Description
Delightful orange cranberry ricotta cookies blend Italian tradition with festive zest. Sweet, tangy morsels transport you to a winter kitchen filled with warmth and joy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240g / 8.5 oz) ricotta cheese (whole milk or part-skim)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (113g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250g / 8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g / 7 oz) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (120g / 4.2 oz) dried cranberries
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- zest of 1 orange
- 2 tbsps fresh orange juice
- 1 cup (120g / 4.2 oz) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps fresh orange juice
- optional: additional orange zest for garnish
Instructions
- Preparation: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg, ricotta, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and homogeneous.
- Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, eliminating any potential lumps.
- Dough Formation: Gently incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture. Fold in dried cranberries, ensuring even distribution without overmixing.
- Chilling: Encase dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavor melding and structural integrity.
- Baking Setup: Warm oven to 350F (175C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Portioning and Baking: Scoop dough into rounded mounds, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake 12-15 minutes until edges turn golden and surfaces stabilize.
- Cooling Process: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
- Glaze Creation: Whisk powdered sugar and orange juice to create a smooth, pourable glaze.
- Finishing Touch: Once cookies are completely cool, drizzle glaze generously. Optionally garnish with additional orange zest for enhanced citrus profile.
- Serving: Let glaze set entirely before presenting these delightful orange cranberry ricotta cookies.
Notes
- Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and enhance flavor development, ensuring compact, perfectly shaped cookies.
- Control Moisture Balance: Use fresh ricotta cheese and pat dry with paper towels to prevent excess liquid that could compromise cookie texture and consistency.
- Handle Cranberries Carefully: Lightly dust dried cranberries with flour before adding to dough to prevent sinking and ensure even distribution throughout cookies.
- Glaze with Precision: Allow cookies to cool completely before applying orange glaze, which prevents soaking and maintains the ideal crisp-soft texture of the delicate cookie base.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg