Description
These Orange Cranberry Ricotta Cookies are a soft, citrus-infused treat that bursts with bright orange zest and chewy dried cranberries. The ricotta cheese makes them wonderfully tender, while the sweet orange glaze adds an extra pop of flavor. Perfect for holiday baking or anytime you need a sweet, zesty snack, these cookies are guaranteed to disappear quickly!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Ricotta and Egg: Mix in the ricotta cheese, egg, vanilla extract, and orange zest until smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the ricotta mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in the dried cranberries.
- Scoop the Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked, but they’ll firm up as they cool.
- Prepare the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and fresh orange juice until smooth.
- Glaze the Cookies: Once the cookies are fully cooled, drizzle the orange glaze over the top.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the dough to keep the cookies soft and tender.
- You can chill the dough for 30 minutes if you prefer a firmer cookie.
- Store unglazed cookies in the freezer for up to 3 months. Glaze after thawing for best results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
