Soft Ricotta Almond Pillows Recipe
Soft Ricotta Almond Pillows are delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cookies featuring creamy ricotta cheese and almond flour. These light, tender treats are lightly sweetened and topped with toasted sliced almonds, making them perfect for a sophisticated dessert or tea-time snack.
- Author: Joe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Total Time: 25-28 minutes
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Dry Ingredients
- ½ cup almond flour or finely ground blanched almonds
- ¼ cup powdered sugar plus more for dusting
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ cup sliced almonds lightly toasted
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese, drained of excess liquid
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Wet Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the ricotta cheese, egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring even incorporation.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the almond flour, powdered sugar, baking powder, and salt thoroughly to distribute all dry components evenly.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to maintain a tender texture.
- Shape Cookies: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle sliced toasted almonds atop each dollop of dough, pressing them gently so they adhere well to the cookie surface.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the cookies for 15–18 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden while the centers remain soft and tender.
- Cool and Dust: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust generously with powdered sugar before serving for a delicate finish.
Notes
- Add zest from lemon or orange peel to the dough for a citrusy twist.
- Drizzle with honey after baking for added sweetness and shine.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- For extended storage, freeze the cookies and dust with powdered sugar after thawing.
- To reheat, warm in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes or microwave briefly to restore softness.
Keywords: ricotta cookies, almond cookies, soft cookies, Italian dessert, almond flour cookies, baked almond treats, ricotta cheese dessert