Keto chocolate biscotti is a deliciously crisp sugar-free cookie, perfect for dipping in coffee, milk, or tea. They’re made with hazelnut meal so they’re completely grain free and low carb.
I’ve given my keto chocolate hazelnut biscotti an update! I’ve added new photos, of course, and updated the recipe with an easier method for getting these Italian cookies super crisp, just like the real deal.
You know I love my keto biscotti. Why else would I have 13 different recipes for this crisp twice baked cookie on my blog? And that’s not even including the many biscotti recipes I have written for other websites and for my keto cookbooks.
In fact, I had updated this chocolate hazelnut version a while ago so that I could include it in The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking. I am only just now getting around to updating it here!
Chocolate biscotti is a perfect light morning snack
I am a morning person, though and through. I love being up before dawn, sipping my coffee, and enjoying the quiet before the rest of the family wakes up.
And I’ve always been this way. I distinctly remember that moment in high school when a friend rather grumpily remarked that I was the only person she knew who could be so cheery first thing in the morning. Let it be noted that I wasn’t cheery to be at school, per se; I was simply happy to be among my friends every day.
These days, I don’t have much appetite first thing in the morning. I often don’t eat anything at all until after 10 am, when I break my fast with a big hearty meal.
But sometimes I want a small, light snack to go with my coffee, to see me through the morning. And nothing goes better with coffee than a crisp low carb biscotto.
Biscotti are delicious enough on their own. But they are absolutely magical dipped into a hot coffee or a cappuccino. Magical, I tell you!
How to make Keto Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti
Traditional biscotti isn’t, obviously, low in carbs, but the texture and taste can be relatively easily replicated using keto ingredients. Let me show you how it’s done.
Use finely ground nut flours
You can use almost any nut or seed flour to make keto biscotti, as long as it’s finely ground enough. When I first tried making these back in 2011, I ground the hazelnuts myself. They were incredibly fragile and crumbly, so I do recommend using store-bought nut flours.
Erythritol based sweeteners
I have a lot of experience making keto biscotti and other keto cookies, and I’ve experimented with a lot of sweeteners. Trust me when I say that the only sweetener that will give you a crispy biscotti texture is erythritol. You can use Swerve, Lakanto, or other erythritol.
But if it contains even the smallest amount of allulose or xylitol, they won’t crisp up properly. So read your labels and make sure you know what’s in your sweeteners.
Cutting the biscotti
Biscotti recipes are always twice baked, first as a log and then as individual biscuits. They can be a bit fragile when you firsts cut them into slices. I recommend using a non-serrated knife, and cutting straight down rather than sawing back and forth. The back and forth motion tends to tear at the log too much and the edges crumble.
You can saw a bit back and forth to break the surface at the top, but once you’ve make a small cut, press down firmly in one swift motion. And be sure to use a sharp knife!
Chop the added nuts
If you’re adding anything into your biscotti, such as nuts or sugar-free dried cranberries, be sure to chop these additions finely before adding. This also helps the dough be more cohesive and less fragile when you cut it into slices.
Leave them in the oven
Let the sliced biscotti sit inside a warm oven until they are completely dried out. I turn my oven off after the second baking and leave them in there until they are completely cool. It’s the best way to get them truly crisp.
Can you make keto biscotti in advance?
One of my favorite things about biscotti is how well they last compared to other keto baked goods. They are meant to be hard and dry, and they are perfect for making ahead. I’ve even taken them traveling with me.
You can keep them on the counter for up to two weeks in a covered container. There is no need to refrigerate them.
They also freeze very well. I’ve made keto biscotti several months in advance of the holidays and frozen them in covered containers. Once thawed, they taste just as good as they did fresh!
More Keto Biscotti Recipes
- Keto Maple Walnut Biscotti
- Turtle Biscotti
- Gingerbread Biscotti
- Cinnamon Roll Biscotti
- Lemon Poppyseed Biscotti
- Mocha Chocolate Chip Biscotti
Keto Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups hazelnut flour
- ½ cup Swerve Sweetener
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup finely chopped hazelnuts
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup toasted hazelnut oil (or melted butter)
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla or hazelnut extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the hazelnut flour, sweetener, cocoa powder, chopped hazelnuts, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the oil, egg, and extract until the dough comes together.
- Turn he dough out onto the prepared baking sheet and shape into a low, flat log about 10 by 4 inches. Bake until firm to the touch and lightly browned, 22 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 250F.
- Using a sharp knife, gently cut into 14 slices. This is easier with a non-serated knife, and cutting straight up and down, as opposed to a sawing motion.
- Place the slices, cut-side down, back onto the baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, and then carefully flip the cookies. Turn off the oven and let the biscotti sit inside until cool.
Joanne says
I needed these before my race a few days ago when I was expected to get up and eat at 3 AM before running 13 miles! My stomach was just not ready for real food yet. But these would have been PERFECT!
Ruby says
Wonderful, and low-carb too! My usual biscotti recipe uses ground almonds but over Xmas I ran out and oculdn't find any in the stores so I made a more traditional biscotti and didn't like it half as much. I think hazelnut would definitely be a winner for me!
The Housewife Diary says
Carolyn this Biscotti looks amazing! And it's low carb and gluten free, never would have guessed!!
Sprinkles of Parsley says
Oh wow, these look wonderful! I especially love chocolate flavored biscotti. I have yet to try making them myself, but now I'll definitely have to try them after seeing these. Congrats on making top9!
Emma says
Love the flavours in these, they look so rich and crunchy!
I can't skip breakfast, I always have something healthy, it's just a habit I guess but if I go without on the odd occasion, I feel very flat.
Liren says
Hi Carolyn! I'm a big believer in breakfast, too, but I definitely know how it can be a struggle to nourish myself in the morning what with the little ones. My coffee often goes cold in the mornings. But for my afternoon cup, this biscotti would be perfect! Love chocolate and hazelnut!
Sandra says
You are on roll these few weeks…you should really play lottery! I am really! Congrats on one more top 9..your food is always mouthwatering!
Charlie @ SweetSaltySpicy says
Chocolate and hazelnut! Must be a great flavor for a biscotti :).
baking.serendipity says
I'm really not a morning person, but I bet this could easily coerce me out of bed in the morning! It looks delicious 🙂
Tiffany says
Carolyn, I love your use of hazelnut flour! Anything that invokes the spirit of Nutella is alright in my book! 😀 As always, thanks for sharing!
Maria says
I really wish I was munching on this now!
Magic of Spice says
OK, I will do as you say 🙂 These have such rich color and they look delicious…I have not made biscotti in such a long time but I do enjoy them 🙂
Kate @ Diethood.com says
That biscotti looks amazing! Beautiful recipe, as always!
Lisa @ Thrive Style says
Wow-these look fab! Thanks for the idea and recipe. I can't wait to try them. I know a friend of mine will love them too and she's coming to visit soon–so I envision us sitting on the couch in the morning with our coffee and biscotti (we're both morning people!).
Have a great day 🙂
Pegasuslegend says
Biscotti is my favorite cookies dunked in black coffee love the chocolate ones and hazelnuts wow thats another bonus!
whatsfordinneracrossstatelines says
I figured you were a morning person. I'd eat these for breakfast even if they were crumbly. I just bought some almond flour to play with, I will have to look for the hazelnut now. Have a great rest of the weekend.
-Gina-
Kristen says
Look at all of those wonderful nuts in that biscotti! Good for you or not, it looks like a treat!!
Pretend Chef says
I'm an "all-day" person. Haha! I'm generally in a good mood until I get incredibly hungry. Having these to go with my coffee would make my mornings that much better.
Belinda @zomppa says
This would make even the grumpiest in the morning smile. Wonderful…want this with tea. I'm totally with you, I'm a morning person too and I have to eat…a couple breakfasts, but when I first wake up, I need just a little bit to wake up the stomach. The second breakfast is the heartier one.
Boulder Locavore says
Thanks for the insight in baking these Carolyn. That's what I love about you is you tell it like it is vs. letting us hash it out. I just made a chocolate hazelnut ice cream and found something similar with the taste. Maybe something to do with the combination of hazelnut and chocolate? I full agree by the way about the progressive breakfast. I cannot eat much when I first get up.
Pop by this week is you have a sec. Doing Michael Pollan book giveaway now (through Mon. midnight), will have some fun GF recipes Monday and Tuesday and another yummy giveaway starting Wednesday (no hoops, just leave a comment to participate)!