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Lemon Ricotta Cookies Recipe
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Italian Lemon Ricotta Cookies Recipe - Italian Christmas Cookies

A super easy Italian ricotta cookies recipe made with olive oil (no butter) and whole milk ricotta cheese. Crispy on the bottom and fluffy in the center with a decadent lemon glaze and poppy seeds sprinkle.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Italian cookies, lemon ricotta cookies, ricotta cookies
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings 25 cookies
Calories 227kcal
Author Florentina

Ingredients

for the lemon glaze

  • 1 large lemon juiced and zested
  • 2 cups Powder sugar + more as needed

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375"F .
  • In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and sea salt. Set aside.
  • In a separate bowl whisk together the egg with the sugar, vanilla extract and olive oil until creamy. Add the ricotta cheese and whisk together until incorporated. Whisk in the juice and zest from 1 lemon then pour all the wet ingredients on top of the flour mixture.
  • Using a spatula fold the wet mixture into the dry until combined.
  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and using two spoons drop the cookie dough by spoonful on the sheet leaving about 1 1/2 inch space in between.
  • Bake the ricotta cookies in the preheated oven for about 17 to 20 minutes until golden brown around the edges.
  • Using a small cookie spatula transfer them to a cooling rack.
  • Once the ricotta cookies have cooled off completely, make your lemon glaze by whisking together the juice from 1 lemon with the powder sugar. Add more powder sugar if needed, until desired consistency is achieved.
  • Using a small spoon add some of the glaze to each ricotta cookie and sprinkle with the reserved lemon zest and poppy seeds.
  • Allow to glaze to set for about 45 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Cookie Variations
  • Sweet glaze of 2 cups powdered sugar + 3 Tbsp milk and sprinkle with coconut flakes.
  • Make orange icing + orange zest instead of lemon.
  • Replace the vanilla extract with anise or almond extract and sprinkle with slivered almonds.
  • Dress them for Christmas with dried cranberries and chopped pistachio nuts.
  • Add 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips to the batter and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
  • Replace the poppy seeds with Christmas sprinkles or any special occasion sprinkles.

Nutrition

Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 101IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg