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Italian Ricotta Cookies — Soft, Fluffy & Melt-in-Your-Mouth Italian Bakery Style

These Italian Ricotta Cookies are incredibly soft, tender, and cake-like with a buttery vanilla flavor that melts in your mouth. Ricotta cheese is the secret ingredient — it makes these cookies moist and pillowy without being heavy. The classic glaze on top adds just the right amount of sweetness and creates that beautiful bakery-style finish. These cookies are often made for Christmas, Easter, weddings, family gatherings, and holidays in Italian homes — but they’re delicious enough to enjoy anytime. They pair beautifully with coffee, tea, or a cozy evening treat. If you love soft cookies that taste comforting, nostalgic, and gently sweet, this is the recipe you’ll keep forever.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
bake time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter softened (1 cup)
  • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 container ricotta cheese 15 oz / ~425g
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
Glaze
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 3 –4 tablespoons milk adjust as needed
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: sprinkles for topping (holiday colors, rainbow, or pastel)

✨ Kitchen Essentials You’ll Love

Quick picks I trust for better results, faster prep, and easier cleanup.

  • 🍳

    Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

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  • ⚡

    Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric

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  • 🔥

    CHEFMAN Digital Air Fryer XL 10L

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Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Spatula
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack

Method
 

Step 1: Preheat & Prep
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2: Cream the Butter & Sugar
  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar for 2–3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Step 3: Add Ricotta & Eggs
  1. Add ricotta cheese and mix until creamy.
  2. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
  3. Mix until smooth.
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients
  1. In another bowl, whisk together:
  2. flour
  3. baking powder
  4. baking soda
Step 5: Combine
  1. Gradually add dry ingredients into wet ingredients.
  2. Mix on low until just combined — do not overmix.
  3. Dough will be soft and slightly sticky — that’s perfect.
Step 6: Scoop & Bake
  1. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet.
  2. Bake 10–13 minutes, until edges are set but tops remain pale and soft.
  3. Cool on the baking sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
🧊 Make the Glaze (while cookies cool)
  1. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
  2. Dip the tops of cooled cookies into the glaze.
  3. Add sprinkles immediately before glaze sets.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Keep in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Store in the fridge for extra freshness and softness.
Freeze baked cookies (glazed or unglazed) up to 3 months.
🥄 Variations
Lemon Ricotta Cookies:
Replace almond extract with lemon extract + zest of 1 lemon.
Orange Glaze:
Add 1 tablespoon orange juice + zest to the glaze.
Holiday Sprinkle Topping:
Use red & green or spring pastel sprinkles for themed cookies.
Almond Sugar Finish:
Add finely chopped almonds on top before glaze sets.
Vanilla Bean Bakery Version:
Use vanilla bean paste instead of extract for deeper flavor.
❓ 10 FAQs
Do I need to drain the ricotta?
No — use as is.
Can I use part-skim ricotta?
Yes — but full-fat gives the softest texture.
Why are my cookies flat?
Butter may have been too warm — chill dough 10 minutes before baking.
Can I skip almond extract?
Yes — they will still taste delicious with vanilla only.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes — freeze scooped dough balls up to 3 months.
Why keep the tops pale?
Pale tops = soft, tender, moist bakery-style texture.
Can I glaze them later?
Yes — glaze after thawing or cooling completely.
Can I make them gluten-free?
Yes — use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Why are my cookies sticky?
Ricotta makes the dough soft — this is normal and correct.
Are these good for gifting?
Yes — they stay soft and fresh longer than most cookies.
🏁 Conclusion
These Italian Ricotta Cookies are light, soft, tender, sweet, and full of cozy flavor. They’re classic, comforting, and perfect for holidays and celebrations — but easy enough to bake on any day you crave something soft and homemade.
Fluffy. Sweet. Cloud-soft.
A cookie everyone loves.