Italian Christmas cookies are an incredibly soft ricotta cookie that have a quick and easy glaze and festive sprinkles on top.
This Italian Christmas cookie recipe is my new favorite! The secret ingredient to these super soft cookies is the ricotta cheese. We love throwing these on a holiday cookie tray with red velvet cookies, lofthouse cookies, and Martha Washington candy.
Italian Christmas Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 Great for gifting and are perfect for a Christmas cookie tray.
📌 No chill dough and a quick bake has these cookies ready in just 25 minutes.
📌 An amazingly soft bite that will have you coming back for more!
Italian Ricotta Christmas Cookie Ingredients
- Butter – Unsalted, softened.
- Sugar – Granulated white.
- Ricotta cheese – Full fat ricotta cheese (this is the secret ingredient for the softest cookies)!
- Extracts – Almond and vanilla extract.
- Egg – Large.
- Flour – All-purpose flour.
- Leavening agent – Baking powder.
- Salt – Kosher.
- Topping – Powdered sugar, water, almond extract, sprinkles.
Try using different sprinkles for various occasions!
How do you make Italian Christmas cookies? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, cream together the butter and sugar in a medium bowl until light and creamy.
⭐ Next, add the ricotta, vanilla and almond extract and egg and mix until combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt.
⭐ Then, using a cookie scoop, place the dough onto a lined baking sheet. Bake until bottoms turn light brown. Cool on a cooling rack.
⭐ Finally, whisk together the powdered sugar, water and almond extract until smooth. Spoon the icing over the cooled cookies and top with sprinkles.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
I love that this is a no-chill dough, they can be done in no time!
Preparation
Can you make Italian Christmas cookies ahead of time?
Yes! These cookies can be made a few days in advance and stored at room temperature, or longer if you want to freeze them.
How many cookies does this recipe make?
This recipe makes about 30 small cookies. You can make them larger if desired, just make sure to adjust the bake time accordingly.
What kind of topping do Italian Christmas cookies have?
We topped these with a light glaze that adds just enough flavor and design for a simple yet festive cookie! If you want to change it up, you can top with whatever frosting you prefer.
Allow the cookies to cool completely before icing so it doesn’t drip off.
Leftovers and storage
How long do Italian Christmas cookies last?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.
Can I freeze Italian Christmas cookies?
Yep! These freeze really well so make a bunch and save them for the holidays! After the glaze has set, store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
We suggest layering between sheets of wax paper for the best storage.
Top with sprinkles right away, before the icing sets.
Tips and tricks
✅ You can use lemon juice in place of the almond extract to change up the flavor.
✅ Add sprinkles to the dough to make the cookies festive as well!
✅ Throw in a handful of mini chocolate chips to the dough before baking.
✅ Add a few drops of food coloring to the glaze or to the dough (or both!) to make them extra festive!
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if my glaze is too thin or too thick?
This is a simple fix! If your glaze is too thick, add a teaspoon of water and stir, adding one at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. If the glaze is too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
What are some easy variations?
- Citrus Zest: Add the zest of a lemon or an orange to the cookie dough for a zesty and refreshing twist. This complements the sweetness of the cookies beautifully.
- Spices: Incorporate seasonal spices like ground cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm, holiday flavor. These spices pair well with the almond and vanilla extracts.
- Chocolate Chips: For a delightful contrast in texture, fold in a handful of mini chocolate chips into the dough before baking. This will add a touch of chocolatey indulgence to your cookies.
These were a holiday staple growing up.
What to enjoy with Italian Christmas cookies (serving suggestions)
These cookies are the cutest little bite sized treat to throw on your holiday treat platter! We like serving these with Christmas tree brownies, M&M Christmas cookies, and peppermint truffles.
More delicious cookie recipes to try
- Butter cookies
- Pie crust cookies
- Lofthouse cookies
- Red velvet cookies
- Cookie Monster cookies
- Strawberry lemonade cookies
- Kentucky butter cake cookies
- See all our easy cookie recipes!
Other great holiday desserts
- Impossible pie
- No bake pumpkin pie
- Snickerdoodle cake
- Crockpot cookie
- Instant pot Baileys cheesecake
- Eggnog pie
- See all our best dessert recipes!
😍😍😍
Tools we love
- Baking sheets – We love these from Nordicware. I use mine constantly.
- Silicon baking mats – Nothing sticks to these, I swear by them!
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How to Make Italian Christmas Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
COOKIES
- ¼ cup butter (4 tablespoons) softened
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
GLAZE
- 1 cup powdered sugar also called confectioners sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- optional: sprinkles
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3 - 5 minutes). Add the ricotta, vanilla extract, almond extra, and egg. Continue to mix until combined. Stir in the flour and baking powder and salt.
- Scoop dough with a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop and place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake in a 350℉ preheated oven for 15 minutes, just until the bottoms turn light brown.
- Remove cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
- While cookies are cooling, prepare the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, water and almond extract until smooth. Generously spoon icing over cookies and top with sprinkles.
Notes
Nutrition
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Italian Christmas Cookies
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Claire says
want to make these today. is 8 oz ricotta equal to one cup? Also, it says oven at 150 degrees?? That doesn’t sound right.
Louise says
These cookies are my new faves! The secret ingredient is ricotta—perfect for a holiday cookie tray!
jess says
oh my gosh, these remind me of the cookies my mom made when I was a child! thank you for sharing this little piece of nostagia, I cannot wait to make some for her
Jessica says
My ancestors are Italian and my whole family loved trying this traditional recipe! We can’t wait to make them again, thanks so much for sharing.