Matt’s grandma is turning 90 years old on Monday! A few months ago we were talking and she told me that all she wanted for her big birthday this year was Mandelbread. Lucky for her, I don’t forget any food-related requests.
And even luckier for her, I have the most amazing mandelbread recipe that my mom’s been making for as long as I can remember. She doesn’t remember the source but it was someone who had a good taste in desserts.
Mandelbread, otherwise known as Mandelbrodt or kamishbrot, is not so far off from biscotti. Baking this type of cookie requires a few more steps than usual as the dough is baked in loaf form and then cut up and baked again. These extra steps are worth it because you end up with a wonderful crunch, although I do like the middle-of-the-loaf pieces that are a little thicker and usually have a little chewiness to them.
While many variations include some sort of nuts, I like to stick with the chocolate chips only. The semi-sweet chips along with a light cinnamon-sugar coating is a perfect flavor combination for me. Plus, given that these are crunchy to begin with, nuts don’t add much value from a texture standpoint.
Chocolate Chip Mandelbread
Yield: Makes ~2 dozen slices
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, separated
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cooking Directions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees
- Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside
- Beat 1 cup of sugar with all wet ingredients (eggs through orange juice)
- Stir in dry ingredients until combined
- Stir in chocolate chips
- Form dough into two separate loaves on baking sheets lined with parchment paper
- Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until light brown
- While loaves begin to bake, combine remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with cinnamon
- Remove baked loaves from oven and immediately cut into slices while hot
- Turn each slice onto a side and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture
- Re-bake for 12 minutes
- Remove from oven, immediately turn each slice onto opposite side and sprinkle them with remaining cinnamon sugar
- Continue to bake for another 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown
Do you have any baking requests for the blog?
Graduation Gourmet Gift Basket 
White Chocolate Pistachio Fudge Cookies 
Smoked Sea Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies 
That was so nice of you! Those look tasty! I wish I had some more requests…manly it’s just my husband’s coworkers asking for some more sweets.
I am always happy to oblige.
Aww how sweet!
I’m a bit of a biscotti addict, so I’m very intrigued with mandelbread. Hmm…. must try it
These look yummy! So nice of you to bake a special request.
Those look delicious! I also like when there is a bit of “chew” to it and not all crunch. When it is too crunchy, it hurts my teeth!
these look TERRIFIC.
My best friend makes the best mandelbrot, I refuse to make it because I just want her to make it for me all the time.
Maybe I should give it a try with your recipe….
Haha I know what you mean, food just tastes so much better when someone else makes it for you:-)
How wonderful that she will get this special treat on her birthday. I have never tried Mandelbread, but if this is something that was specially requested by an almost 90-year-old, then it is definitely something I need to try asap.
Oh, that looks so good! I really like the pictures of it on the cake stand–so cute! I wish I could think of a request for your blog but my brain is shot right now. I love baking so I pretty much love everything you post! Have you ever done a pie? How about a fruit pie for summer?
Thanks! Hmm I do have a fruit pie I want to make but am saving it for some reason… guess I better get around to that soon:-)
Grandma has good taste!
You are so sweet to make this beautiful mandelbread for her. Enjoy celebrating!
Yum! These look like they would go perfectly with my morning coffee! Send one through the screen??
I wish I could! Wouldn’t that be amazing?
These look tasty. Very similar to biscotti that is in our family recipe book. Going to have to try these out and see how they compare
This must be the week for mandelbread! I saw a recipe on Dana Treat’s site this week, too, and now I’m totally convinced I need to make some asap!
You are too sweet. And these look sweet and wonderful too, I wouldn’t mind one (or three) with my morning coffee!
This looks awesome! I’ve never heard of mandelbread. I love the addition of cinnamon sugar, I bet it is so addicting!
Very sweet! These look great. And seem perfect to be paired with anything!
Yummy, those look good. I’ve never had mandelbread but I’ve heard of it. And I love biscotti
woww this looks so delicious! I remember seeing it on Ashley’s blog a looooong time ago and have been curious about it since then. Beautiful photos too Lauren
Oooh, I’ve been meaning to make a batch of chocolate chip biscotti! Maybe I’ll try this instead.
My hubs is Jewish and the women in his family make the most amazing Mandelbread. I really need to get with the program.
Yours looks awesome!
I’ve never heard of this before but I sure do wish I could taste it! Looks wonderful! Cinnamon and chocolate chips are perfect together!
This looks awesome, and that is soo sweet that you are making them for his grandma!
xx
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What I love about this is that not only it looks yummy but sounds like fun to bake! And I think that the thought behind the baking is so precious…
This looks fantastic! I love biscotti, so I can’t imagine not liking this
What a sweet birthday treat to make!
oooh these look darn good!
A childhood favorite of mine. Looks like a great recipe!
oh wow! I could see why she would request this! looks great!
I made these today, but substituted in 1 cup of whole wheat flour, used dark chocolate chips instead of regular, and only used 3/4 cup of sugar to try and make them a little healthier. They were still delicious!
Awesome, good to know! I’ll have to try that next time.
I have a request: raspberry cream cheese scones that taste like the ones from Great Harvest (if you’ve had them)! They are my absolute favorite scones ever, and I would love to be able to make them myself.
I’ve never had those but they sound delicious…. I need to figure this one out!
Thanks so much! I will keep an eye out for when you do!