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    Home » What We're Eating » Italian Ricotta Cookies

    Italian Ricotta Cookies

    Published: Dec 5, 2020 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    Long collage of Italian Ricotta Cookies
    Tray of Italian ricotta cookies on a wire rack with text title at the top
    Hand picking up a ricotta cookie with a text title box at the top
    Ricotta cookies with Christmas sprinkles on a wire rack with text title overlay
    Iced Italian Christmas cookies with text title overlay

    These traditional Italian Ricotta Cookies are soft, moist and coated with a thick frosting! Garnish the little gems with red and green sprinkles for your Christmas cookie tray, or use rainbow sprinkles to enjoy them year-round for any special occasion. It's a simple, make-ahead dessert that's perfect for sharing with loved ones!

    Ricotta cookies recipe cooling on a wire rack

    Ricotta Cookies Recipe

    The kids (and adults) go crazy for these delicious ricotta cheese cookies! They're thick, soft, sweet and festive -- what's not to love? Plus, you can prepare the dough in advance and keep it in the fridge or store the baked cookies in the freezer. They're such a convenient way to prep for the holidays, and a beautiful addition to your Christmas cookie tray!

    What are ricotta cookies?

    If you've never sunk your teeth into a classic Italian Christmas cookie, then be prepared for a wonderful surprise! Ricotta cookies are soft, moist, cake-like sugar cookies with a simple glaze and plenty of colorful sprinkles. The cookies do not taste like cheese! Instead, the ricotta adds moisture and gives the cookies a soft, rich texture. They're light -- not dense -- puffy little pillows of sweetness!

    Front shot of ricotta christmas cookies on a white serving tray

    How to Make Ricotta Cookies from Scratch

    Every Italian Nonna likely has her favorite version of a classic ricotta cookies recipe. Some include lemon or orange flavor, while others use almond extract. This particular version is simple: a vanilla-flavored cookie with a glaze that's flavored with both almond and vanilla extracts. The recipe comes from the Italian representative for the International Children's Festival, and was included in a travel guide and cookbook called Eat & Explore Virginia. I've tweaked the recipe slightly -- using baking powder to help them rise, chilling to prevent spreading, and adding a simple powdered sugar glaze -- but the essential Italian cookie remains the same. They're easy and they can be made in advance, so they're a great option to suit your busy holiday schedule!

    Ingredients

    • Butter
    • Ricotta cheese
    • Vanilla extract
    • Sugar
    • Eggs
    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking powder
    • Salt

    Step 1: Make Dough​​​​​​​

    Use an electric mixer to combine the dough.

    Process shot showing how to make ricotta cookies from scratch

    Step 2: Chill

    The dough will be soft and somewhat sticky, so it's best when chilled before scooping and baking. Cover the bowl of dough and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

    Step 3: Bake

    Once the dough is nice and cold, scoop into rounds (I use a cookie scoop like this) and arrange on parchment or silicone-lined baking sheets.

    Italian ricotta cookies on a baking sheet

    Bake in a 350 degree F oven for about 12-14 minutes. The tops will still be pale, but the bottoms should be lightly browned.

    Step 4: Frost​​​​​​​

    Make a simple glaze with melted butter, confectioners' sugar, almond extract, vanilla extract and milk. Dip the tops of the cookies in the glaze, then place on wire racks. Garnish with sprinkles immediately, since the glaze starts to set right away.​​​​​​​

    Close up side shot of ricotta cheese cookies cooling on a wire rack

    Make Ahead

    Prepare the dough in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before scooping and baking. You can also bake the cookies in advance and freeze them before icing. Wrapped tightly, the baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw on the counter and glaze when ready to enjoy!

    You can freeze the cookies after they're glazed, but the thawed glaze and sprinkles don't tend to look as good.

    Storage​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Store the glazed cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. You can also refrigerate the cookies for up to 1 week.

    Square image of Italian Christmas Ricotta Cookies on a wire rack

    Recipe Variations

    • Lemon Ricotta Cookies: add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to the cookie dough, and use lemon juice (instead of milk) in the glaze.
    • Add ½ teaspoon of almond extract to the cookie dough.
    • Taste the glaze and add more almond extract, if necessary, to reach desired flavor.
    • Use different colored sprinkles for different festive occasions. For instance, red and green work well for Christmas, while rainbow-colored non-pareils work well for birthdays.
    Child's hand picking up Italian ricotta christmas cookie

    Tips for the Best Italian Ricotta Cookies Recipe

    • Use full-fat ricotta cheese for best results. The fat in the cheese creates rich, moist cookies, so you don't want to water them down with less-flavorful, low-fat ricotta.
    • Keep the dough as cold as possible before baking in order to prevent the cookies from spreading in the oven.
    • Before glazing the cookies, place a wire rack on top of a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Dip the cookies in the glaze, then arrange them on the wire rack. The foil-lined pan will catch any extra glaze that drips off and will corral any stray sprinkles that might otherwise fall onto the counter. It makes cleanup really easy!
    • The glaze should be very thick so that it doesn't slip right off the sides of the cookies. Add just enough milk to thin, and if the glaze seems too thin, you can always whisk in extra confectioners sugar to reach the desired consistency.
    Tray of ricotta cookies on a Christmas table

    More Classic Cookie Recipes You'll Love

    • 3-Ingredient Scottish Shortbread Cookies
    • Russian Tea Cakes {Snowball Cookies}
    • Soft Gingerbread Men
    • Old-Fashioned Williamsburg Gingerbread Cookies
    • Snickerdoodle Cookies
    • Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossoms
    Ricotta cookies recipe cooling on a wire rack
    Print Pin
    5 from 4 votes

    Italian Ricotta Cookies

    These traditional Italian Ricotta Cookies are soft, moist, cake-like treats that are coated with a thick layer of frosting!
    Course Cookies
    Cuisine Italian
    Keyword Italian Ricotta Cookies, ricotta cookies
    Prep Time 30 minutes
    Cook Time 12 minutes
    Chilling Time 2 hours
    Total Time 2 hours 42 minutes
    Servings 54 cookies
    Calories 139kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    Ingredients

    For the Cookies:

    • 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened at room temperature
    • 1 cup ricotta cheese, at room temperature
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 cups sugar
    • 2 eggs, at room temperature
    • 4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    For the Glaze:

    • 1 tablespoon salted butter, melted
    • 3 ¾ cups confectioners sugar
    • ½ teaspoon almond extract
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 4-6 tablespoons milk

    Instructions

    • Using an electric mixer, cream together butter and ricotta. Add vanilla; mix well. Gradually add the sugar, mixing well to combine. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients; mix until combined. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
    • Drop dough in rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets. You want the dough really cold when it goes into the oven so that the cookies don’t spread, so if the dough seems a bit soft, put the baking sheets back in the refrigerator (or even in the freezer) for about 10 minutes before baking. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the bottom of the cookies are golden brown (the tops will still be pale). Cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

    GLAZE:

    • In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the glaze ingredients until smooth. Use 4 tablespoons of milk to start, and add more to thin if necessary. The glaze should be very thick. Dip the tops of the cookies in the glaze, then set on a wire rack. Immediately add sprinkles. Let the cookies rest at room temperature until the glaze sets.

    Notes

    Make Ahead
    Prepare the dough in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before scooping and baking. You can also bake the cookies in advance and freeze them before icing. Wrapped tightly, the baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw on the counter and glaze when ready to enjoy!
    You can freeze the cookies after they're glazed, but the thawed glaze and sprinkles don't tend to look as good.
    Storage​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
    Store the glazed cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. You can also refrigerate the cookies for up to 1 week.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 142IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joanne

      December 07, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      Instead of baking then freezing, could you pre-shape and then freeze the dough and then bake/glaze when you need them?

      Reply
      • Blair

        December 07, 2020 at 4:30 pm

        Yes, that should work really well, Joanne. Just bake directly from frozen and add 1-2 extra minutes to the baking time called for in the recipe since you're starting with frozen dough. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Carol

      December 21, 2020 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      I made these cookies today and they are really good! My husband is a lemon lover, so I added the lemon zest and lemon juice, like you suggested, and he loves them! Thank you for this recipe!

      Reply
      • Blair

        December 21, 2020 at 7:52 pm

        That's great, Carol! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. I'm so glad that your husband approved, too! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Dominique

      December 19, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      5 stars
      My family gave them two thumbs up! We are a gluten free family and we used Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour because it doesn't have a gritty texture and we absolutely loved them!

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        December 19, 2021 at 3:49 pm

        Thanks, Dominique! I'm so glad to know that they work with gluten-free flour, too. That's helpful for other readers, I know!

        Reply
    4. Adele

      December 21, 2021 at 11:37 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe. Made some plain and made some with chopped dried cranberries and pecan pieces. Both were eaten in no time. I think I like the ones with cranberries and pecans without the glaze. Yummy.

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        December 22, 2021 at 5:27 am

        That version sounds delicious, Adele! Thank you!

        Reply

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    Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you'll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It's down-home, country-style cooking!

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