• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Tasha's Artisan Foods

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Cookies

    December 20, 2021

    Almond Ricotta Cookies

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A lot of the Christmas cookies I’ve baked over the last decade go ‘snap’ with every bite because they’re crispy and crunchy. The almond ricotta cookies are the quirky outliers. They’re less cookie and more cake, with a soft, crumbly texture that tastes divine. Divine. 

    Jump to:

    Ricotta cookie recipe

    Decorating ideas

    Storing and making ahead

    Ingredient substitutes

    More Christmas recipes

    Having one of these little moist glazed cakes feels like you’re mainlining almonds. The depth of flavor is that beautiful. But the best part is the packaging, thanks to the ricotta. Although it lends only the mildest of tastes, the cookies do gain height, are light, and succulent.

    From the old to the young, everyone will love them. For me, they’ve become a permanent accessory to my herbal tea in the morning and a nice light after-dinner dessert. 

    Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies

    How to make almond ricotta cookies?

    Ricotta cookies are the most straightforward recipe I’ve used, which is the only kind of recipe you want for the holidays because there’s already too much cooking. It makes a decently sized batch of 24. You can, of course, double it to share with friends and family during the season. Or halve it.

    Ingredients for making Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies
    • Mix almond flour, all-purpose flour, and baking powder together.
    • Separately, beat butter with powdered sugar till it’s nice and light and fluffy. 
    • Toss eggs, almond extract, and vanilla extract into the beaten mixture. 
    • Then add the ricotta cheese and combine thoroughly.
    • Fold the dry ingredients into the wet and, with a spatula, bring them together into a dough. 
    • The dough is soft and sticks to your hands, so I recommend refrigerating it for half an hour to one hour till it’s easy to handle.
    Dough for Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies

    Keep an eye when baking the ricotta cookies

    • Scoop out the dough using a tablespoon or ice cream scoop, and then roll it between your palms. 
    • Place each rolled ball on a Silpat-lined tray, making sure you leave ample space between them.
    • Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, till they’re very pale yellow and just firm to the touch. 
    • These cookies bake fast, so after 12 minutes, keep an eye. Don’t worry if they seem too soft. They’ll harden as they cool.
    Dough balls ready for baking
    Baked Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies

    Easy cookie icing idea

    While the cookies cool, go ahead and make a thick glaze. Yes, this is a completely optional step, but it’s Christmastime. So, why not make them extra special?

    • Mix icing sugar with almond milk and almond extract. 
    • Drizzle the glossy glaze on each cookie.
    • Immediately dust sprinkles on top because the glaze sets rather quickly, and after that, the sprinkles won’t stick. 

    By no means is it essential to decorate the almond ricotta cookies. Once baked and cooled, they’re pretty enough to serve as-is or with scattered sugar. 

    Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies
    Can you make almond ricotta cookies ahead?

    Absolutely, make them a few weeks in advance. They store well in an air-tight container. I do suggest not glazing them beforehand. Add the icing and sprinkles right before you’re serving, as the color of the sprinkles tends to bleed. 

    Other ingredients you can use in almond ricotta cookies

    Flour: Over many recipes, I’ve experienced that almond flour imparts the loveliest nutty flavor. It’s equal parts subtle and delicious. But if the lack of it is stopping you from making these recipes, don’t. Use just all-purpose flour. 

    Eggless: I haven't tried making these without egg, but am sure they can be made eggless with a flax egg. Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water. Set aside for at least 15 minutes, till it’s goopy and thick. Continue with the rest of the recipe. 

    Flavors: In case you don’t have almond extract or don’t fancy it too much, replace it with lemon zest or even orange zest. Incorporate it in the dough to give the cookies a brightness and use it as a garnish. 

    Ricotta: Homemade (here’s a recipe for it) or store-bought, both versions work like a charm. The only condition is not to skip the ricotta, as it is essential from a structural and textural perspective. 

    Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies

    Of all the holiday cookies, you have to try the almond ricotta. They are:

    Easy to bake

    Make-ahead recipe

    Attractive holiday gifts

    Festive additions to the table 

    Refreshing with a cup of coffee

    More cookie recipes for the holidays

    Almond Buckwheat Linzer Cookies

    Lemon Buckwheat Linzer Cookies

    Eggless Butter Cookies

    Chocolate Ginger Cookies

    Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies

    Unique cookie recipes for Christmas

    Gluten-free Mocha Shortbread Cookies

    Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Mexican Wedding Cookies

    Lemon Crescent Cookies

    Meringue Cookies

    Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Almond Ricotta Cookies

    These Almond Ricotta Cookies are just fabulous! They’re less cookie and more cake, with a soft, crumbly texture that tastes positively divine!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time17 mins
    Course: Snack
    Keyword: Italian ricotta cookies, Ricotta cookies, Almond ricotta cookies
    Servings: 24 cookies
    Calories:
    Author: Natasha Minocha

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 cup All-purpose flour
    • 1/2 cup Almond flour
    • 1 1/4 tsp Baking powder
    • 1/4 tsp Salt Please omit if using salted butter
    • 1/2 cup Butter, softened
    • 3/4 cup Powdered sugar
    • 1 Egg
    • 3/4 cup Ricotta cheese
    • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
    • 1/2 tsp Pure almond extract ( optional)

    Almond Glaze

    • 1/3 cup Icing sugar
    • 2-3 tbsp Almond milk You can use any milk you prefer
    • 1/4 tsp Almond extract

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 180C. Line a cookie tray with Silpat or parchment paper.
    • Sift together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt ( if using) in a bowl.
    • In another bowl, beat together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
    • Add the egg. Beat well.
    • Now add in the ricotta, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until well combined.
    • If the dough seems too soft, cover and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until firm.
    • Scoop out the dough, using a tablespoon. Roll the dough balls and place on the tray.
    • Bake at 180 C for 12-14 minutes until very light golden in color.
    • Transfer to a cooling rack, let the cookies cool completely. Serve as is or glaze the cookies with almond glaze and add sprinkles.
    • Allow the glaze to set, about 5-10 minutes.

    Almond Glaze

    • Combine almond milk, almond extract, and icing sugar until smooth and thick.

    Notes

    This recipe has been adapted from the very talented Cooking Classy.
    Almond Ricotta Cookies | Italian Ricotta Cookies PIN
    « Gluten-free Linzer Cookies
    Maple Pecan Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Priya says

      December 21, 2021 at 9:37 am

      5 stars
      Cookies look bomb.. Loving it totally Natasha 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        December 23, 2021 at 1:50 pm

        Thank you so much, Priya! Really appreciate it. xx

        Reply
    2. Pina says

      September 22, 2022 at 9:09 am

      In the recipe it mentions 1.5 cup of flour does this means 1 and 1/2 cups

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        September 22, 2022 at 10:26 am

        Hello Pina, yes, its 1 and 1/2 cups of flour. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Lauren says

      December 29, 2022 at 8:28 am

      Can these be made with all almond flour?

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        December 30, 2022 at 2:04 pm

        Hi Lauren, I think almond flour could work here though I haven't tried it myself. xx

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    New-Cover-4-1024x934

    Hi, I'm Natasha Minocha! Welcome to Tasha’s Artisan Foods!

    More about me →

    Trending

    • Orange Basque Cheesecake
    • Candied Orange Slices Recipe
    • Strawberry Banana Muffins
    • The Best French Toast Casserole Recipe
    Get exclusive recipes, tips and more!

    Youtube

    SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Tasha’s Artisan Foods

    GET NEW RECIPES IN YOUR INBOX

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    BROWSE RECIPES

    Desserts
    Snacks
    Breads
    Cakes
    Appetizers
    Baking Guides

    Published with WordPress

    PRIVACY POLICY

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 TASHA'S ARTISAN FOODS