Deliciously Soft Italian Ricotta Cookies

Step into a world of delightful flavors with these Italian ricotta cookies, a cherished family favorite that transports the taste of Italy right into your kitchen. These cookies are not just any ordinary sweets; they are incredibly soft and cake-like, melting in your mouth with every bite. Topped with a sweet vanilla glaze and colorful sprinkles, they’re truly a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. If you haven’t made ricotta cookies yet, now is the perfect time to start!

Why You’ll Love These Italian Ricotta Cookies

Delightfully Tender Texture: These Italian Ricotta Cookies are known for their uniquely soft and tender crumb, courtesy of the ricotta cheese.

Perfect Balance of Flavors: The blend of ricotta, sweet glaze, and a hint of almond extract creates a delightful balance that is neither overly rich nor excessively sweet.

Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 2 days, making your holiday baking a breeze.

Festive Appearance: With their colorful sprinkles, these cookies are not only delicious but also visually appealing—perfect for any celebration.

Ingredients

All-Purpose Flour: This versatile flour forms the base, giving the cookies their soft texture.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents ensure that the cookies rise beautifully, creating a light and fluffy texture.
Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Unsalted Butter: The butter adds richness and contributes to a tender crumb.
Granulated Sugar: This ingredient sweetens the dough while helping achieve golden edges.
Egg: Essential for binding the ingredients and adding moisture.
Vanilla & Almond Extract: Vanilla adds warmth, while almond extract lends an authentic Italian flavor.
Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese: The star ingredient that gives these cookies their unique texture; make sure to drain it properly!
Icing: A simple mixture of butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and milk creates a luscious glaze. For a lighter option, skip the butter and prepare a simple glaze instead.
Colored Sprinkles (Nonpareils): These little decorations not only add a festive touch but also a delightful crunch.

How to Make Italian Ricotta Cookies

These cookies are a staple in many homes, especially during the holiday season. The secret lies in the ricotta cheese that makes them moist and deliciously tender. Making these cookies is a straightforward process, and here’s how you can whip them up:

Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Once well combined, set this mixture aside.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a separate large bowl, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is fluffy and light. Add in the egg, egg yolks, vanilla extract, almond extract, and ricotta cheese, mixing each ingredient in one at a time until the blend is smooth.

Step 3: Combine the Mixtures

Gently combine the dry ingredients with the wet mixture, mixing just until everything is incorporated. It’s important not to overmix. Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for about an hour.

Step 4: Portion the Dough

Once chilled, scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized mounds and place them about 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets.

Step 5: Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven and bake the cookies for approximately 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops have a light golden color. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 6: Prepare the Icing

While the cookies are cooling, mix the butter, powdered sugar, and lemon juice until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding milk or more powdered sugar to reach your desired thickness.

Step 7: Glaze and Garnish

Once cooled, drizzle the icing over the cookies and sprinkle on the colorful nonpareils. Allow the icing to set for about 30 minutes before serving.

This recipe yields around 60 cookies, making it perfect for gatherings. If you prefer, feel free to halve the ingredients to make a smaller batch; just follow the same steps!

Tips For the Best Italian Ricotta Cookies

These delightful Italian cookies are sure to spread joy whether enjoyed alone or shared with loved ones. For the best results, check out these handy tips:

Room temperature ingredients: Let your ingredients sit at room temperature for easier mixing.
Drain the ricotta: Even slightly watery ricotta can affect the cookie texture, so drain it for 15-20 minutes before use.
Do not overmix: Mix only until combined to avoid dense cookies; a paddle mixer on low speed works best.
Chill the dough: To prevent cookies from spreading, chill the dough before baking.
Use parchment paper: Lining your baking sheets with parchment keeps cookies from sticking.
Uniform size: Use a cookie scoop to ensure all cookies are even in size for consistent baking.
Cool before glazing: Allow cookies to cool completely before applying the glaze to prevent it from melting.

How to Store

The wonderful aroma that fills your kitchen while these cookies bake is simply irresistible. As you indulge in these delightful cookies, you might notice a few missing before they even reach the glaze stage!

To Store: Keep cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerated for up to 5-6 days. It’s best to use parchment paper between layers to avoid sticking.

To Freeze: For long-term storage, freeze unglazed cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid. Then transfer them to an airtight container. They can be frozen for 2-3 months. Simply thaw at room temperature and add fresh glaze before serving.