Ricotta Cookies

Ricotta Cookies are the tastiest cookies! This classic Italian treat is perfect for Christmas but so good that they’ll be on your cookie tray year round!

This time of year tradition is important. With most of our family gone, we like to try to bring back the things that remind us of those people we have lost.

I grew up with goodies like these ricotta cookies. They were always there at our holiday gatherings. So it just makes sense to make sure they continue to be a holiday favorite for years to come.

Ricotta cookies are soft with a moist crumble. While they contain lemon zest and ricotta cheese – you don’t really taste either of them prominently in the cookies.

The lemon flavor is light and gives a fresh taste, while the ricotta helps with the texture of the cookies making them positively irresistible.

cookies with ricotta

Here are some commonly asked questions

What is the best way to store ricotta cookies?

Once the icing hardens, you can place the cookies in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature. These Ricotta Cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to five days.

Why do my cookies go flat?

Cookies typically go flat when the dough isn’t the right temperature at the time of baking OR when they are missing the right ingredients that help them to rise- such as eggs, baking soda, and baking powder.

Make sure you are measuring those ingredients correctly, and that those ingredients are fresh. Things like baking powder can be less effective within just a few months after purchasing.

But just make sure the butter is at room temperature when you start the mixing. If the cookies are flat- your room could just be too warm, making the butter too soft. If that is the case, you might need to chill the dough for a few minutes.

Italian Ricotta Cookies

Where can I find Ricotta?

Ricotta is typically located near the milk and eggs in most grocery stores.

How do I properly measure the flour?

The official way is to spoon the flour into the measuring cup & level off. This makes sure the flour isn’t packed tightly into your measuring cup, adding more than you need, as that will make your recipe too dry.

However – if you fluff your flour with a spoon, then gently scoop the flour into the measuring cup, taking care to not pack the flour – that should work for this recipe.

What are the best sprinkles for this dough?

This is important – just because the package says “sprinkles” doesn’t necessarily mean that it is in fact sprinkles. You want to make sure you are buying nonpareils.

I see a lot of people using colored sanding sugar that is labeled as sprinkles.

This will not work as well because when that sugar gets wet – like when mixed into a moist dough or when placed in the refrigerator or on top of a moist icing, it will sweat & the color will bleed out.

That being said – the nonpareils will also bleed if refrigerated or frozen – they just take a bit longer to do so than if you used sanding sugar.

ricotta cookies lemon

What are Ricotta Cookies?

Ricotta cookies are typically made with ricotta cheese, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and vanilla extract.

Also known as Hares or Lepre, they are an Italian tradition typically eaten during Christmas time. Ricotta cookies are very easy to make, keep well and taste delicious! Ricotta Cookies were first made as a tradition in the Italian town of Campagna.

Do I really need to chill the dough?

Yes, Yes, Yes! Chilling the dough is important for a couple of reasons. First – while the dough is chilling the ingredients are coming together. It gives a better overall flavor to the cookie.

The second and probably even more important than the first – is that chilling helps the dough hold together during the baking process.

Without chilling, the dough would not only be too sticky to really roll it into balls. But it would also spread way too much while baking – leaving flat and not very appealing cookies in the end. Please don’t skip the chilling process.

What can I make with rainbow sprinkles?

• St. Patrick’s Day Hot Chocolate Bombs
• Funfetti Cake Batter Dip
• Edible Sugar Cookie Dough
• Frozen Bananas
• Lofthouse Sugar Cookies
• Cake Batter Frosting
• Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars
• Homemade Funfetti Cake
• Rainbow Cake

lemon ricotta cookies

Ingredients for Ricotta Cookies

• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• salt
• granulated sugar
• unsalted butter – softened
• lemon zest
• fresh ricotta cheese
• vanilla extract
• eggs – room temperature

Glaze

• unsalted butter, melted 
• sifted confectioner’s sugar
• milk or heavy whipping cream – more if needed to desired consistency
• clear vanilla or almond extract **see notes

Decoration

• Rainbow Nonpareils or red and green for the holidays

Why do the ingredients need to be at room temperature?

Room temperature ingredients help to ensure that everything blends together perfectly. You don’t want any pockets of unblended butter. You want everything evenly disbursed for the perfect texture.

When your dairy products are at room temperature, they can create an emulsion. It’s essential to have an emulsion because air gets trapped, so the baked goods expand and get fluffy as it bakes.

ricotta lemon cookies

How to Make Ricotta Cookies

Cookies

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. In a bowl of stand mixer or large bowl, beat the sugar, butter, and lemon zest until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in the ricotta and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Add the eggs one and a time, beating after each addition.
5. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix well.
6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.
7. Remove from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
8. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
9. Scoop the dough using a small cookie dough scoop, shape into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
10. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown.
11. Cool on a wire rack.

Glaze

1. In a medium bowl, beat the butter, confectioner’s sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth.
2. Spread on the cookies or dip the tops in the glaze.
3. Immediately add the sprinkles.

This recipe calls for a stand mixer.  Can I also make this recipe by hand?

Because this recipe requires whipping the butter and then the dough at a high speed to create the whipped texture, this will require some sort of mixer to achieve the final end product of this cookie. However, you don’t need to use a stand mixer, these can be made using a hand mixer too.

Ricotta Cookies

Can this recipe be cut in half?

You bet – if you want to make fewer cookies – this recipe reduces well. However they make a great gift for friends and family – or you could take a goodie tray to the local fire or police department. I’m sure they would appreciate it.

Can you freeze ricotta cookies?

Yes, these can be frozen – but are best when frozen before decorating. To freeze, just roll the cookie dough into balls & then place the dough balls on a plate or cookie sheet & flash freeze them.

Once they’ve been flash-frozen, transfer them to a zip-top bag & freeze for up to 1 month. When you want to make the cookies, just thaw the dough for 20-30 minutes, place it on the baking sheet, add the decorations, and bake!

I don’t recommend trying to freeze with the decorations as the nonpareils will bleed when exposed to the moist air. This will result in a less than desirable look. Please add those just before serving.

ricotta cookies recipe

How to soften the butter to room temperature?

First

There are a couple of ways to do this. The first being that you can take the butter (& any other ingredients that need to be at room temperature) out, leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes while you prep for baking.

I usually start with all my chilled ingredients and pull everything I need out onto the counter before getting started – so I know for sure I have everything before I’m mid-way through I realize I’m out of something.

But sometimes it’s winter and that isn’t enough time to get the ingredients warmed up – OR – I’m just not that organized to plan ahead. It happens. So I have another couple of tricks.

Second

I place the butter in the microwave – wrapped in the paper. (don’t do this if it is wrapped in foil) Then I microwave for 2 seconds – flip – go another 2 seconds – flip again – and continue for 2 seconds on each side.

This is usually enough to get it perfect – sometimes stopping before if it feels soft enough. Take care when doing this method – overly softened butter from the microwave WILL ALTER the end result of the recipe. Don’t over-do it.

Third

My third method is to place the wrapped butter sticks in a zip-top bag and place it in a bowl of warm water. I do this with the eggs too. If the water isn’t too hot it can be THE PERFECT way to get “room-temperature” ingredients.

What do you mean by soft butter?

You will need to take your butter out of the fridge about an hour before you would like to make the recipe for the butter to soften but not get too soft.

recipe for ricotta cookies

Products I love when making Ricotta Cookies…

This cookie recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made homemade cookies before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love these. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this cookie recipe.

• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• salt
• granulated sugar
• lemon zest
• vanilla extract
• confectioner’s sugar
• clear vanilla or almond extract **see notes
• rainbow nonpareils or red and green for the holidays
• mixer
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• parchment paper
• non-stick mats
• baking sheets
• spatula
• cookie scoop

---

If you love this Easy Ricotta Cookie recipe, you’re going to love these other holiday cookies too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

---

---

If you love this recipe for Ricotta Cookies as much as I do, please write a five-star review, and be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!

---

---

---