Description
Delightful Orange Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies blend Italian charm with citrusy zest. Mediterranean-inspired sweetness melts on your palate, offering a perfect companion to afternoon espresso or morning coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Sweeteners and Flavoring:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finishing and Decoration:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- Zest from 1 orange
Instructions
- Calibrate oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and arrange parchment paper across baking trays to prevent sticking.
- Combine all dry components including all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cardamom, and poppy seeds in a medium mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution.
- Massage granulated sugar and fresh orange zest together using fingertips, releasing aromatic oils and creating an intensely fragrant mixture.
- Integrate room-temperature unsalted butter into sugar mixture, whipping until light and voluminous with a creamy texture.
- Incorporate large eggs individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition to maintain smooth consistency.
- Introduce freshly squeezed orange juice, pure vanilla extract, and creamy ricotta cheese, blending until ingredients are completely unified.
- Gradually fold dry ingredient mixture into wet ingredients, stirring gently until a soft, slightly tacky dough forms without overmixing.
- Portion two tablespoons (30 milliliters) of dough for each cookie, spacing evenly on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake cookies for 16-18 minutes, monitoring until edges transform to a delicate golden hue and surfaces appear set.
- Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, facilitating initial cooling and structural stabilization.
- Transfer cookies to wire cooling rack, permitting complete temperature reduction.
- Craft glaze by whisking powdered sugar with fresh orange juice and zest until achieving a silky, pourable consistency.
- Drizzle or spread glaze over completely cooled cookies, allowing coating to solidify before serving.
Notes
- Zesty orange and nutty poppy seeds transform classic ricotta cookies into a bright, irresistible treat.
- Perfect for brunch gatherings, afternoon tea, or gifting to friends who appreciate delicate, sophisticated desserts.
- Soft, pillowy texture comes from ricotta cheese, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience that’s both tender and light.
- Cardamom adds a subtle warmth and complexity, elevating these cookies from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze glazed cookies between parchment layers for longer preservation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 54g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: <1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg