Ricotta Cookies For Easter Food

ITALIAN RICOTTA COOKIES

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer, cream 2 sticks butter with sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add ricotta, lemon zest and 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and beat well. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula, then beat in flour, baking soda and salt. Cover dough and chill for at least 2 hours and up to a week.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees and line several cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick liners. Shape tablespoons of dough into balls. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets and bake until pale golden on the bottom, about 15 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.
• Melt remaining tablespoon butter. Whisk confectioners' sugar to break up any large lumps, then whisk in melted butter, lemon juice, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and enough milk to make a spreadable icing. Spread icing on cooled cookies, then let set for at least 20 minutes before serving.

RICOTTA COOKIES II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, cream together butter, sugar, eggs, ricotta cheese, and vanilla extract. Combine the flour, baking powder, and baking soda; blend into the creamed mixture, mixing in additional flour as necessary to form a workable dough. Roll dough into teaspoon-sized balls, and arrange on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned.
• In a medium bowl, beat milk, confectioners' sugar, and almond extract until smooth. Spoon over warm cookies, and sprinkle with colored candy sprinkles.

LEMON RICOTTA COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer), add the granulated sugar, butter and brown sugar. Mix on medium speed until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the honey and continue mixing for 30 seconds more to combine. Turn the machine off and add the eggs individually, mixing on low after each addition. Add the ricotta, almond extract and lemon juice and mix on medium-low speed for about 2 minutes more. The dough should look slightly granular but free of lumps.
• Add half of the sifted dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the remainder of the dry ingredients. Mix one last time on low speed until all of the ingredients are combined and the dough is fluffy.
• Scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet by heaping tablespoons, making sure to leave space in between each cookie, as they will spread while baking. Sprinkle the chopped lemon peel and raw sugar over the cookies.
• Bake until light golden on the bottom edges, about 15 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before moving to a cooling rack. Repeat this process until all of the dough is baked. Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container.

LEMON-RICOTTA COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat ricotta, sugar, egg, vanilla, and lemon zest in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually beat in flour and baking powder; mix until well combined.
• Use a small 1 1/2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop up dough and form into a ball with floured hands. Roll the ball of dough into a rope, approximately 7 inches long, on a very lightly floured surface. Shape the rope into a ribbon and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, arranging 9 cookies per baking sheet. Sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 15 to 16 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks and cool completely.

RICOTTA CHEESE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar and margarine or butter until blended.
• Increase speed to high; beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• At medium speed, beat in ricotta, vanilla, and eggs until well combined.
• Reduce speed to low.
• Add flour, baking powder, and salt; beat until dough forms.
• Drop dough by level tablespoons, about 2 inches apart,onto ungreased large cookie sheet.
• Bake about 15 minutes or until cookies are very lightly golden (cookies will be soft).
• With pancake turner, remove cookies to wire rack to cool.
• Repeat with remaining dough.
• When cookies are cool, prepare icing: In small bowl, stir confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth.
• With small metal spatula or knife, spread icing on cookies; sprinkle with red or green sugar crystals.
• Set cookies aside to allow icing to dry completely, about 1 hour.

RICOTTA CHEESE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large bow, with the mixer a low speed, beat the sugar and butter until combined. Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Reduce speed to medium and beat in the ricotta, vanilla and eggs.
• Reduce speed to low. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat until dough forms.
• Drop dough by level tablespoons, about 2 inches apart; onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 15 minutes or until cookies are very lightly golden (cookies will be soft). With spatula, remove cookies to wire rack to cool.
• When cookies are cool, prepare icing. In small bowl, stir confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. With small spreader, spread icing on cookies; place a candied cherry piece on top of each cookie or sprinkle with colored sugar or candy sprinkles.