Biscotti Biscuits and Cookies Recipes

Espresso Chocolate Chip Biscotti Recipe

Chocolate Espresso Biscotti

Last Updated on April 6, 2025 by becky

An espresso chocolate chip biscotti recipe with espresso powder, coffee extract, and chocolate chips. The best espresso biscotti for dunking in your morning cup of coffee.

Horizontal shot of biscotti on a white plate

Why Make This Biscotti Recipe?

Biscotti has always been one of my favorite Italian bakery treats. In New York, my go-to spot for biscotti (and tiramisu, and cannoli, and cheesecake, and…) is Veniero’s in the East Village. Whenever I’m downtown I try to stop by for an Italian pastry and a cappuccino.

For days when I don’t have time to make a trip to the bakery, it’s also fun to whip up a batch of biscotti at home, and this espresso chocolate chip biscotti recipe is one of my all-time favorites. I especially love dunking a few of these crunchy biscotti cookies in a cup of coffee. They also freeze well and thaw quickly, so they’re great when you need a make-ahead recipe, or an easy last-minute dessert.

Chocolate Espresso Biscotti balanced on a cup of coffee, with saucer and spoon underneath

Hand holding a biscotti cookie

Espresso Chocolate Chip Biscotti Ingredients

To make this espresso chocolate chip biscotti recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • All-Purpose Flour – Or plain flour, in the UK. For British bakers, I recommend McDougall’s in the red-and-white striped bag; the protein content most closely matches most American brands of all-purpose flour.
  • Granulated SugarGranulated sugar adds sweetness and crunch.
  • Espresso Powder – I tested this biscotti recipe with Medaglia D’oro espresso powder. I used 1 tablespoon (about 4 grams) but you can add a bit more if you enjoy a very pronounced coffee flavor. If you can’t find espresso powder, you can substitute finely ground instant coffee granules instead.
  • Baking Powder – Along with eggs, baking powder gives the biscotti logs their lift.
  • Ground Cinnamon – I like to add ground cinnamon to my biscotti. Feel free to omit if you aren’t a fan.
Espresso biscotti recipe ingredients
  • Kosher Salt – Balances out the sweetness of the sugar and chocolate. I test my recipes with Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
  • Unsalted Butter – Cold and cubed. You’ll use your hands to add the butter to the dry ingredients via the “rubbing in” method.
  • Eggs – You’ll need 3 large eggs, lightly beaten, plus one additional egg white for brushing the biscotti log.
  • Coffee Extract – My favorite coffee extracts are Trablit (a high-quality extract favored by many professional pastry chefs) and Nielsen-Massey. Choose a good-tasting extract—it will heavily influence the taste of your finished biscotti. For more on choosing a coffee extract, see my notes below.
  • Vanilla Extract – Opt for a good-quality vanilla extract, or use vanilla bean paste.
  • Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips – You’ll need 165 grams, or about 1 cup, of semi sweet chocolate chips or miniature chocolate chips. You can also use chopped dark chocolate, or dark chocolate chips.
  • Demerara SugarDemerara sugar (or Turbinado sugar, or Sugar in the Raw)  creates the crunchy topping.

Coffee and Chocolate Biscotti

Choosing a Coffee Extract

Trablit is a highly concentrated coffee extract made in France. It’s a nice addition to many recipes, from cookies to pastry cream to buttercream frosting. If you can’t find Trablit, you can opt for another coffee extract (Nielsen-Massey makes a great one) or you can use vanilla extract instead.

If you invest in a bottle of coffee extract, you’ll find plenty of things to do with it. For starters, try making a batch of my dark chocolate espresso cookies or my coffee whipped cream recipe.

Coffee extract

Biscotti Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Choose your slice size. The total number of cookies produced will depend on the size of your slices. The wider the slices, the less cookies this recipe will make.
Slicing espresso biscotti
  • Keep the butter cold. This biscotti recipe calls for cold, cubed butter, not softened or room temperature as in many baking recipes. To incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients, you’ll use the “rubbing in” method, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like— rubbing the butter and flour between your fingertips, until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
  • Dunk in dark chocolate. For an extra-fancy finished product, try dipping half of each biscotti slice in dark chocolate! I think Valrhona Guanaja 70% would work especially well.
  • Flour your work surface. Before rolling, flour your countertop to prevent the dough from sticking.

Espresso Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Special Tools for Making Biscotti

Although this biscotti recipe doesn’t require much special equipment, it will be helpful to have the following tools at the ready:

  • Bench Scraper – You’ll want to have a bench scraper on hand when making this biscotti recipe. A simple plastic bench scraper (the kind you’d use for breadmaking) will help with mixing the dough, as well as with portioning it into logs.
  • Pastry Brush – You’ll need a natural-bristled pastry brush to apply the egg wash to the tops of the logs.
Applying egg wash with a pastry brush
  • Serrated Knife – Use a serrated knife (bread knife, the kind with a saw-toothed edge) and a gentle sawing motion to cut the partially-baked logs into individual biscotti slices. Do not use a chef’s knife.
  • Metal Ruler – For measuring the logs and evenly portioning the biscotti slices.

Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions

These espresso biscotti cookies are best-served within 1-2 days of baking.

Store leftover biscotti in an airtight container, layered between sheets of parchment, for up to three days. Leftover biscotti can also be frozen, and will thaw very quickly at room temperature.

Coffee cup and Chocolate Biscotti

Other biscotti recipes you might enjoy:

Pumpkin Spice Biscotti
Rainbow Biscotti
White Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t for get to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!

Espresso Chocolate Chip Biscotti, white plates, a cup of coffee, and a spoon

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Espresso Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Espresso Chocolate Chip Biscotti

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An espresso chocolate chip biscotti recipe with espresso powder, coffee extract, and chocolate chips. The best espresso biscotti for dunking in your morning cup of coffee.

  • Author: becky
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cooling Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 18-20 biscotti 1x
  • Category: Biscuits and Cookies
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Dessert

Ingredients

Scale

260 grams all purpose flour (2 cups), plus more for dusting countertop
200 grams granulated sugar (1 cup)
1 tablespoon espresso powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
60 grams unsalted butter, cold and cubed (4 tablespoons)
150 grams lightly beaten whole egg (about 3 large eggs)
2 teaspoons good-quality coffee extract, such as Trablit
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
165 grams semi sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips (about 1 cup)
1 large egg white
Demerara sugar, for sprinkling

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F / 175° C. Line 2 half sheet rimmed baking trays with parchment or silicone mats.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, granulated sugar, espresso powder, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt.

Dry ingredients in a bowl

Dry ingredients in a bowl with a whisk

Add the cubed butter. With your hands, rub together until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

Biscotti recipe ingredients in a bowl

Make a well in the dry ingredients. Add the eggs, coffee extract, and vanilla extract and use a bench scraper to combine.

Dry ingredients in a bowl

Adding egg, coffee extract, and vanilla to biscotti ingredients

Bench scraper mixing together biscotti recipe ingredients

Add the chocolate chips. With your hands, knead until a soft dough forms.

Chocolate chips mixed in to biscotti dough

Biscotti dough in a bowl

On a lightly floured countertop or silicone roling mat, divide dough into two equal portions.

Two balls of espresso biscotti dough

Roll each portion into a log, approximately 8 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Two logs of espresso biscotti dough and a ruler

Place logs on 1 prepared tray, allowing 5-6 inches of space in between. With a pastry brush, brush both logs with egg white.

Espresso biscotti dough logs on a tray

Pastry brush brushing biscotti logs with egg white

Sprinkle generously with Demerara sugar.

Logs of espresso biscotti with Demerara sugar

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until risen and set. Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes on tray.

Logs of espresso biscotti after baking

Place logs on a large cutting board. With a serrated knife, cut each log on the diagonal, creating 1-inch wide slices.

Biscotti log and a serrated knife

Serrated knife slicing biscotti log

Divide slices between both prepared trays. Arrange slices upright and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until dry to the touch.

Biscotti slices on a tray

Slices of biscotti on a wire rack

Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Biscotti on a wire rack

Store espresso biscotti in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Hand holding two slices of espresso chocolate chip biscotti

 

 

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below or share a photo on Instagram and tag me @bastecutfold.

 

becky

Rebecca Frey is a freelance recipe developer, food writer, photographer, stylist, and pastry chef. She earned the Diplôme de Pâtisserie (French Pastry Techniques Diploma) from Le Cordon Bleu London in 2020 and an MSc in Culinary Innovation from Birkbeck, University of London in 2022, where she focused her dissertation research on Pennsylvania Dutch recipes. She also holds a Professional Chocolatier’s Certificate from Ecole Chocolat. Rebecca has developed recipes for websites including Serious Eats, The Spruce Eats, Wine Enthusiast, and others. Follow her on Instagram @bastecutfold.

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