Mandelbrot: Jewish Biscotti

OK, I know I always make fun of my mother for her lack of cooking, baking, and basically, her total lack of homemaking skills (she is a very talented artist).
But here is a recipe that is my mother's.

She ALWAYS bakes mandelbrot. And she makes it good! (I know, she makes it well). She always brings it to my house for a holiday and it is the first thing to go for dessert. It disappears. Everyone wants the recipe.

What is MANDELBROT? It is basically like Italian biscotti. But it has oil, so it is more like a cookie. My biscotti is much denser and drier because I don't use butter or oil, while the mandelbrot is lighter. They are both twice baked.

It has always been a favorite treat amongst Eastern European Jews, and the word translates simply (from German) as Mandel (almond), Brot (bread).

My mother doesn't own a microwave oven, a measuring cup, or a wooden spoon, but she does have a new Kitchen Aid oven and All Clad pots and pans! She doesn't want any new kitchen tools & she won't give into my bossy ways. It drives me nuts.
She measures out her flour in an 8 oz. glass drinking cup, but I guess it's all the same in the end. This recipe is not written down. I called her and it was in her head.
Now it is written forever.

Here is Elayne's recipe for Mandelbrot. Enjoy!

1 cup of vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped walnuts
1 cup golden raisins
2 tsp of almond extract (or vanilla)
3 1/2 cups flour
sugar and cinnamon mixture

Mix the first 3 ingredients together in a bowl.
Then add the raisins and almonds and extract. Then add the 3.5 cups of flour & baking powder, incorporating one cup at a time.

Now make 2 balls of dough and place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Flatten them out to make 2 logs (like you are making biscotti).
Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.
Remove from oven. Cut into 1/2" slices. Place the slices back on the baking sheet and bake another 10 minutes.

You can add chocolate chips if you like.
They are great for dunking too!