Description
These Orange Cranberry Ricotta Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring a tender texture from ricotta cheese, bright citrus notes from fresh orange zest and juice, and a burst of tartness from dried cranberries. Perfectly soft and lightly sweet, they make a festive addition to any cookie tray or holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (whole milk or part-skim)
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Additional
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure cookies don’t stick and bake evenly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, which helps create tender cookies.
- Add Egg and Ricotta: Beat in the egg and ricotta cheese until well combined, lending moisture and richness to the dough. Stir in the grated orange zest and fresh orange juice for bright citrus flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined, careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
- Fold in Cranberries: Gently fold in the dried cranberries for bursts of tart sweetness throughout the cookies.
- Form Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them adequately to allow spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack.
- Optional Dusting: Once cooled, dust the cookies with powdered sugar if desired for an extra touch of sweetness and festive appearance.
Notes
- Use whole milk or part-skim ricotta cheese depending on preference; whole milk ricotta will yield a richer cookie.
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Orange zest can be substituted with lemon zest for a different citrus twist.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
