Banana Bread Biscotti Recipe:- The other day, I had some bananas that were left over, and I just wasn’t in the mood to make another loaf of banana bread. I thought to myself, “How would a banana work in cookies?”
After that, I decided to experiment with a recipe for banana walnut cookies, and that’s how I found myself here. Delicious Banana Walnut Biscotti!
My opinion is that biscotti are the ideal sweet treat. They are not overly sweet and have the perfect amount of crunch to keep you interested. And if I haven’t already mentioned it, I’m not a lover of extremely sweet foods, and biscotti are the perfect food for me to indulge in. In addition, although I adore my chocolate cherry biscotti, I recently discovered that these banana walnut biscotti are my new favourites.
Banana Bread Biscotti Recipe
The question is, why this particular combination? Just so you know, I had a banana that was really ripe, as I indicated earlier. My options were to either cook something with it or freeze it so that I could use it in a smoothie. Aside from the fact that I’m sick of banana bread, I was looking for something that we could munch on as a snack in the afternoon. Moreover, it was a difficult task.
In a recipe, bananas are an excellent way to reduce the amount of fat and sugar that is used; however, they also add a significant amount of moisture. Since biscotti are supposed to be relatively dry, I was uncertain about how substituting part of the butter would work. As it turns out, I believe that I got it exactly right.
Walnuts are the opposite of the reason. Walnuts boast such a high nutrient density that they are not only an excellent complement to a wide variety of foods but also a delectable crunchy snack. I am always looking for new methods to incorporate additional nutrients into the foods that we consume on a daily basis. As a result of the fact that almost all of us snack on a regular basis (97 percent, according to a recent poll conducted by California Walnuts and Kelton), it is essential to locate snacks that are not only delicious but also nutritious and provide some beneficial nutritional features.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups toasted, California walnuts divided
- 1/4 cup butter unsalted, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup ripe mashed banana (about 1 small banana)
- 2 each eggs large
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa nibs or chips
INSTRUCTIONS
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Preheat the oven to 325°F. Butter 2 cookie sheets.
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Place 1 cup of walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and blend until they are well ground.
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With the second cup of walnuts, chop them into small pieces and set aside.
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Beat the butter, sugar and banana on medium speed for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
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Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.
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Sift flour with 1 cup ground walnuts, baking powder and salt. Gradually mix into the butter and banana mixture.
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Stir the chopped walnuts and cocoa nibs (or chips) into the batter. (You can reserve 1/4 cup of the walnuts and pat them into the top of the biscotti if you want or mix them all in now.)
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Divide the dough in half and pat into a 11 inch by 2 inch log with each half. Lay on one of the prepared cooking sheets.
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Bake logs for 30 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack for 15 – 20 minutes.
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Slice each log into 1-inch pieces – you should end up with 12 cookies from each log. Place on the second cookie sheet, with one of the cut sides down.
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Bake for 10 minutes and then flip the cookies over to the other cut side and bake another 10 mintues.
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Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool. Then go dunk one in a hot cup of coffee and enjoy!
NUTRITION
See Also: Gluten-Free Garlic And Herb Crackers Recipe
Benefits of Walnuts
Walnuts definitely fit that bill and are an excellent choice for smart snacking. Did you know:
- Research suggests that walnut consumption may be associated with improved cognitive function?
- A growing field of research is looking at walnuts and cognitive function, including areas like healthy aging as well as mood, concentration and more.
- Just one ounce of walnuts provides 4g of plant-based protein, 2g of fiber, 10% of your magnesium requirements and 2.5g of the heart healthy omega 3, ALA!
- More information on snacking with walnuts can be found at
How to make Banana Walnut Biscotti
In the process of figuring out how to create them, I was aware that I wanted the banana to take the place of some of the fat that was called for in the recipe. In addition, I was aware that the banana would contribute a great deal of moisture, which is the exact opposite of what you want in a crispy biscotti.
What is the solution to the problem? I came up with two different ways:
I began by putting some toasted walnuts into my food processor and pulverising them until they were relatively close to the consistency of walnut flour. (For the reason why I toasted the walnuts, see it below!)That was successful in accomplishing two goals: it increased the nutritional value of the cookie while also adding some density to it.
Second, I avoided using all-purpose flour and instead used pastry flour made from whole wheat. The addition of some fibre and density was also a result of this.
After that, the process of combining everything was very much the same as the process of making other cookies. I used a mixer to beat the butter, sugar, and banana until the mixture became frothy and light. This helps to make the cookie lighter by incorporating air into the recipe.
After that, incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the mixture, and then proceed to incorporate the flour that has been combined with the pulverised walnuts and baking powder. I finished it off by including a quarter cup of the remaining walnuts and some cocoa nibs (mini chocolate chips would also work) into the mixture and thoroughly mixing them together.
Last but not least, I cut the dough in half, shaped each half into a log measuring 11 inches by 2 inches, and then positioned the logs on a baking pan. Once I had finished patting the remaining walnuts on top, they were ready to go into the oven, where they will bake for approximately half an hour.
Toasting Walnuts
Before we go any further, I would like to make a brief comment regarding toasting nuts. If you would like a more in-depth explanation of this process, you may watch this brief video. Toasting nuts before using them brings out its entire flavour. If you are going to use nuts in your cuisine, whether it be for cookies, cakes, or a salad, you should remember to toast them beforehand. It won’t take more than five minutes, and I promise that your taste buds will be grateful to you for doing so.
