Description
These Light and Fluffy Ricotta Almond Pillows are delicate, melt-in-your-mouth treats perfect for a sweet snack or dessert. Made with creamy ricotta cheese, fragrant vanilla and almond extracts, and slivered almonds, these pillows have a tender crumb and a subtle nutty sweetness. Dust them with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup Ricotta Cheese (Substitution: Mascarpone or blended cottage cheese as alternatives.)
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 1 large Egg (Acts as a binder.)
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (Substitution: Gluten-free flour blend if desired.)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/3 cup Slivered Almonds
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar (For dusting.)
- 1 tablespoon Butter or Oil (For greasing the pan.)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking sheet with butter or line it with parchment paper to ensure the pillows do not stick during baking.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and egg. Mix these together thoroughly until you achieve a smooth and creamy batter.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and a light texture.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the ricotta mixture, mixing carefully to combine without overmixing, preserving the light and fluffy texture.
- Add Almonds: Fold in the slivered almonds evenly into the dough, giving a pleasant crunch and nutty flavor to the pillows.
- Shape Dough: Shape the dough into small pillow-like balls with your hands and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until the pillows turn lightly golden on the edges.
- Cool and Dust: Remove from the oven and transfer the pillows to a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes. Once cooled slightly, dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Ricotta can be substituted with mascarpone or blended cottage cheese if preferred.
- Do not overmix the batter once flour is added to keep the texture light.
- Ensure cookies are spaced sufficiently on the baking sheet to prevent sticking and allow even baking.
- Use fresh slivered almonds for best flavor and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: ricotta, almond pillows, light dessert, fluffy cookies, Italian dessert, ricotta cookies, almond cookies
