This recipe for Ricotta Cookies makes a LOT, and they are soft, tender, and delicious.
I did some experimentation with this recipe. I divided the dough in half, freezing a portion for weeks. I made the first batch into big cookies, the next small. I learned that the glaze set VERY fast, so the sprinkles needed to go on the cookies right away.
The result I present to you, therefore, is a recipe with tested options. You can make the dough well in advance of baking and save yourself a lot of time. Or bake half now, half later. Or do the whole batch at once, feed a crowd the next day. Plus, you can use different sprinkles depending on the occasion.
This recipe makes a big batch of soft, tender cookies. The dough is great to freeze, too, so half could even be baked fresh, the other half frozen. The whole batch makes about 56 large cookies or 90 small ones. Greatly modified from Allrecipes.
Course: Dessert
Keyword: almond, cheese, cookies
Servings: 90small cookies
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
parchment paper
cookie scoop or spoon
Ingredients
Dough
15ouncesricotta cheese
1 3/4cupswhite sugar
1cupunsalted butter (2 sticks) room temperature
2large eggs
2Tablespoonsvanilla extract
4cupsall-purpose flour
1teaspoonbaking powder
1teaspoonbaking soda
Glaze for full batch
2cupsconfectioners’ sugar
2 to 3tablespoonshalf & half
1teaspoonalmond extract
1/4cupcolored candy sprinkles
Instructions
Make the dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Gradually combine with the wet mixture, scraping the bottom to incorporate everything.
At this point, the dough can be divided, if desired, to freeze half or all. If baking soon, wrap and chill the dough for about two hours or overnight.
To begin baking, preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use a large or small scoop or spoon to dole out dough balls spaced out on cookie sheet. Large cookies will bake in about 15 to 18 minutes; small cookies will need 11 to 13 minutes. The edges should be golden brown. Let cookies sit for about 3 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Cool completely.
Make the glaze
Mix confectioners’ sugar, milk, and almond extract until thick and smooth. Use the back of a spoon to spread atop a cookie. Immediately add a pinch of sprinkles. Continue with the rest of the batch.
Let cookies rest until glaze is set, then transfer to a sealed container. Store at room temperature.
Giftmas is an annual tradition here on my site. Rhonda Parrish organizes the event to benefit the Edmonton Food Bank. Our goal this year is $1,500 Canadian which, because the Food Bank harnesses the power of connections and bulk buying will equal 4,500 meals. $1 = 3 meals. If you’re donating in American dollars, your donation will go even further!
Giftmas runs from December 1st through December 8th. So don’t wait to donate! Help out if you can.
Am I Canadian? Nope. Have I even been to Edmonton? Nope. Do I strive to care for my fellow human beings, even as they sadden and confound me? Yep. Times are hard. We need to extend kindness wherever and however we can.
As a THANK YOU to everyone who has visited this post, I’m sharing a Bready or Not post from years ago that makes a big platter of homemade candy/cookies using a number of ingredients you might donate or get from a food bank. This is a recipe that makes a lot to share, and that’s what Giftmas is really about: sharing.
This recipe uses graham crackers as a shortcut base for a sheet pan of homemade candy bars! The end result is chocolaty, sweet, and surprisingly chewy.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, chocolate
Author: Beth Cato
Ingredients
12graham crackerswhole rectangles
1 1/2cupsold fashioned oats
3/4cupwhite sugar
3/4cupbrown sugarpacked
3Tablespoonsall-purpose flour
2/3cupbuttermelted
1egg
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2cupssemisweet chocolate chips
1/2sliced almondsor chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil and apply nonstick spray. Arrange graham crackers in a single layer side by side. They will not cover the entire surface of the pan.
In a large bowl, stir together the oats, white sugar, brown sugar, and flour. Stir in the melted butter, egg, and vanilla until just mixed. Spoon the oat mixture atop the graham crackers, covering them completely.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until top is bubbly. Sprinkle all of the chocolate on top. Bake for another minute. Use an uneven spatula to smooth the softened chocolate to cover the graham crackers. Sprinkle on the almonds.
Cool in pan. If slow to set, place in fridge until firm. Use a knife or–recommended–both hands to break the bars into pieces. Store in a sealed container with parchment or waxed paper between the layers.
This Salted Mocha Tart is incredibly easy and yet is an absolute showstopper of a dessert. No baking is required.
The graham cracker crust here goes perfectly with the coffee-forward flavor of the ganache. Mind you, I don’t drink coffee, so to me it was very strong and required something like caramel or preserves on top, whereas my husband drinks his coffee black and he could happily eat this tart plain… though he thought the caramel made it even better.
I wish I could emphasize how extraordinary this tart is. I rank it up there with some of the most delicious AND simple desserts I have ever made. Do yourself a favor and make this for company this holiday season!
This incredible tart is no-bake. It is fast to make, stunningly delicious, and keeps well in the fridge up to 6 days.
Course: Dessert
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
saucepan
9-inch tart pan with removable base
cookie sheet
uneven spatula
Ingredients
Crust
10Tablespoonsunsalted butter
1Tablespoonwhite sugar
1/4teaspoonkosher salt
8ouncesgraham cracker crumbs (14 whole crackers)
Filling
1 1/4cupsheavy cream
1Tablespooninstant espresso powder
12ouncessemisweet baking chocolate equivalent to 3 chocolate baking bars
2Tablespoonsunsalted butter softened
Topping
flaked sea saltsuch as Maldon
jarred caramel other options include honey, fruit preserves, and/or ice cream
Instructions
Make crust
Place the butter, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan and heat on medium until the sugar is dissolved and the butter is fully melted.
In a large bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs with the butter mixture to thoroughly moisten.
Place tart pan on a cookie sheet. Press crumbs evenly across the base and sides of the tart pan. Use the cookie sheet to place pan in fridge for at least 1 hour, or freeze for 15 minutes.
Make filling
In a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream and espresso powder to a simmer. Remove from heat and add the chocolate and butter; let them stand for 2 minutes, then stir until glossy and smooth. Pour the ganache into the crust and smooth out with an uneven spatula.
Chill tart in fridge until it’s starting to set, about 20 minutes, then sprinkle flaked sea salt over top.
Put back in fridge to chill until completely set, at least an hour. Carefully pop the tart pan's outer ring off. Place base onto a cake plate or other serving dish. Cut off slices to serve. Serve with a drizzle of caramel on top, or use honey or fruit preserves. Would also be great with ice cream.
Cover tart with foil to store in fridge. Will keep well for at least 6 days.
These Chocolate Nut Cookies are unique. They feature bold chocolate flavor, plus the flavor and crunch of almonds infuse every bite.
Also, the dough is fast to come together. The ingredients are pretty straightforward for cookies. No dough chilling is required (not that it would hurt). Make, bake, and enjoy!
If you love almonds like I do, browse through my other recipes on Bready or Not. I have a good number that include frangipane, too!
Modified from Taste of Home Fall Baking 2016 Magazine.
These are fantastic, fast-to-make cookies imbued with chocolate flavor and almonds! Makes about 45 cookies with a small scoop. Modified from Taste of Home Fall Baking 2016 Magazine.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: almond, chocolate
Servings: 45cookies
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
parchment paper
cookie scoop
Ingredients
1cupunsalted butter softened
3/4cupbrown sugar packed
1/2cupwhite sugar
1large egg
1teaspoonalmond extract
2cupsall-purpose flour
1/4cupbaking cocoa sifted
1teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspoonsalt
1cupwhite chocolate chips
1cupchopped almonds
Instructions
Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a big bowl, cream together butter and both sugars until they are light and fluffy. Add egg and almond extract.
In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet. Fold in the white chocolate chips and almonds.
Use a cookie scoop or spoon to create dough balls. Space them out on the baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, until cookies look set. Let them rest on the sheet a couple minutes, then transfer them to a rack to fully cool. Store in a sealed container.