Therapy Baking: Jasmine Biscotti

By Shannon Scales

If you’ve spent any time on social media these days, you’ll see that there are lots of people taking to the kitchen during the pandemic. Therapeutic baking is definitely a thing, and as an avid baker myself, I have been loving the boom in baked goods on my newsfeed! #inspired

Loaves of bread aren't the only thing on the rise in your kitchens. I’m seeing pastries, cookies, trifles, ice cream…and so much more! It’s truly beautiful. For those of us that have been a part of this “Baking Enthusiasts Club” for years, we welcome you all with open arms. 

I have been doing some reading on why so many of us feel compelled to bake during times of crisis. Whether it’s something you’ve always loved to do and now, due to the current circumstances, finally have time, or something you’ve always wanted to do but never had time, keeping busy in the kitchen has been a retreat for so many during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are even hashtags dedicated to this phenomenon #coronavirusbaking #covidbaking #pandemicbaking #pandemicstressbaking

This quote from an article on mindfood.com titled ‘Baking for therapy and self-empowerment” sums it up beautifully:

“Baking is also hugely advantageous for improving mental health, with benefits that include increased mindfulness, satisfaction and sensory pleasure. By using baking as a form of behavioural activation, bakers that struggle with depression or other mood disorders can escape into a focused activity, occupying the whole mind/body spectrum. This redirection of thoughts is a subconscious form of therapy.

More and more adults are turning to baking to relieve stress and anxiety, with many finding the practice enlightening and a perfect way to re-focus on something other than what is troubling them. “The physical act of baking, the way that you knead bread for example, takes your mind out of the intellectual and connects you to your body,”  Julia Ponsonby, author of’ ‘The Art of Mindful Baking’.”

This resonates with me strongly and certainly answers the question of why so many of you are baking - It makes you feel good!

Lady Baker’s Tea has been creating a library of recipes that incorporate our teas. You may have seen our Cha Cha Chai muffins recently or our London Fog Cookies. We’ve shared our Cream Earl Grey and Lavender cupcakes, Chocolate Chai Whoopie Pies and now, our Jasmine Biscotti with White Chocolate recipe! Have a read below and let us help inspire you for your next adventure in the kitchen! Happy Baking!

Jasmine and Flowers Biscotti with White Chocolate

These twice baked confections lend themselves perfectly for dunking in a hot cup of Lady Baker’s Tea!

Preheat oven to 350°F

Grind Jasmine and Flowers tea into a coarse powder with a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. Combine eggs, sugar and butter until well combined. Stir in crushed tea leaves.

Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix with a spatula until you form a dough. Spread dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet to form a 12” x 4” log of 1" thickness. Bake for 40 minutes.

Remove the dough from the oven and let cool for roughly 5 minutes but no more than 10 minutes. Slice biscotti into 1" slices. Lay the slices on a baking sheet cut side down and bake for 10 minutes. Turn over and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Biscotti can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.

Optional: Dip bottom half of biscotti in melted white chocolate or drizzle over top!

Want a hard copy? We'll send you this biscotti recipe on a collectible recipe card with your purchase of a bag of Jasmine and Flowers tea! Same goes for any of our teas that we have corresponding recipes for!