® – chopped
For the Chocolate Coating:
- 1 cup melting chocolate candies
- Coffee Nut M&M’s® – chopped
Instructions
For the biscotti:
- Preheat Oven 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl combine cake mix, flour, oil and eggs; combine ingredients to form a dough.
- Shape dough into a 12 – 15 inch by 4 inch wide rectangle and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 25 – 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for about 12 – 15 minutes before slicing.
- Carefully cut into 1/2 inch slices and place on the cookie sheet.
- Bake 10 – 12 minutes.
- Let the cookies cool before placing in chocolate.
For the Chocolate Coating:
- In a small sauce pot over low heat, melt chocolate candies.
- Transfer the melted chocolate to a small bowl and prepare another bowl with the crushed M&M’s®.
- Dip the biscotti in the chocolate then the M&M’s®. Lay the cookies out on a parchment lined cookie sheet until the chocolate has set.
While these aren’t something I would dip in wine anytime soon, but they did in fact make for a delicious departure from tradition.
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Dottie Sauchelli-Balin says
Hi Catherine,
I always stop by when you have the best recipes. These Biscotti are scrumptious looking. I love them with coffee or tea. I like that you used a cake mix to make them. The added chocolate and candies are just perfect to add that little extra something. Beautiful and I hope that you enjoyed your breakfast with your friend. Thank you for sharing this yummy and mouthwatering cookie recipe. Blessings for a good rest of the week… Hugs Dottie 🙂
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Hello Catherine – wow – I adore biscotti and I am so blown away by how easy AND flavor packed yours are! I simply love your use of M&Ms in and on these biscotti – I so wish I could blink my eyes, like Barbara Eden did conjure up a plateful of these in front of me! Thanks so much for this!
[email protected]'s Recipes says
I always love twice baked biscotti. Yours look awesome with all the add-ins.
Chiara says
These biscotti look delicious Catherine, the best way to start a new day !Have a nice day, hugs, xoxo
Maria says
I love your made an elegant cookie more laid back with fun crushed M&Ms!
Liz says
Coffee Nut M&M’s? What a perfect addition to your picture perfect biscotti!
Louise says
Hi Catherine,
I popped by last night and saw these Biscotti but I couldn’t stay because Marion needed help with a baby set she was crocheting. When I told her I left you gorgeous looking biscotti studded with M&Ms, she smiled and asked me to get her one, lol…
I then had to explain that I saw them online and lo and behold, I had to bring the laptop into her so she could see them. All she could say is, WOW!
If her next request is for me to bake her some, I’ll be “calling” you, lol…I stink at baking biscotti and would never be able to make them as lovely as yours, cake mix or not!
Thank you so much for sharing, Catherine and Marion thanks you too:)
★★★★★
David @ Cooking Chat says
what a delicious companion for coffee!
Marcelle / A Little Fish in the Kitchen says
These biscotti look so beautiful! What an extra decadent treat with a dip in chocolate and crushed candy. I’m sure they were delicious 🙂
Sandra says
What a creative recipe! I would have never thought to use a pre-mixed cake for the batter. Love this!
Tamara says
Departing from tradition can be difficult… I’m with you on that one 😉 These do look like a fun departure, though, and remind me I’ve not had a good biscotti in far too long! Great post!
★★★★★
Diane says
I saw the pictures and was struck instantly by how much I want to eat one of these. Perfect for dipping in coffee. That naughty sweet chocolate crunch sound so enticing! Pinned and yummed!
★★★★★
Jessica Knott says
Wow, I never would of thought that boxed cake mix could make biscotti. Totally need to try this recipe now, yum!
Kit Graham says
I love the idea of using cake mix to prepare biscotti! And the M&Ms on top is a genius idea!
★★★★★
Maeva (CookALife! byMaeva) says
I’ve never made biscotti yet but it sounds very yummy! 🙂
Diana says
I haven’t baked biscotti in ages, but dipping them in chocolate sounds like an amazing idea! I will be trying this!
jacqueline | i sugar coat it! says
Such delicious looking photos!! mmmm…
Manila Spoon (Abigail) says
My coffee is lonely without biscotti so this is certainly going to make me very happy! Looks scrumptious and truly a must-try!
★★★★★
Katerina says
These biscotti are just the perfect little things for my afternoon sweet cravings!
Nettie Moore says
My Grandmother always sent me a shoe box filled with her biscotti. Love the looks of yours, incredible! Nettie
★★★★★
Debi at Life Currents says
These are so fun! And I need to try these new M&M flavors. They sound great!
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
It’s so good for our brains to step out of our comfort zones. You have done that and created a yummy cookie in the process.
Tara says
Love a great biscotti, would never have thought you could use a cake mix. Nicely done!!
Joanne/WineLady Cooks says
Your chocolate dipped biscotti is certainly a delicious treat with a double espresso!