Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3 cups all purpose flour, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt
In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy, about three minutes. Next addd in the eggs one at a time. Finally add in the anise and vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl between each addition.
1 cup granulated sugar, 3 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon anise, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients all at once. Turn your mixer on low just long enough for the mixture to begin to combine. Then turn the mixer up all the way so the flour is just combined into the wet ingredients and you see no streaks of four.
Stir in the sliced almonds until just incorporated.
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Form the dough into two 5 by 1 inch logs - the dough will be very sticky, so spraying your hands with cooking spray can be really helpful.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool a little bit and then slice diagonally.
Allow to cool completely before packing away, or enjoy right away with coffee. Alternatively, you can bake the biscotti a second time after slicing. Bake for about 5 minutes until the biscotti is a deep golden brown. This will help the biscotti hold up better if dunking in coffee.