Almond biscotti

These little biscuits are something you should always have in your cupboards at home or desk at work. They’re small, satisfying and healthy, and go perfectly with a cup of coffee for mid-morning slumps. The almonds make them filling, while the slow-release carbohydrates mean you also get energy. Most importantly though, they taste great (and are suitable for vegans)!

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups flour of choice

• 1 cup ground almonds

• 1/2tsp baking powder

• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (muscovado works well)

• 1/2 cup dates chopped (approx 10-15)

• 3/4 cup whole almonds

• Pinch of salt

• 1/4 cup maple syrup or agave nectar (or honey)

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/2tsp almond essence

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees

• In a large mixing bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients

• In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients

• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients slowly, mixing with a wooden spoon as you go

• The mixture should become very hard to mix.

• Form a ball with the mixture. It should stick together easily. If it cracks, add a little more water. If it is too gloopy, add a little more flour.

• On a floured surface, roll the mixture out into one or two long sausages.

• Flatten the sausages slightly and scour diagonal cur marks into the tops with a serrated knife (to cut through the almonds). Do not cut all the way to the base.

• Cook the sausages on a tray for 20-30 minutes

• Remove from the oven and let cool.

• Cut the sausage into individual biscuits and lay flay on a tray. Cook for another 20 minutes until browning and hard.

• Let cool and enjoy!

Scour the sausages diagonally so they look a bit like French baguettes

Enjoy with a delicious cup of coffee!