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Soft Italian Ricotta Cookies with Glaze

A close-up of several soft, round ricotta cookies piled on a white plate, generously drizzled with white glaze.
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Make soft, cake-like Italian ricotta cookies. This recipe yields pillowy cookies perfect for holidays or any time, topped with a simple glaze.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese, drained
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • For the Glaze: 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • For the Glaze: 3 tablespoons milk or lemon juice
  • For the Glaze: 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the drained ricotta cheese, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until smooth.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix. The dough will be soft.
  5. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  6. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set. They should remain soft.
  7. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk or lemon juice, and almond extract (if using) until smooth. Add more liquid slowly if the glaze is too thick.
  9. Dip the top of each cooled cookie into the glaze, or drizzle the glaze over them. Let the glaze set before serving.

Notes

  • Drain the ricotta cheese well using a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth for at least 30 minutes to prevent overly wet dough.
  • For a lemon glaze, substitute lemon juice for the milk in the glaze recipe.
  • These cookies freeze well before glazing. Store airtight.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savorsensations.com/ricotta-cookies-italian-soft-recipe/