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Orange Ricotta Cookies are a classic Italian cookie that is moist and cake-like with a distinctive orange flavor.
Classic Italian foods always seem to make an appearance on our family table at the holidays. For my husband Jack and his big Italian family – of course, that makes sense! But for me – coming from a large Polish family – in between the pierogi and the stuffed cabbage that was always served at our Christmas meals, we also had a few Italian foods at the table thanks to my mother’s sister, Bertha.
Cioci Bertha, as we called her (Cioci is “aunt” in Polish), was married to my Uncle Pete – an Italian – so the menu at her house was always a wonderful blend of the best of two culinary worlds! She made a terrific lasagna (note to self…I must get her recipe!) but I also remember the cookie tray – an exotic (to me) combination of treats including anisette cookies with colorful sprinkles, pizzelle (some with, and some without powdered sugar) as well as some delicious soft, frosted ricotta cookies!
Among my favorites were the ricotta cookies – and a few weeks ago, Jack and I were sharing fond cookie memories from each of our childhoods! I looked around and found some similar cookie recipes online, then worked to recreate these Orange Ricotta Cookies we’re sharing today!
Ricotta cookies are often flavored with lemon, but we liked the more distinctive orange flavor in our version. We used whole milk ricotta in our orange ricotta cookies – giving them a soft, cake-like consistency and the fresh orange zest gives the cookies wonderful flavor. The icing also has orange zest as well as orange juice – so there is no mistaking the delicious citrus flavor!
These orange ricotta cookies are really quite easy to make – but a word of caution. As you mix in the flour, just be sure not to over mix the cookie dough to ensure that your ricotta cookies are light and tender!
You may also enjoy these other Italian cookies:
- Italian Anisette Cookies
- Orange Almond Biscotti
- Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
- Pasta Frolla Christmas Jam Cookies
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Orange Ricotta Cookies
Ingredients
For the cookies
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- A pinch of kosher salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 8 ounces fresh whole-milk ricotta (drain any excess liquid, if necessary)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 large orange (about 2 teaspoons)
For the glaze
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a bowl and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, place the sugar and softened butter and beat on high until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the first egg to the mixing bowl and mix well. Then add the second egg, and again mix well.
- Add the ricotta, vaniila and orange zest and mix to combine.
- Add the flour mixture and mix on low until all ingredients are just combined – being careful not to over mix.
- Using a small scoop or tablespoon drop the dough onto the baking sheets about two inches apart.
- Bake cookies for 20 to 22 minutes, until the cookies are puffed and light golden. (If you are baking both cookie sheets at the same time in the oven, rotate halfway through the baking time.) Remove from the oven and cool completely on wire racks before glazing.
- When ready to glaze, in a small, wide bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice and orange zest and mix into a smooth glaze. Add more powdered sugar if needed to make the glaze thick enough to coat the cookies when dipped.
- Holding the cookies with your fingers, dip the top of the cookies in the glaze and then immediately turn back over and place on a wire rack to dry.
- Allow cookies to dry for about 2 hours until completely set before storing.
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Didn’t try recipe yet ..although I do make ricotta cookies regularly but not citrus ones …might make for a citrus themed baby shower for my daughter ( she never goes with standard ideas) anyway …I’m confused about sizing of cookies …you talk about using tablespoon but reading through comments you say you used a small scoop which for me is a teaspo. Also how many does this make? Thanks
Hi Diane – I just measured the scoop we used for these cookies – it holds 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons which I believe is a medium OXO scoop like this: http://amzn.to/2Boe7to – Hope that helps!
They were absolutely delicious and my parents could not stop raving about them. They even claimed that these cookies could put a bakery we know that sells ones just like them out of business because of how much better these were. They were super easy and super good. Thanks so much for the recipe!
★★★★★
Thank you so much Camille! So glad you all enjoyed the cookies!
Although it’s been a few weeks since I made these over the holidays, I wanted to say that I made two batches of these cookies and people are still raving about them. Unique and delicious flavor, a nice standout from the more traditional x-mas cookies. The recipe was so easy to follow. Thank you!
★★★★★
Thank you so much for taking the time to write to us Britt! We’re so glad yo enjoyed the recipe!
I’m planning to make these but can I use part skim ricotta?
Hi Cheryl – We’ve only made this recipe as written. I would imagine the fat in the full fat ricotta helps create a nice, moist cookie – I’m not sure how much of a difference you’ll see using part skim. Please let us know how it comes out!
These are delicious!!! The cookies are so moist and have a delightful orange flavor. My husband is not a big fan of sweets, so I was amazed when he asked me to make these again.
★★★★★
Thanks Sue! We’re so glad you (and your husband) enjoyed the recipe!
These cookies are wonderful, follow the recipe and you will enjoy delightful light fluffy cookies with a tang of orange, and I’ve me them with lemons -also are just as yummy. I found baking them at 375 was quicker for 22 minites, the ricotta is dense and they stay puffy this way… As opposed to 325 this left them flat and took at least 10 minutes more. Thank you for a lovely recipe!
You’re very welcome Mariute! Sounds like our ovens may be a little different in temperature – but either way, we’re glad you found a way for the recipe to work! Thank you for writing to us today.
Loved the recipe, very easy! Wish it had mentioned though that in order to get them to look like the picture, you need to form them a bit with your hands into balls. Keep that in mind. Otherwise, great!
Thanks for the feedback Natalie! We used a small scoop ourselves but you’re right – if using a regular tablespoon, you will want to roll the dough a bit to get a more rounded shape.
I plan to bake this one and we usually like our cookies soft so I always underbaked them like 8m but noticed this one requires 20m to bake so wonder if anyone baked this one with less time. Thanks!!
Hi Cloey – I don’t know! But feel free to do a small test batch baking them less time or check the cookies partway through the baking time to see if they are cooked through and as soft as you’d like them to be! These cookies are sort of a firm, cake-like consistency as written. Hope that helps!
Do these cookies have to be Refrgerated after their cookies. Because of the ricotta.always wonder about it .sa very very good cookie,there gone in a second. Made them for my granddaughter ‘s wedding and I put color glaze for her wedding colors,when over big. Love all the great recipes.
Hi Ruth – That’s a great question! We haven’t refrigerated them ourselves (but they were also eaten fairly quickly and didn’t last longer than a day!). I found this forum online – they suggested refrigerating them only if you want them to last longer. If you have them more than a day or two it probably would be a good idea to refrigerate them! http://community.kingarthurflour.com/content/ricotta-cookies
Just made these with my son as our “Santa” cookies this year. So easy and these may be the best cookies I’ve ever made. Thanks so much for the recipe!
You’re very welcome Mary – and thank you for taking the time to write to us! We’re very glad you enjoyed the recipe and I hope Santa does too!