Soft Ricotta Cookies

Preparing soft ricotta cookies is fairly simple and is a sweet tradition with various interpretations in Italian kitchens. Here’s what you need and how to proceed:

Ingredients

• 250 grams of ricotta
• 100 grams of sugar
• 1 egg
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (for a citrusy touch)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (to add flavor)
• 300 grams of type 00 flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder for sweets
• A pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar for decorating (optional)

Preparation

1. In a bowl, start by mixing the ricotta with the sugar until you get a smooth mixture.
2. Add the egg, grated lemon zest, and vanilla extract, and mix well until everything is well combined.
3. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and pinch of salt.
4. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the ricotta mixture, working the dough until it is homogeneous; avoid working the dough too much, otherwise the cookies could harden.
5. Take small portions of dough and form balls, which you will place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 15-18 minutes, until the cookies are lightly golden.
7. Let the cookies cool on the tray for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. If desired, once cooled, you can sprinkle them with powdered sugar.

These cookies are soft and slightly moist thanks to the presence of ricotta. Plus, they are versatile: you can add chocolate chips, chopped dried fruit, or different flavors to personalize the recipe to your liking.

Curiosity

Ricotta is a very appreciated ingredient in Italian pastry for its ability to make desserts light and moist. Not by chance, it is used in a variety of preparations, from spoon desserts to fillings for cakes and tarts.