Incredible Lemon Ricotta Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

Lemon sugar for rolling dough:

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest


Cookies:

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature

  • 1 cup whole milk Ricotta cheese

  • 2 cups granulated sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest

  • 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. For the lemon sugar to roll dough: using a small bowl add the 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon zest. Use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant. Transfer the lemon sugar to a large dinner plate. Spread the lemon sugar out evenly on the plate and set aside for later.

3. Using a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt until combined.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, cream together butter, Ricotta cheese and 2 cups granulated sugar until combined (Using a flat rubber spatula scrap the paddle and sides of the bowl as needed between combining ingredients). Beat in egg until combined. Mix in vanilla, 2 tablespoons lemon zest and lemon juice until combined.

5. Add flour mixture to the bowl and mix until combined. Dough will be very sticky.

6. The lemon sugar will start to clump. Use the bottom of a drinking glass to to break up the clumps as required per batch of cookies. Scoop cookie dough into a round ball (about 1 tablespoon size). Gently roll the dough in the lemon sugar and place on prepared baking sheet about 3 inches apart (the sticky dough will pick up a lot of lemon sugar, so don’t over roll or you will end up with too much sugar).

7. Bake for 11-12 minutes, remove baking sheet from oven and let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer cookies to a plate.


Notes: You will need about 3 large lemons for the 3 tablespoons of zest. When removing the cookies from the oven they will look like they have not baked long enough, don’t worry, they will continue to bake during the 10 minute cooling period.