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A close-up view of a pale, round Italian Almond Ricotta Cookie, showing its soft, cakey texture, topped with toasted almonds and powdered sugar. (Italian Almond Ricotta Cookies)

The Ultimate Italian Almond Ricotta Cookies: A Lesson in Softness

Discover the secret to incredibly soft, cake-like Italian Almond Ricotta Cookies. This recipe guides you to creating tender, pillowy cookies topped with toasted almonds and a dusting of powdered sugar.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 120

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 2.5 cups (300g) All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 0.5 cup (113g) Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup (200g) Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup (240g) Whole-Milk Ricotta Cheese at room temperature
  • 1 Large Egg at room temperature
  • 1 tsp Almond Extract
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 0.25 cup (25g) Sliced Almonds for topping
  • 0.25 cup (30g) Powdered Sugar for dusting

Equipment

  • 1 Electric mixer (stand or handheld)
  • 2 Baking Sheets Lined with parchment paper
  • 1 Cookie Scoop 1.5 Tablespoon size
  • 1 Wire cooling rack

Instructions
 

Main Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
  2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light, pale, and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add the egg, ricotta cheese, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  4. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing only until the flour is no longer visible. Do not overmix.
  5. Using a 1.5-tablespoon cookie scoop, drop rounded dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Gently press a few sliced almonds onto the top of each cookie.
  6. Bake for 13-15 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through, until the bottoms are lightly golden and the tops are pale and puffed. They will appear soft.
  7. Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

Use Full-Fat, Whole-Milk Ricotta: This is non-negotiable for achieving the correct moisture and texture.
Don't Overmix the Dough: Once you add the flour, mix only until it disappears.
Room Temperature Ingredients are Key: Ensure your butter, egg, and ricotta are at room temperature for a fluffier result.
Cool Completely Before Dusting: Wait until cookies are 100% cool to get a beautiful, snowy coating.
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