As I take a moment to reflect on the holiday season, nothing warms my heart quite like the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through my home. One recipe that never fails to make my spirit bright is my Easy Orange Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cookies. They really are a festive delight! With a soft and chewy texture, they boast an irresistible combination of fresh orange zest and rich dark chocolate. The result is a beautifully balanced treat that’s sure to be a hit at any gathering. Whether you’re attending a Christmas party or simply treating yourself, these cookies bring joy to every bite!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Irresistible Flavor: The tangy orange zest perfectly complements the sweetness of dark chocolate chips, creating a flavor explosion that's simply delightful.
- Soft and Chewy Texture: Thanks to the ricotta cheese, each cookie has a wonderfully soft center, which contrasts beautifully with the slight crunch of the outer edge.
- Easy Prep: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, these cookies are easy to whip up even when time is not on your side.
- Perfect for Sharing: With 35 cookies from one batch, there's plenty to go around – making them an ideal treat for holiday gatherings or cookie exchanges.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: The foundation of our cookie that gives it structure.
- Baking powder: This helps our cookies rise and achieve that delightful fluffiness.
- Salt: Just a pinch enhances the overall flavor, making the sweetness pop.
- Granulated sugar: The main sweetener that provides that sugary goodness we all love.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps create that soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Orange zest: The star of the show, bringing a vibrant citrus flavor.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together and contributes to the cookies' moisture.
- Whole milk ricotta cheese: Keeps our cookies incredibly soft and adds richness.
- Vanilla extract: A classic ingredient that adds depth and aroma.
- Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips: Bursting with flavor, they create the ultimate chocolatey bite in each cookie.
Full ingredient list with measurements is provided in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make the Recipe
Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl for about 20 seconds. This helps ensure they’re well combined and ready to mingle!
In your electric stand mixer, cream together the sugar, softened butter, and orange zest until nice and fluffy. Make sure to scrape down the bowl as you mix – we don’t want any ingredients left behind!
Mix in the egg, followed by the ricotta and vanilla extract. You’re looking for a rich, creamy mixture that smells divine.
Gradually add your flour mixture. Mix just until nearly combined; we don’t want to overmix. Now it’s time to fold in those delightful mini chocolate chips!
Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours. This step is crucial as it makes the dough less sticky and easier to work with (you can also throw it in the freezer for a short time if you're short on time).
Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit about 20 minutes before you're ready to bake. Here’s a pro tip: avoid dark cookie sheets, as they can cause the bottoms to burn.
Use a medium cookie scoop (or two spoons) to drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 13 to 14 minutes, just until they’re almost set. Then, let them cool on the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the finishing touch, whisk together the powdered sugar, fresh orange juice, and orange zest in a small bowl, then spoon this delicious glaze over your cooled cookies. Let it set, and you’re ready to enjoy!
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Chilling is Key: Don't skip the chilling step! Chilled dough is less sticky and results in the perfect cookie texture.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh orange zest makes all the difference in the flavor profile, so be sure to use fresh oranges when zesting.
- Don’t Overbake: For soft cookies, stay close to the recommended baking time. They will continue to cook slightly after being pulled from the oven, making them perfectly chewy.
How to Serve
These Easy Orange Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cookies are perfect as a standalone treat, or you can serve them with a hot cup of tea or coffee for a delightful afternoon pick-me-up. They also make a beautiful addition to a cookie platter at holiday parties—imagine the vibrant color and festive flavor they’ll add!
If you want to get fancy, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top of the glaze or some additional orange zest for a lovely presentation.
Make Ahead and Storage
If you’re planning ahead, these cookies can be frozen before baking for up to three months. Just roll them into balls, freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, simply place them on a baking sheet and bake from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want to enjoy them longer, pop them in the fridge for an even longer shelf life!
With their soft texture and delightful flavor, these Orange Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cookies are bound to become a staple in your cookie repertoire. I can't wait for you to try them—they may just become your favorite Christmas cookie too! Happy baking!
Easy Orange Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour scoop and level to measure
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 Tbsp orange zest from 2 large navel oranges
- 1 tsp orange zest from 1/2 navel orange
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese I recommend Galbani
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Glaze
- 1.25 cups powdered sugar
- 2.5 Tbsp fresh orange juice
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt for 20 seconds, then set aside.
- Cream together sugar, butter, and orange zest in an electric stand mixer until combined. Add egg, ricotta, and vanilla extract; blend well.
- Mix in flour mixture until nearly combined, then add chocolate chips.
- Cover and chill for 1 - 2 hours; preheat oven to 350°F during last 20 minutes.
- Scoop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart. Bake for 13 - 14 minutes until almost set.
- Let cool, then transfer to wire rack. For the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, orange juice, and zest, spoon over cookies.