Ricotta Christmas Cookies Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

Where did ricotta cookies originate? ›

Ricotta cookies are a soft, almost fluffy drop cookie topped with a simple glaze. My understanding is they are Italian in origin, although I mostly think of ricotta cookies as something that's made around the holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

You don't want too much moisture left, but you also don't want your ricotta to be dry. However, ricotta is forgiving. If it is too dry, you can add an egg to it, as long as you will be cooking it. Making homemade ricotta is more expensive than buying a container at the store.

Ricotta Fresca di Pecora means fresh sheep's milk Ricotta in Italian. This sweet, nutty and deliciously fresh cheese can go either savory or sweet and shines as an appetizer, in salads or desserts.

After baking, allow cookies to cool completely. Place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet to freeze them, then store them in a freezer-safe zip-top storage bag labeled with the name and date. Squeeze out extra air and place flat in the freezer. To save space, you can flat-stack freezer bags.

So, ricotta actually translates to recooked in Italian, and ricotta is what's called a "whey cheese." When you make cheese, you separate milk into two distinct things. You have the solids, called curds, which will be separated out and pressed to form cheese. And you have the liquid that is left behind, called whey.

Pizzelles are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy. They were made many years ago for the “Festival of the Snakes” also known as the “Feast Day of San Domenico” in the village of Colcullo in the Italian region of Abruzzo.

It'll just be a bit runnier, but omitting the egg won't affect the taste.

I also want to emphasize the importance of timing: do not overheat the milk-cream mixture, and do not let it boil. Otherwise, you will end up with tough and rubbery curd. And, please, remember that the adjective “fresh” is applicable for a couple of days only; so consume the cheese rather soon.

Air exposure is the enemy of fresh ricotta, so keeping it sealed becomes even more important after opening. Opened ricotta generally lasts for about one week in proper storage conditions. To be on the safe side, give it the sniff test. If there is any off odor, toss it.

Mascarpone: Another Italian cheese, mascarpone makes a great ricotta substitute. However, since mascarpone is more tart and flavorful, you should only use it in dishes with other strong flavors.

What is the Mexican equivalent of ricotta? ›

Requesón is Mexican ricotta. Unlike most cheeses, which are made with curds, requesón (and ricotta) are made with whey. Requesón can have a texture like cottage cheese and is used as a filling for gorditas and empanadas.

In Italy, ricotta is typically eaten as a filling for pasta or cannoli.

You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December. (Consult this handy how-to guide to the matter.) Generally, most recipes will be best if baked and then frozen.

Shortbread cookies and spritz cookies are real holiday troopers, lasting a bit longer than the rest. These buttery and crumbly cookies are a great option for a holiday cookie. Shortbread is known for its rich flavor, while spritz cookies are often made with a cookie press.

Your best choices are airtight containers (plastic or glass) because they protect the cookies from breaking. Choose shallow, square or rectangular containers with flat bottoms. (Rounded bottoms cause cookies to bend.) Place waxed paper or parchment paper in between layers.

Ricotta is an unripened soft cheese that originates from Italy. In Latin America and the Hispanic communities in North America, it is called Requeson and has a coarse texture.

Today, I want to share a little bit about Italian cookies called Biscotti. Biscotti, also known as cantuccini or mandelbrot (Mandel bread), are traditional Italian cookies with a long history and rich cultural significance.

The story of Lotus Biscoff starts in 1932 in a local bakery in Lembeke, a Belgian town. The unique recipe was brought to perfection with carefully selected natural ingredients. Today, Lotus Bakeries is still family-owned and based in its home town. And from there, the tasty cookie continues to conquer the world.