Orange Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies Recipe

Fresh, zesty, and delightfully sweet, these Orange Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies are a wonderful treat that will bring a burst of sunshine into your kitchen. The combination of bright orange flavor with the subtle crunch of poppy seeds and the rich creaminess of ricotta cheese creates a cookie that’s not just tasty, but also wonderfully textured. Let’s bake!

Ingredients

For the cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• Zest from 2 oranges
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 (15 oz / 425g) container whole-milk ricotta cheese

For the glaze:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
• Zest from 1 orange

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare: Start by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cardamom, and poppy seeds. Set aside.
3. Prepare Orange Sugar: In a large bowl, rub together sugar and orange zest with your fingertips until the sugar is moistened and fragrant. This helps release the oils from the zest for maximum flavor.
4. Cream Butter and Sugar: Add softened butter to the zest-infused sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Incorporate the eggs one at a time, followed by the orange juice, vanilla extract, and ricotta. Beat until well combined.
5. Combine with Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just combined. The dough will be moist and slightly sticky.
6. Shape and Bake: Drop about two tablespoons of dough per cookie onto the prepared sheets, spacing them apart. Bake for 16-18 minutes until the edges are just golden. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft and chewy.
7. Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Glaze: Mix powdered sugar, orange juice, and additional zest in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle or spread over cooled cookies.
9. Set and Serve: Let the glaze set before serving. Store in an airtight container.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 120 kcal per cookie

Conclusion

These Orange Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies are perfect for any occasion, whether you’re hosting a spring brunch, need a sweet snack for tea time, or simply want to treat yourself to something special. The light and creamy texture combined with the fresh punch of orange makes them irresistibly delicious. Bake, enjoy, and let each bite brighten your day!

Orange Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies 🍊🌼

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• Author: Dulcia
• Total Time: 38 min
• Yield: 24 1x

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Ingredients

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For the cookies:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 1/2 cups sugar
Zest from 2 oranges
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 (15 oz / 425g) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
For the glaze:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
Zest from 1 orange

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Instructions

1️⃣ Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat liner and set aside. 🔥

2️⃣ In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cardamom, and poppy seeds. Stir with a whisk to blend and set aside. 🥄

3️⃣ In a large bowl, combine the sugar and orange zest. Mix with your fingertips until the sugar is moistened and fragrant. 🍊

4️⃣ Add the softened butter to the sugar mixture and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until incorporated. 🍰

5️⃣ Beat in the orange juice, vanilla extract, and ricotta cheese. Scrape the bottom of the bowl and beat for another minute to ensure everything is well incorporated. 🍊🧀

6️⃣ Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until combined. The dough will be moist and slightly sticky due to the ricotta cheese. 🍪

7️⃣ Spoon or scoop about two tablespoons of dough for each cookie onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 16-18 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. ⏳

8️⃣ Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 🌬️

9️⃣ While the cookies cool, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Whisk until smooth. 🍊

🔟 Spread about a teaspoon of glaze on the top of each cookie. Let the glaze harden before serving. Enjoy! 🍪🍊✨

• Prep Time: 20 min
• Cook Time: 18 min

Nutrition

• Calories: 120 Kcal