Golden, twice-baked Christmas biscotti made with cricket flour, almonds, and warm spices. These high-protein, eco-friendly cookies deliver the perfect balance of crunch and sweetness — ideal for gifting or dipping into your favorite holiday drink.
Difficulty: Medium
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes (plus cooling)
Serves: 25–30 biscotti
Ingredients:
For the biscotti dough:
- 150g all-purpose flour
- 50g cricket flour
- 100g sugar (white or cane)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 orange (zest only)
- 2 medium eggs
- 40g melted butter (or coconut oil)
- 80g whole almonds (toasted)
- Pinch of salt
For decoration (optional):
- 100g dark chocolate (melted)
- Crushed hazelnuts or orange peel
Instructions:
1. Make the dough:
- Preheat oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix together all-purpose flour, cricket flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, melted butter, and orange zest until smooth.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients, then fold in the toasted almonds.
- The dough should be slightly sticky but firm enough to shape.
2. Shape and bake (first baking):
- Divide the dough into two logs, each about 4–5 cm wide.
- Place them on the baking tray and flatten slightly on top.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
3. Slice and bake again:
- Using a sharp knife, cut the logs diagonally into 1.5 cm thick slices.
- Arrange slices on their side on the tray and bake again at 160°C for 10 minutes per side, until crisp and golden.
- Cool completely — they’ll firm up beautifully!
4. Optional decoration:
- Dip one end of each biscotto in melted dark chocolate and sprinkle with crushed hazelnuts or orange peel for a festive finish.
Serve:
Serve your Christmas Cricket Biscotti with espresso, cappuccino, or a warm cup of mulled wine. Their crunchy texture and rich, nutty flavor make them the perfect sustainable holiday treat.
Tips & Twists:
- Replace almonds with pistachios or hazelnuts for a different flavor.
- Add a few dried cranberries for a fruity note.
- For extra aroma, include a dash of vanilla extract or anise seeds.
- Store in a glass jar — they keep crisp for up to 2 weeks!
🦗 Try more cricket flour desserts – [Link internal]
🎅 Explore eco-friendly Christmas baking ideas – [Link external]
Why Use Cricket Flour?
Cricket flour is an excellent source of sustainable protein, making it a smart and eco-friendly choice for modern recipes. Packed with essential nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids, it supports muscle growth, boosts energy, and contributes to overall well-being. Unlike traditional protein sources, cricket flour has a minimal environmental impact, requiring less land, water, and feed. Its mild, nutty flavor blends seamlessly into baked goods, snacks, and even savory dishes, adding a nutritional boost without altering taste. Whether you’re an athlete, a health enthusiast, or simply curious, cricket flour is a versatile and forward-thinking ingredient worth exploring.
Back in the 1990s, the idea of eating insects in Europe was more of a joke than a serious proposal. Crickets were associated with faraway countries, not dinner plates in Paris or Berlin. But over the past three decades, attitudes have started to shift.
Driven by environmental concerns and the search for sustainable protein sources, crickets are slowly entering the European food scene. Unlike traditional livestock, they require less water, space, and feed, and they emit far fewer greenhouse gases. That makes them attractive to a generation more conscious of their ecological footprint.
