Italian Almond Ricotta Cookies are easy to make and perfect for every occasion. Made with ricotta cheese, almond extract, and topped with a delicious glaze, this is sure to be your new favorite Italian cookie recipe.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Thank you for this great recipe. This is one of the best cookie recipes I have ever tried. Very easy to follow and came out great. To keep the cookies on the soft/chewy side, I took them out just a little bit early which worked best.
It’s no secret that Italians love to cook with ricotta cheese. And for good reason! This delicious mild cheese adds a soft and velvety texture to everything you make with it.
These Italian Almond Ricotta cookies are a great recipe to try if you are just starting to bake with ricotta. The cheese adds both moisture and texture to the cookie, giving them a super soft finish.
Almond Ricotta Cookies are great for any occasion. They are perfect for the holidays, but just as good served after dinner. I like to have some on hand in the freezer for snacking or for last minute guests.
What I love about these cookies is that they stay soft and flavorful even days after baking. I recommend storing the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or you can freeze for up to a month.
For another classic Italian cookie, don’t miss these Anise Cookies or Italian Wedding Cookies! And, for a simple three ingredient cake, try this Italian Walnut Cake recipe.
Baking with Ricotta
Italians love to bake with ricotta cheese. It gives baked goods a moist and fluffy texture, without adding a lot of extra fat. Here are some of my favorite ricotta baking recipes.
Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake is hands down a fan favorite recipe. This simple cake is made with lemons, ricotta, and a few pantry staples. Perfect for entertaining or just to have around for snacking.
Limoncello Ricotta Cookies are another fun ricotta cookie. This fluffy confection is perfect for cookie exchanges or if you are just looking for a slightly more grown up cookie.
Almond Ricotta Cake is another delicious Italian dessert. Perfect if you love that almond flavor, there are pieces of ground almonds sprinkled throughout.
There are many different recipes you can make with ricotta cheese. For baking purposes, you want to make sure that you are using whole milk ricotta cheese. Also, if using ricotta for a cake, be sure to beat the ricotta with a handheld mixer until it is light and fluffy.
And, if you’re baking for the holidays, be sure to add these Cinnamon Sugar Blondies to your list! And definitely don’t forget the Pumpkin Biscotti.
Italian Almond Ricotta Cookies
This simple recipe for Italian Almond Ricotta Cookies is sure to become your new favorite cookie recipe. Plus, it’s simple to put together and yields about three dozen cookies… perfect for sharing!
To start, you want to make sure that you have enough time to chill the dough before baking it. I recommend refrigerating for at least two hours. You could even make the dough up to a day in advance before baking. In a pinch, you could bake without chilling the dough. For this, I would recommend using a small cookie scoop sprayed with cooking spray to handle the sticky dough.
When baking, be sure to leave about 2-3 inches of space between each dough ball. Note that the baked cookies will not change much in color. Bake for about 12-14 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies are set and a slightly golden brown color.
Once the cookies have cooled completely, you can add the glaze to the tops of the cookies. Additionally, you could bake ahead of time, refrigerate, and glaze before serving.
Simple Almond Cookie Glaze
The glaze for these Italian Almond Ricotta Cookies is super simple and only requires three ingredients: powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract. Moreover, you only need to flip and dip the cookie to glaze it.
Lastly, if desired, top the finished cookie with sliced almonds for a pretty finish. Or you can use crushed or slivered almonds if you have them. And, for another delicious Italian Cookie with a simple glaze, don’t miss my Taralli Dolci recipe!
Hope you love this recipe. Be sure to comment below if you try it. Enjoy!
Almond Ricotta Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened (one stick)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Almond Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- sliced almonds for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Line a baking pan with a baking mat or parchment paper; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium/high to cream together the sugar and butter, until mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the ricotta, egg, and one teaspoon of almond extract, and mix until combined. Add in the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
- Cover the cookie dough and chill in the refigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove cookie dough from refigerator and use a cookie scoop to measure out about a tablespoon of batter and roll into a ball. Place on prepared baking sheets leaving about 2 inches between cookie balls.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the bottom of the cookie starts to brown slightly. Note that the cookies will not change color much. Cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the glaze, in a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and ½ teaspoon of almond extract. Hold the cooled cookie upside down and dip the top of the cookie in the glaze. Return to the wire rack to dry completely. Sprinkle with sliced almonds if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
I loved this recipe for its simplicity and affordability. I made the lemon cookies and they turned out great. I am making the almond flavored batter now but would like to know if I could dip in chocolate.
Chocolate would be amazing!
Wow. Can’t wait to make them. They look like the Italian Sponge drop cookies I have made for over 50 yrs. Recipe came from an Italian friend’s mother, which came from an old Italian recipe well over 60 yrs. Now I will also add these to bake in addition bc of the almond flavoring and ricotta. Soooo good 😊
I made these and everyone loved them
I made these cookies and they are so delicious ❤️
Hello Does the cookies have to be refrigerated after baked because of the ricotta? Thank you
Yes. I would recommend refrigerating in an airtight container, or you can freeze them. Enjoy!
Can almond flour be substituted in this recipe for celiac child
Almond flour will give you a denser cookie. I would recommend substituting the regular flour for a gluten-free version. I like the King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten free flour, or Bob’s Red Mills makes a great 1 for 1 gluten free flour as well.
Thank you for this great recipe. This is one of the best cookie recipes I have ever tried. Very easy to follow and came out great. To keep the cookies on the soft/chewy side, I took them out just a little bit early which worked best.
I’m so happy you loved them! They are one of my favorite cookies. Happy holidays!
i love it
Thanks! They are one of my absolute favorite cookies 🙂
It looks delicious I loved it Thanks for sharing
Mine look just like that, except I have thicker frosting. IMG_0930.jpg
These were so good!! Everyone at my house loved it!
this looks so tempting..and so easy to make
I love ricotta cheese. My husband usually doesn’t. I didn’t tell him what was in these until after he tried one and he couldn’t believe it! The cookies stay so soft.
Yeah! So happy you both loved them!
Oh how I miss ricotta! So fluffy and dreamy, what a decadent use for this ingredient. These cookies look lovely!
These cookies really do come out super soft and lovely. The glaze is so good.