Ricotta Almond Cookies

By zircon50

After finding this handwritten recipe from her mother, Rosemary, from Schenectady, New York gave it a shot and her family and friends have since enjoyed these cookies which she won first place for at a local Little Italy Festival!

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 pound whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 stick butter-flavored shortening
• 2 teaspoons almond extract, divided
• 1 cup chopped almonds
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3 teaspoons water
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds for garnish

Preparation

Step 1

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat baking sheets with cooking spray.

• In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

• In another large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together eggs, sugar, ricotta cheese, shortening, and 1 teaspoon almond extract, until smooth. Alternately add flour mixture and chopped almonds to ricotta mixture, and beat until well blended. Drop mixture by tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets.

• Bake 11 to 13 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies are golden. Remove to a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.

• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, remaining almond extract, and water; mix well until smooth. Drizzle cooled cookies with frosting and sprinkle with sliced almonds.