Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, 160°C Fan, 350°F, Gas 4.
2. Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Beat the eggs together in a small bowl and add the eggs bit by bit to the flour mixture. You may not need all of the egg, so hold back the last bit. The dough appears very dry at first and then suddenly becomes very soft. Add the fruit, nuts and lemon zest and knead into the mixture.
3. Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured surface. Divide into 6 and roll into sausage shapes about 3cm in diameter. Place, at least 6cm apart, on baking trays lined with baking parchment or a silicone mat. Very lightly flatten each roll with your hand. Bake until golden brown, 20–30 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave for 10 minutes to cool and firm up. Reduce the oven temperature to 140°C, 120°C Fan, 275°F, Gas 1.
4. Gently remove the biscotti from the tray and place on a chopping board. With a serrated knife, cut the biscotti into 5mm slices and lay them side by side on the baking tray. Return them to the oven and cook for 12 minutes, then turn the biscotti over and cook for a further 10 minutes, until they are very pale golden. Do not let them get too dark in colour. Cool on wire racks and then store in an airtight container. The biscotti will harden when cold.