Italian Ricotta Cookies - An Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (2024)

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Italian Ricotta Cookies are soft, cake-like little cookies with lovely flavor and a tasty icing on top! They are easy to make and perfect for any holiday – especially Christmas!

Looking for more Christmas cookie ideas? Try my buttery Spritz cookies recipe, these easy gingerbread cookies or these classic snowball cookies.

Italian Ricotta Cookies - An Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (2)

Table of Contents

  • Italian Ricotta Cookies
  • Ingredients in Italian Ricotta Cookies
  • How to make Italian Ricotta Cookies
  • Get the Recipe

Italian Ricotta Cookies

If you’ve never had Italian Ricotta Cookies before, it’s definitely a cookie you need to try. It’s funny because if you haven’t had one before, it’s hard to imagine what they would taste like. I mean, does it taste like cheese? Nope!

These cookies actually have a very light, yet wonderful flavor to them. They are very vanilla, but these also have a little lemon zest as well, giving them a wonderfully refreshing flavor. And then with their cake-like texture, it’s like eating tasty little pillows!

I seriously couldn’t stop eating these. They are far too addicting! It’s probably good the recipe makes quite a few. You’ll snag several before these even make it onto your cookie tray – and that will be ok!

Italian Ricotta Cookies - An Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (3)

Ingredients in Italian Ricotta Cookies

These cookies contain ingredients you should mostly have on hand with a couple exceptions.

  • All purpose flour
  • Baking soda – Some recipes use a combination of baking soda and baking powder, but I must prefer all baking soda. I generally prefer that in cookies and it definitely applies here. I find that it gives a more moist and tender cookie that stays softer for longer. I find that adding in baking powder makes them more dense, which I don’t prefer.
  • Salt, Vanilla extract – For Flavor.
  • Butter, Eggs, Sugar
  • Lemon Zest – While you could leave this out, the cookie flavor might be a little dull without it. The cookies taste ever so slightly of lemon. It’s not super obvious, but it’s there and very tasty!
  • Ricotta cheese – As I said before, these cookies don’t taste like cheese. But the ricotta does lend a light flavor to the cookies and adds to their texture, making them moist and soft.
Italian Ricotta Cookies - An Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (4)

How to make Italian Ricotta Cookies

These cookies are simple and straight forward to make, which is great during a busy holiday season!

  1. Cream your butter and sugar together. You want to do this for 3-4 minutes. You’ll actually notice the change in color and texture. This step helps add air to the cookie dough that’s important for your cookies to rise properly.
  2. Add your eggs one a time. Adding them one at a time helps them incorporate evenly.
  3. Time for the vanilla extract and Ricotta cheese. Mix them into the cookie dough until well combined.
  4. Dry ingredients. Add them to the mix and mix together just until combined. Don’t over mix or you could end up with tough cookies.
  5. Scoop out your cookies and bake them. You could refrigerate the dough if you want to make it ahead, but you don’t need to. The cookies bake great either way. Just be sure to scoop out balls that are no larger than one tablespoon or the cookies could end up spreading too much.
  6. Make the icing. It’s a simple combination of powdered sugar, milk, butter and vanilla extract. Just whisk it all together!
  7. Dip the cookies in the icing and add sprinkles! Turn the cookies upside down and dip them. Shake of the excess icing, then add sprinkles. The sprinkles do tend to bleed from the moisture of the icing after sitting overnight, so if you want them to look nicer I’d suggest icing and adding sprinkles shortly before serving.
Italian Ricotta Cookies - An Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (5)

These cookies are truly great for any time you feel like a cookie. While often popular at Christmas, they’d be great any time. You can swap out the sprinkles for any festive mix you like. You could even swap out the vanilla and lemon flavor of these for some almond or coconut extract. The options are endless and no matter how you make them, they are sure to be soft little cakey pillows of awesomeness. I hope you enjoy them!

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”OHvgnYoX” upload-date=”2019-12-09T10:00:00.000Z” name=”Italian-Ricotta-Cookies” description=”Italian Ricotta Cookies are soft, cake-like little cookies with lovely flavor and a tasty icing on top! They are easy to make and perfect for any holiday – especially Christmas!” ]

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Italian Ricotta Cookies - An Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (6)

Recipe

Italian Ricotta Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 36 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 36 minutes
  • Yield: about 48 cookies
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Italian Ricotta Cookies are soft, cake-like little cookies with lovely flavor and a tasty icing on top! They are easy to make and perfect for any holiday – especially Christmas!

Ingredients

Cookies

  • 3 3/4 cups (488g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups (362g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 15 oz (1 3/4 cups) whole milk ricotta cheese

Icing

  • 2 cups (230g) powdered sugar
  • 45 tbsp milk
  • 3 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
2. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
3. Cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, until light in color and fluffy. You should be able to see the change in color and texture happen and know it’s ready.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until well combined between each addition.
5. Add the vanilla extract and ricotta and mix until well combined.
6. Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Do not over mix.
7. If you’d like to chill the cookie dough (which makes it a easier to work with), cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 2 hours or up to two days. You don’t have to chill the dough though. It doesn’t really change the outcome.
8. Drop tablespoon sized balls (no larger or they will spread too much) of cookie dough onto the cookie sheet and gently shape into a ball shape.
9. Bake for 9-12 minutes or until the bottoms of the cookies are lightly golden.
10. Cool cookies on the cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
11. To make the icing, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, butter and vanilla extract together in a small bowl.
12. Turn the cookies upside down, one at a time, and dip the tops of them into the icing.
13. Turn the cookies over and add sprinkles. Allow to dry. The icing will crust over, but doesn’t dry hard.
14. Store the cookies in an airtight container. The sprinkles will likely bleed after sitting overnight, so if you want the presentation to be nice, I’d suggest adding the icing and sprinkles shortly before serving. The icing also starts to wrinkle after a day or two. Cookies are best for about 4-5 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 143
  • Sugar: 12.3 g
  • Sodium: 100.5 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20.1 g
  • Protein: 2.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 24.4 mg

Categories

  • Christmas
  • Cookies
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
  • Recipes with video
  • Sweets and Treats
Italian Ricotta Cookies - An Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 1 Christmas cookie? ›

The Iced Sugar Cookie takes the top spot, stealing the show as the most favorite Christmas cookie with classic sweetness and festive decorations. Simple, delicious, and a canvas for creativity- it's the “go-to” for holiday bakers.

Which of the following is a very popular cookie from Italy? ›

Biscotti: Perhaps one of the most famous Italian cookies, biscotti are crispy, twice-baked treats that are perfect for dipping in coffee or wine. Traditionally flavored with almonds and fragrant anise, these long-lasting cookies are a staple in every Italian household.

What is the name of the Italian cookie? ›

Today, I want to share a little bit about Italian cookies called Biscotti. Biscotti, also known as cantuccini or mandelbrot (Mandel bread), are traditional Italian cookies with a long history and rich cultural significance.

What is the least favorite Christmas cookie? ›

On the naughty list of cookies, Americans gave the lowest win records to anise cookies, which only won 29% of its matchups.

What is the most eaten cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the most popular Italian cookie in the United States? ›

Biscotti Amaretti is the most famous Italian cookie of all. Made without flour or any added fat this almond macaroon is light, crunchy and intensely almond.

What is the famous biscuit in Italy? ›

Biscotti (/bɪˈskɒti/, Italian: [biˈskɔtti]; lit. 'biscuits') or cantucci ( Italian: [kanˈtuttʃi]) are Italian almond biscuits that originated in the Tuscan city of Prato. They are twice-baked, oblong-shaped, dry, crunchy, and may be dipped in a drink, traditionally Vin Santo.

What cookies are in an Italian cookie tray? ›

Our Classic Italian assortment is a great way to sample of our traditional sweets. This tray includes Cranberry Almond Biscotti, Amaretto Biscotti with Almonds, Chocolate Almond Macaroons and Pignoli Cookies.

What are Elvis cookies? ›

The Elvis: Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies.

What is the traditional Italian Christmas dinner? ›

Pasta is a must for an Italian Christmas Dinner. Lasagna, Stuffed Manicotti and other cheesy baked pasta dishes are a hit with all ages—this is classic Christmas fare in Southern Italy.

What is the most famous dessert in Italy? ›

Perhaps the most iconic Italian dessert, tiramisu appears on menus at restaurants not only throughout Italy but also all over the world.

Is baked ricotta good for you? ›

Baked ricotta is a good source of protein and the perfect texture to eat during the pureed stage after weight loss surgery.

What is an Italian cookie that is dry crunchy and is twice baked? ›

Biscotti cookies are crispy, twice-baked Italian cookies known for their distinct oblong shape and crunchy texture. The dry, hard texture of the biscotti is perfect for dunking. In Italy, biscotti are often dipped in a dessert wine. Biscotti also pairs well with a cup of coffee, espresso, or a cappuccino.

Can you substitute cottage cheese for ricotta in cookies? ›

Cottage cheese: As far as ricotta substitutes go, light and mild cottage cheese is your best bet. In fact, some people prefer to use cottage cheese because it has a similar flavor and fewer calories.

What is the most popular cookie for Santa? ›

Chocolate Chip cookies

You can never go wrong with these classic, delicious cookies. Santa himself lists these as his favorites, and he prefers them soft and gooey with lots of chocolate chips. If you decide to leave these out for him, make sure there's a glass of cold milk nearby!

What is the #1 cookie in the US? ›

Nearly 93% of all American households serve and enjoy cookies as treats or after meals. However, it's the chocolate chip cookie that's the most popular in the U.S. and around the world. How much do youknow about chocolate chip cookies?

What is America's favorite holiday cookie? ›

Among those who can make a single choice, frosted sugar cookies lead the list (32%), with gingerbread (12%) and chocolate chip (11%) rounding out the top three. Snickerdoodles (6%) come in fourth place, followed by butter (4%), peanut butter (4%), and chocolate (4%) tying for fifth.

What is the original Christmas cookie? ›

Modern Christmas cookies can trace their history to recipes from Medieval Europe biscuits, when many modern ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds and dried fruit were introduced into the west.

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