Description
Orange Cranberry Ricotta Cookies are a soft, festive holiday treat combining the creamy richness of ricotta cheese with zesty orange and tart cranberries. These delicate cookies are topped with a sweet orange glaze, making them perfect for Christmas celebrations or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (whole milk)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Add-ins
- ¾ cup dried cranberries, chopped if large
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together using a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, which takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Ricotta: Beat in the egg until fully incorporated. Then add ricotta cheese, vanilla extract, and orange zest, mixing continuously until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, stirring gently to avoid overmixing. Mix until just combined to keep the cookies tender.
- Fold in Cranberries: Fold the dried cranberries into the dough evenly distributing them throughout.
- Shape Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12–14 minutes, or until the edges are just golden and the centers appear set but still soft.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature.
- Prepare Glaze: While the cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar, fresh orange juice, and orange zest in a small bowl until smooth and pourable.
- Glaze Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, drizzle the orange glaze over each cookie with a spoon. Allow the glaze to set before serving or storing.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
- These cookies freeze well; thaw completely before glazing for best results.
- For a softer texture, avoid overbaking and remove cookies while centers are still slightly soft.
