These Lemon Ricotta Cookies are soft and tender and filled with the perfect lemon flavor. They are topped with a sweet lemon glaze with just the right amount of tartness.
Love lemon? Also check out these Lemon Muffins, (also made with ricotta!), my Lemon Meringue Pie, or these Lemon Bars.
Before I started really wanting to try out new ingredients or recipes, I probably would have told you that ricotta only goes in lasagna. Now I am learning that it is good in so much more. One of my favorite things I’ve made were these Ricotta Doughnuts, and now I’m adding a ricotta cookie to my favorites list! (Also check out these Ricotta Cookies with Chocolate and Orange!)
These are definitely more of a cake like cookie, but they are so delicious and full of lemon flavor. Don’t skip out on making the lemon glaze, because it is really what makes these cookies. Without it, they are nothing spectacular, but that little bit of glaze gives them a very sweet/tart flavor. Luckily I’m giving most of them away – otherwise I could probably eat the whole batch myself!
How to Make Lemon Ricotta Cookies
- Combine the dry ingredients – the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine the butter and sugar and beat them together until the mixture is light. Don’t skip out on this, you’ll need to beat it for about 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the ricotta, lemon juice and lemon zest. Then stir in the mixture of dry ingredients.
- Scoop the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I find it’s easiest to do with a cookie scoop.
- Bake the cookies just until the edges start to brown, then take them from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for another 10 minutes.
- When they are cool, you can glaze the cookies. Make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice.
- To glaze the cookies, add only about 1/2 teaspoon of the glaze to the top of each cookie, then use the back of a spoon to gently spread the glaze. A little goes a long way!
- Let the cookies sit for about 2 hours to let the glaze harden.
Tips and Tricks
- For best results, use whole milk ricotta. Part skim will work, though.
- These cookies will freeze well, but I’d suggest freezing without the glaze, then adding the glaze the day you are going to serve them. To freeze, place the cookies on a baking sheet and freeze in a single layer. You can then transfer them to a freezer safe container. If not freezing in a single layer, place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper between layers. Thaw the cookies overnight in the refrigerator, or you can place them on a counter at room temperature if you need them sooner.
- Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container. They should be good for 4-5 days.
Even More Lemon Desserts
Lemon Ice Cream
Lemon Cheesecake
Lemon Cream Pie
Lemon Curd
Lemon Cupcakes
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Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 48 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
These Lemon Ricotta Cookies are soft and tender and filled with the perfect lemon flavor. They are topped with a sweet lemon glaze with just the right amount of tartness.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
For the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir in the dry ingredients.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 1 tablespoon for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
For the glaze:
- Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harder for about 2 hours.
Recipe Notes:
Slightly adapted from: Giada’s Kitchen
SUBSTITUTIONS: I have used part skim ricotta with good results. You can also make these lime instead of lemon.
FREEZE: You can freeze these cookies after baking, but I would wait to add the glaze until you are ready to serve them.
STORE: Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container.
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 106
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 69 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 17 mg
Keywords: Lemon ricotta cookies, lemon glaze for cookies
Cookie says
Easy to make and yummy flovor!!
★★★★★
Stephanie P Tidwell says
I love this recipe. Last time, I replaced the lemon juice in the glaze with blueberries, added a little more zest to retain lemon flavor, and topped them with a single blueberry each to make it look a little more festive. Came out great.
★★★★★
Natalie says
Dayyyymmmmm!!!! Just made them….didn’t wanna waste a big tub of ricotta!! Woohoo!! I had ONE……thank goodness they’re getting packed up in the morning and being sent to work with hubby.I WILL eat too many of these if they stay in the house!!
munmun says
Hey! do you think you can help me with a sugarfee varient for this one! my mom is really fond of lemon flavoured confectionaries but can’t consume sugar. i really want to make this oe for her!
Deborah says
Unfortunately, I’m not very familiar with sugar free options or converting to sugar free. I’m sorry!
toby hyman says
I followed the recipe and I thought they were awful.I love lemon and love ricotta so I don’t know what happen but really not good.
Deborah says
I’m so sorry you didn’t love them. Hopefully the next one will work out better!
Vickie says
These cookies are yummie I made them from a mix I got from target. Sad to say they don’t have it anymore so I have to make them from scratch. I find another recipe that is almost the same but not lemon it also is yummie everyone loves them
Nutmeg Nanny says
Oh god, I bet these taste like heaven 🙂 I love these cookies!!
Chels R. says
So bright and cheerful! I need to go buy some lemons now 😉
dina says
they look heavenly!
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says
These look heavenly. Isn’t it amazing what ricotta can do for baked goods? I am completely craving these cookies!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I’m obsessed with Meyer lemons, these cookies are so pretty!
Deborah @ Delicious Happens says
I’m making these today!! I love lemon ricotta pancakes…so I know I’ll love these cookies!!
tanya says
I love, love, love Ricotta cookies. This lemon version is beautiful.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
These cookies look sooooo melt-in-your-mouth!! Lovely!!
Nama says
I made these, and they were so delicious and moist! This recipe is definitely a keeper.
Kevin says
Ricotta cookies sound good and lemon ricotta cookies sound great!
Rosie says
Ooooooh what delights to the eye your cookies are Debs!! Lemon flavours running through my mouth is watering.
Rosie x
Mary says
little lemon cakes? Yummy!
I’ve been putting my ricotta on pasta.
Peabody says
Ricotta in cookies…never had but seems like a fabulous idea.
[eatingclub] vancouver || js says
Ooh, I love these little morsels of love. Lemon-ricotta: YES!
Half Baked says
Yumm looks delicious!
glamah16 says
Perfect cookies. Love the addition of Ricotta.
Sandy says
i love lemon, it’s my all-time favorite! ♥
Cynthia says
To use a favourite Giada phrase: these look elegant. 😀
Aimée says
You would be very welcome at my cookies swap next week if you brought a few dozen of these!
Grace says
my ricotta usage has been limited to lasagna and pancakes, but you’d better believe cookies will now be added to that list. 🙂
Mary says
I love lemon anything. I’ll have to try these soon.
Clumbsy Cookie says
They look very delicate. Very nice!
Dawn says
I’ve made these too and that icing is so tart, but so addictive, you know?
Glad you like these. I love how ricotta is becoming more and more versatile.
Melissa says
Wow! These look soo yummy!
RecipeGirl says
Hi Deborah, These look great. I made something similar as a Christmas cookie last year… I think it had a Meyer Lemon icing.
Oh yeah, and it’s your lucky day! You’ve won the Gourmet Giveaway on my blog… come see for details, and send your address along to me via the contact form on my site. Congrats!!
Maryann says
Deb…AWESOME!
Kim says
I am a fan of ricotta, often making a bowl of it with a little flavoring and sugar-eating it as a dessert. These are cute cookies, that look like they would go great with a cup of tea. Thanks for the recipe.
Katie says
I’m a recent finder of ricotta and love it. Would never have thought you could put it in cookies though – they look fab!
Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer says
What a great recipe I would have never thought to add ricotta to a cookie recipe – Thanks for this one as lemon is a big hit in this house so I know this cookie will be a winner!!
Emily says
Oh these sound so good. I’ve never tried ricotta in a cookie before.
I’m sorry, I meant, r-eee-caaahhhta.
That was supposed to sound like Giada. I don’t know if I pulled it off.
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
Oh, those are delightful little cookies! Really delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Maria says
Oh wow, these look so delicious!! I’m definitely book-marking these to make.
Maria
x
Abby says
I didn’t know about the joys of ricotta beyond savory until I met food blogs!
These are so cute!
Sarah says
just printed off this recipe…i can’t resist a lemon cookie! they look awesome and i am sure will end up on my blog soon…thanks! 🙂
Ingrid says
I love ricotta cheese! I can eat it just like that. At home I usually put a big scoop of it on the side of any tomato based pasta dish I am eating. I love how it cuts the acidity of the tomatoes.
I’d love me a dozen of those cookies. Yum, lemon AND ricotta AND a glaze!
~ingrid
Carla says
I’m glad you posted this, I have some ricotta leftover from another recipe and was wondering what I would do with it. I wonder how much it would throw the recipe off if I were a couple ounces shy? Maybe I could substitute yogurt or something. Bet I could…hmmm…. Yeah, I need these. I’m having a bad day, lol.
Esi says
I love this recipe! Soo good and the the glaze is really delicious.
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
Those looks really good! I can appreciate a cake-y cookie! 🙂
sunita says
Deb, those cookies look fantastic…I love ricotta in bakes.
Chocolate Shavings says
I love ricotta in sweet dishes. Those cookies sounds great Deborah!
Happy cook says
These cookies look delicious, would love to have with a cup of tea. I made once a cake with ricotta and they were yumm and was really surprised about it.
Paula says
Oh man, I need to be your taste tester. I love all things citrus, and grew up eating Italian cookies very, very similar to these. That cookie recipe has been lost, and now I’ll be able to use yours to satisfy my cookie fix! YUM!
Jacque says
MMmmm, those do look tasty. I’m glad you liked/loved them.
Funny how a little sweetness on top makes such a difference.
Maria says
I have made these and they are SO good! I love the soft cookie with the lemon glaze…YUM! I wish I had a plate now:) I do have ricotta so maybe I can whip some up this weekend. Glad you tried them!! Try the hazelnut ones next…they are good too:)
Fearless Kitchen says
Why can I not visualize Giada consuming ANYTHING with whole-milk ricotta in it? This cookie looks delicious. My husband is especially fond of lemons and would be delighted if I made this for him.
kat says
ohhh I have a bunch of ricotta in the fridge…