Lemon Ricotta Cookies

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 01/14/23
Lemon Ricotta Cookies

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Cool/Set: 60 mins
Total: 105 mins
Servings: 48 servings
Yield: 48 cookies

These bright and flavorful lemon ricotta cookies are the perfect ending to an Italian meal or accompaniment for afternoon tea. They are light and delicate but also so satisfying. Adding ricotta cheese to the cookie dough ensures that they stay soft and fluffy.

The lemon flavor comes from freshly grated lemon zest and lemon juice in both the cookies as well as the glaze. For best results, use organic or home-grown lemons, since they won't have a waxy coating on the peel. The addition of a dash of lemon extract takes the citrus flavor to the next level.

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta

  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest

  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

For the Glaze:

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Lemon Ricotta Cookies ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. Preheat oven to 375 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

  3. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

    Lemon Ricotta Cookies dry ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy.

    Butter and sugar in a mixing bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Add eggs, one at a time, until incorporated.

    Egg added to the butter and sugar mixture

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Add ricotta cheese, lemon juice, zest, and extract. Stir to combine.

    Ricotta cheese and lemon added to the mixing bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  7. Add flour mixture and stir to combine.

    Dry ingredients added to wet ingredients in mixing bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  8. Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes or until slightly golden at the edges.

    Lemon Ricotta Cookies ready to be baked

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  9. Remove from oven and allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

    Lemon Ricotta Cookies on cooking rack

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  10. Meanwhile, prepare glaze. In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir until smooth.

    Glaze ingredients in a bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  11. Spoon some of the glaze over each cookie, spreading to edges and allowing to drip down sides.

    Lemon Ricotta Cookies on cooling rack with glaze on the side

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  12. Allow the glaze to harden and set at room temperature for at least an hour before serving.

    Lemon Ricotta Cookies

    Kristina Vanni

Tips

This recipe calls for lemon zest and lemon juice in both the cookies and the glaze. When working with whole lemons, here are a few tips:


  • Always zest the lemons before juicing them.
  • Choose a lemon with unblemished skin. Lemons with thicker skins tend to be easier to zest than those with thin skins.
  • Rinse the lemon well with water and dry it with a paper towel before zesting.
  • Be careful not to get the pith, or white portion of the lemon, with your yellow peel as you zest. The white portion is very bitter.
  • Use a small, fine zester such as a Microplane.

Recipe Variations

If you don't have a fresh lemon on hand, there are a few options for lemon zest substitute. Try:

  • Lemon extract
  • Lemon juice
  • Dried lemon peel
  • The zest of another citrus fruit
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
105 Calories
3g Fat
17g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 48
Amount per serving
Calories 105
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 17mg 6%
Sodium 48mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 23mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)