Low-Fat Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (2024)

Published · Last updated · By Martha McKinnon · 4 Comments

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Weight Watchers Recipe of the Day: Low-Fat Gingerbread Biscotti

Italian-style Gingerbread Biscotti are one of my favorite holiday treats, with all the warm spiciness of a gingerbread cookie in a delicious homemade biscotti.

They are a perfect alternative when I'm craving the flavors of gingerbread, but just don't have the time or patience for chilling, rolling, and cutting gingerbread dough.

Low-Fat Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (1)

WW Low-Fat Gingerbread Biscotti

The Skinny on Gingerbread Biscotti

These low-fat gingerbread biscotti are much crunchier than your typical biscotti because they're made without butter or oil. So, it's important to slice them no thicker than ½-inch, a lesson I learned the hard way!

You can control their texture depending on how long you bake them - a little less if you want a chewier biscotti, and a little longer for a hard crispy cookie.

I think these gingerbread biscotti would make a perfect holiday gift too. They're sturdy enough to travel well and last for days, or weeks, so you can keep them on hand throughout the holiday season to share with friends.

How Many Calories and WW Points in these Biscotti Cookies?

According to my calculations, each biscotti has about 90 calories and:

4 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
2 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!

More WW Friendly Gingerbread Recipes

  • Low-Fat Gingerbread Truffles
  • Single-Serving Microwave Mug Gingerbread
  • Crock Pot Chocolate Chip Gingerbread

Are You Ready To Firmly Plant YourselfOn The Path To Lasting Weight Loss Success?

If you've made these low fatGingerbread Biscotti Cookies, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Low-Fat Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe

These gingerbread biscotti are one of my favorite low-fat holiday treats, but be forewarned these are Italian-style biscotti, so they may be more crunchy that what you are used to.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time50 minutes mins

Servings (adjustable): 36

Calories: 90

Author: Martha McKinnon | Simple Nourished Living

Ingredients

  • 2-¼ cups flour
  • 1-¼ cups packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1-½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup lightly packed dried apricots, coarsely chopped
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest

Instructions

  • Position one of your oven racks in the center of your oven. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

  • Line a baking sheet (affiliate link) with parchment paper or a nonstick baking liner.

  • In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or, if mixing by hand, in a large bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and baking soda until well blended.

  • Add the nuts and apricots and beat on low speed or with a wooden spoon (affiliate link) briefly.

  • In a small bowl (affiliate link) or measuring cup, lightly beat the molasses, eggs,and orange zest with a whisk.

  • With the mixer on low speed or while stirring with the spoon, slowly pour in the molasses/egg mixture. Continuing beating or stirring with the spoon or your hands until the dough is well blended and begins to form moist clumps, about 2 minutes.

  • Scrape the dough on to an unfloured work surface and divide the dough in half.

  • Shape each half into a 1-½ inch by 10-inch log. (The dough will be sticky so you may need to add more flour to your hands as you go along to accomplish this.)

  • Carefully transfer the logs onto your prepared baking sheet (affiliate link), spacing them about 4 inches apart.

  • Place the baking sheet (affiliate link) on the center rack of your oven and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top of the logs are cracked and spring back when gently pressed.

  • Remove baking sheet (affiliate link) from the oven and place on a wire rack and allow the logs to cool about 20 minutes, (Leave the oven set at 350F degrees or reheat before resuming).

  • Transfer the logs to a cutting board (affiliate link). Using a serrated knife, cut the logs on a slight diagonal into ½-inch thick slices. Use a gentle sawing motion to cut through the logs.

  • Place slices on the baking sheet (affiliate link) cut side down. It's okay if they touch since they won't spread. Bake the biscotti slices another 10 to 20 minutes, or until they are dried to your taste. At 10 minutes they will still be chewy and by 20 minutes they will be super dry and crunchy.

  • Place baking sheet (affiliate link) on a wire rack and allow the biscotti to cool completely on the sheet. The biscotti will harden as they cool. Store in airtight containers.

Recipe Notes

These low-fat gingerbread biscotti are much crunchier than your typical biscotti because they’re made without butter or oil. So, it’s important to slice them no thicker than ½-inch.

You can control their texture depending on how long you bake them – a little less if you want a chewier biscotti, and a little longer for a hard crispy cookie.

Serving size: 1 biscotti

Click here to see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site.

4 *SmartPoints (Green plan)

4 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)

4 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)

2 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

Nutrition Facts

Low-Fat Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 biscotti)

Calories 90Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 1g4%

Protein 2g4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: healthy gingerbread treat, low fat biscotti, twice baked gingerbread cookies

Did you make this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving on Instagram and tag #simplenourishedliving - we love to see your creations!

Source: This low-fat gingerbread biscotti recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbook authors, Abby Dodge in The Best of Fine Cooking - Cookies

*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.

Click for More Holiday Cookies Made Lighter

If you like gingerbread biscotti you might also like:

Low-Fat Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (4)Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.

A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.

She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.

A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.

More about Martha McKinnon

This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!

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Low-Fat Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (2024)

FAQs

Is biscotti healthy for weight loss? ›

Eating biscotti in moderation offers a relatively low-calorie way to satisfy your sweet tooth. The variety of flavors offers an abundance of treats to choose from, such as almond with anise, chocolate, chocolate and almond and biscotti dipped in chocolate or white chocolate.

What is the secret to making biscotti? ›

12 Tips For Making The Absolute Best Biscotti
  1. Use room-temperature ingredients. ...
  2. Boost the flavor with spices, extracts, and zest. ...
  3. Toss in some add-ins for flavor and texture. ...
  4. Let the dough chill before shaping. ...
  5. Use floured or greased hands to shape the dough. ...
  6. Shape the dough into a smaller loaf than you want.
May 29, 2023

Is biscotti better with oil or butter? ›

Despite their centuries-old heritage, there is no one perfect way to make biscotti. Some recipes call for eggs only, which is the traditional method, while others swear by butter or oil. The choice is yours; just keep in mind that those made with butter or oil will have both a softer texture and a shorter shelf life.

What does baking soda do in biscotti? ›

Baking soda – baking soda helps the biscotti rise and spread. Make sure that your baking soda isn't expired. Sugar- we used granulated sugar for this recipe. You can use caster sugar as well.

Is biscotti healthier than cookies? ›

In terms of health regular cookies are a high-calorie treat because of their higher moisture content, which also causes them to contain more fats and sugars. However, because of their drier texture, biscotti usually have lower fat and sugar content. However, it is vital to practice portion control, for both options.

Can I eat a cookie every day and still lose weight? ›

Of course you can. Simply pay attention to consistently eating the amount of calories that keeps you at the weight you'd like to be, and make the majority of your foods “healthy.” The cookies (or whatever treat you love) are part of the diet—not the entire diet.

Should you refrigerate biscotti dough before baking? ›

You guessed it, add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with the wet ingredients. Fold in the pistachios, cardamom, and vanilla extract. Because the dough can be sticky and hard to form, it's important to chill the batter for a good 30 minutes before baking the first time.

What happens if you forget baking powder in biscotti? ›

Most baked goods need a leavening agent to make them rise, and if you leave it out, your cake or your cookies will fall flat. Baking powder makes dough rise because it contains both a base and an acid in dried form.

Why do my biscotti crumble when I cut them? ›

A: Overbaking the logs of dough during the first baking can make the slices crumble as you are cutting them. Also, even if the logs of dough are perfectly baked, they will crumble if they are sliced while still warm, so be patient. The logs crumble when you use a dull knife, too.

What is a substitute for butter in biscotti? ›

Oil: This biscotti recipe uses vegetable oil instead of butter, which results in a lighter and crispier finished product. Eggs: Eggs add moisture and help bind the biscotti dough together.

What is the difference between Italian and American biscotti? ›

Here it is, a biscotti recipe everyone can enjoy — unlike classic Italian biscotti, which are quite hard, these are light and crunchy. Biscotti bake twice rather than once, and thus take a bit longer start-to-finish than normal drop cookies.

What's the difference between biscotti and cantuccini? ›

The main difference between Cantucci and Biscotti is their origin, Cantucci is from Tuscany, and Biscotti is from the region of Emilia-Romagna. Cantucci is typically made with almonds, while Biscotti are made with all-purpose flour and a variety of nuts and chocolate or nothing.

How sticky should biscotti dough be? ›

Biscotti dough is inherently sticky. I recommend adequately flouring your hands before working the dough, and if it's still too sticky to handle, add a little flour at a time but just enough so you can work with it.

How do you keep homemade biscotti crispy? ›

How to Store Biscotti: Maximize Crunch & Prevent Soft Biscotti. To store biscotti, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. Lining the container with a paper towel will help soak up any excess moisture that finds its way in.

Why are my biscotti bitter? ›

Editor: Yes, chemical leavening agents like baking powder can impart a bitter taste! Try using less next time and see if it makes a difference.

Is Biscoff bad for weight loss? ›

WEIGHT GAIN: Biscoff biscuits are calorie-dense, and regularly consuming large quantities can contribute to weight gain or hinder weight loss efforts.

Is biscotti high in fat? ›

Cookie, biscotti contains 117 calories per 32 g serving. This serving contains 2.6 g of fat, 2.4 g of protein and 21 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 9.1 g sugar and 0.5 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Cookie, biscotti contains 0.4 g of saturated fat and 13 mg of cholesterol per serving.

How many calories are in one piece of biscotti? ›

Biscotti (1 cookie) contains 19.7g total carbs, 18.6g net carbs, 6.3g fat, 2.9g protein, and 145 calories.

What are the effects of biscotti? ›

Biscotti relaxes the body and the mind, producing a complete, full-body high. It quells social anxiety, allowing users to feel friendly and calm before social events. It's relaxing without overly sedating, making it a perfect choice for daytime use.

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