My mother never wrote the ingredients to her recipes. She instinctively knew what to do and was a wonderful home cook.
I inherited that trait from her until I started this blog. I just recently started measuring my ingredients and filing them so I could share them with my family and readers.
I did, however, find this recipe is one that she actually wrote down and has been in my family for years.
My mother made the world’s best mandel bread. It was something my brother, sister and I enjoyed growing up.
Mandel bread is closely related to the Italian cookie known as biscotti.
It is a wonderful dessert and I am so grateful to be sharing it with you.
Ingredients for the Mandel Bread.
Preheat oven to 375.
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups canola oil
1 pinch of salt
2 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup of sliced almonds (optional). You can also use chocolate chips, pecans or walnuts.
Combine sugar, canola oil, salt, baking powder, and vanilla using paddle attachment of mixer.
Add eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly mixed.
Add flour, slowly, a small amount at a time.
When ingredients are fully blended, take half of the mixture out and shape into small loaves. Make sure sides are even and not runny.
Add almonds (or whatever you choose) to the mixture in the blender. Mix well.
Shape the remaining dough into small loaves.
Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.
Take loaves out of the oven, and slice them.
Turn each piece on it’s side, place back in the oven.
Turn oven down to 350, and bake for 20 more minutes.
Done!
It’s that simple!
