Skip to Content
Menu

Easy Pignoli (Ricotta Pine Nut) Cookies

  • Save Recipe
  • Prep 30 min
  • Total 1 hr 50 min
  • Servings 48
  • Save
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Email
Ready to make?
  • Save
  • Share
  • Keep Screen On
There’s just one word for these cookies: luxe. Creamy ricotta cheese gives these Italian pine nut-coated cookies a moist richness that will stand out on any cookie platter.
by: Tablespoon Kitchens
Updated Nov 8, 2017
  • Save
  • Share
  • Keep Screen On

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground or grated nutmeg
  • 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup whole milk ricotta cheese (from 15-oz container)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups pine nuts

Steps

  • 1
    Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, stir flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
  • 2
    In large bowl, beat 1 1/4 cups sugar, the softened butter and ricotta cheese with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until fluffy; scrape side of bowl. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until smooth. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, beat flour mixture into sugar mixture until well blended. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
  • 3
    Place pine nuts in shallow bowl.
  • 4
    Using lightly floured hands, shape dough into 48 (1 1/4-inch) balls. Dip one side of each cookie ball into pine nuts, pressing lightly to coat. Place cookies, nut-covered side up, 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten slightly.
  • 5
    Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over cookies. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until tops are set but not brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack.
  • 6
    Store covered in airtight container at room temperature.

Expert Tips

  • tip 1
    Sprinkling the cookies with a little sugar right before baking gives them an added sweetness and sparkling appearance.
  • tip 2
    Using a whole nutmeg that you grate right before using gives a much better flavor than nutmeg that’s been purchased already ground.

Nutrition Information

90 Calories, 4 1/2g Total Fat, 1g Protein, 12g Total Carbohydrate, 6g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cookie
Calories
90
Calories from Fat
40
Total Fat
4 1/2g
7%
Saturated Fat
2g
9%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
15mg
5%
Sodium
65mg
3%
Potassium
35mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate
12g
4%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
6g
Protein
1g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
0%
0%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
2%
2%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
© 2023 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved