Description
Delight in the creamy, tender texture of these Italian-American Cannoli Cookies, which combine ricotta cheese, warm cinnamon, mini chocolate chips, and optional pistachios for a delicious twist on a classic cannoli flavor. Perfectly baked to light golden edges and dusted with powdered sugar, these cookies offer a sweet holiday treat that’s easy to prepare and irresistibly flavorful.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (drained)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Add-ins and Toppings
- 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped pistachios (optional)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together drained ricotta cheese, softened unsalted butter, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, indicating well-incorporated ingredients.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Incorporate the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the creamy mixture, mixing thoroughly to blend all flavors evenly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to ensure even distribution of leavening and spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms without overworking.
- Fold in Chips and Nuts: Gently fold mini chocolate chips and chopped pistachios (if using) into the dough to distribute them evenly.
- Form Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the lined baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Place baking sheets in the oven and bake for 12–14 minutes, or until the cookie edges turn lightly golden and the centers are set, indicating they are cooked through.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing sogginess.
- Finish with Powdered Sugar: Once cooled, dust the cookies generously with powdered sugar to enhance their sweetness and presentation.
Notes
- Ensure ricotta cheese is well drained to avoid extra moisture that could make the dough too soft.
- Pistachios are optional; swap them with chopped walnuts or candied orange peel for traditional cannoli flavors.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
