Hot chocolate + biscotti = winter heaven! 

The colors of Christmas make these biscotti a dazzling addition to snowy days and cold nights full of cheer. This recipe makes enough for the whole family to pitch in with the decorating – red and green sugar sprinkles, chocolate stripes, and a few mugs full of hot chocolate are a must!

To make the biscotti

1. Preheat oven to 300F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick foil.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together oil, sugar, extracts, and eggs. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined. Add pecans and mix again.
3. Using wet hands, separate dough into two equal piles on the baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Spread each pile into a rectangle (about 4 inches wide, 8 inches long and 1 inch thick). Bake for 35 minutes or until light brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
4. Reduce oven temperature to 200F. Transfer one rectangle to a cutting board. Using a large sharp knife, cut the rectangle crosswise into 3/4-inch slices. Lay each biscotti on its side on the baking sheet. Repeat with the other rectangle.
5. Bake biscotti for 20 minutes or until crisp. Remove from pan and place on a wire rack to cool.

To decorate the biscotti

1. Melt chocolate or candy melts in the microwave.
2. Using a butter knife, spread the melted chocolate on one half of each biscotti. While coating is warm, decorate with sprinkles on the tops and sides. If using colored candy melts as well, pipe or spoon onto biscotti to make stripes. Family members young and old will love helping with this step!