Since u003ca href=u0022https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscottiu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ethe word u0022biscottiu0022 literally means u0022twice cookedu0022 you do need to bake them twice to make u0022biscottiu0022. u003c/au003eThat being said, if you want a soft cookie, the pastry police won't come to your house if you skip the second bake.