Last Updated on June 22, 2024 by Lisa Keys
The best Italian Cookie
Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Remember this sing-song rhyme? Bakers with kids know it well. It's sweet and fun just like my all time favorite Italian cookie which just happens to make the perfect dessert bite for an Easter or Mother's Day celebration.
Made with ricotta cheese these cookies are soft and cake-like. They absolutely melt in the mouth. Recently, I made them for a bridal shower. I had many requests for the recipe which brings me to their decorating versatility. They can be dressed up for any occasion and so not limited to Easter or Christmas when typically eaten in my family.
The cookies featured here are dressed for Easter, but add a little gel color to the icing and/or make a topping change and they can easily be featured at a baby shower or Mother's Day brunch. Don't hesitate to change up the flavoring, too. Any extract or citrus zest will play well.
So who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?
The ones with the sprinkles on top!
Annabelle stole the cookie from the cookie jar. Nice breakfast, huh? Grandma's privilege.
Italian Ricotta Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla or coconut extract
- 2 teaspoons buttermilk or lime juice
Toppings
- Sprinkles, coconut, finely chopped nuts
Instructions
- Heat oven 350F.
- In large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light. Add ricotta and zest; blend well. Add egg, vanilla and extract; blend again.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt; add to dry ingredients and blend well.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes. Drop cookie batter by tablespoonfuls or use a cookie scoop.
- Bake 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown. The cookies will look pale on top.
- Cool.
- For icing, mash powdered sugar, butter and salt together with the back of a spoon until butter is well incorporated into the sugar.
- Add flavoring and just enough buttermilk or lime juice to get a light icing consistency…more of a glaze than a thick icing.
- One at a time, dip top of cooled cookies into icing, letting excess drip off, and then immediately dip into one of the toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Daryl
How can u ever say no to that beautiful face ❤️
Lisa
Luckily she is a very good eater of all things healthy too so little indulgences are okay
Carol
I love Italian cookies, my mom used to make them all the time. Love the lime zest and coconut extract combo! BTW, that Annabelle gets cuter every day!
Lisa
And Annabelle has a sweet personality to go with her cuteness. Hoping you can meet her soon in person. My Aunt Jo used to make a version with cream cheese but that one is a guarded Matino secret held by her children. Some day I hope they will share it with me. I guess like meatballs every family has a different recipe.
Margaret Papa
These look delicious! I’d like to make them for Easter. My family isn’t big on coconut...can I sub that extract for vanilla or almond?
Lisa
Oh yes please substitute the extract for any other flavor you like. With almond extract I’d probably add 1/2 teaspoon
athomewrebecka
I’ve heard ice cream and cookies can be very nutritious for breakfast! Love Annabelles happy face eating that cookie! Grandmas privilege rules
Lisa
Make those cookies from whole grains and Ice cream and cookies cover 2 food groups! LOL
Maureen
Look delicious! I think you meant 2 sticks of butter?
Lisa
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick) thanks for catching my error. I have updated it
Helen Fields
Sweet little cookie thief you've got there!
Lisa
She has stolen my heart for sure
thegsandwich
These look really great. Going to make them for Easter. Tell me she didn't just steal one?
Lisa
By the end of the weekend she ate quite a few. I hope you like the recipe, so kind of you to try it.
thegsandwich
Can't wait. Going to make with gluten-free flour for a test drive.
Dawn E. Lowenstein
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I hope to try this recipe sometime!
Lisa
Thanks for visiting my blog today and for commenting. I hope you do try my recipe.
Dawn E. Lowenstein
I will try the recipe sometime!