Pumpkin Ricotta Cookies Recipes

SPICED PUMPKIN-RAISIN COOKIES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and allspice. Stir to blend well. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, pumpkin puree, oil, syrup and vanilla; whisk to blend. Using a flexible rubber spatula, gradually stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture. Stir in the raisins.
• For each cookie, drop 1 generous tablespoon of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the mounds about 1 inch apart (or use a mini ice cream scoop). Using moistened fingertips, flatten each to a 2-inch-diameter round. Sprinkle each cookie with a bit more raw sugar.
• Bake the cookies until brown and a bit firm to the touch, 17 to 20 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer the cookies to a rack and cool completely.

CHOCOLATE-GLAZED PUMPKIN COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin-pie spice, and salt; set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg; beat until smooth. With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour mixture in two parts and pumpkin puree in one, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined (do not overmix).
• Drop dough by heaping tablespoons onto two baking sheets, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until puffed and edges are golden, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating sheets once during baking. Immediately transfer cookies to wire racks, and cool completely.
• When cookies have cooled, set them (still on rack) over a baking sheet or waxed paper. Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water; stir until almost melted. Remove from heat; stir until completely melted. Pour chocolate into a resealable plastic bag. Snip off a corner with scissors or a knife to make an 1/8-inch hole; pipe chocolate over cookies. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 20 minutes.

PUMPKIN-RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan.
• Combine walnuts, sugar, melted butter, flour, cinnamon, and salt for crust in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until well mixed and walnuts are ground. Spread mixture over the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing down to cover the entire bottom and a little bit up the sides. Place in the refrigerator until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat cream cheese and ricotta cheese in a mixing bowl until well combined. Stir in sugar, melted butter, eggs, cornstarch, flour, lemon juice, and vanilla. Add sour cream and pumpkin puree; stir to combine. Pour over the chilled crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are puffed and surface of cheesecake is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave cheesecake in for 1 more hour.
• Remove from the oven. Run the tip of a table knife around the edges of the pan, set the pan on a wire rack, and allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature, about 1 hour. Refrigerate until completely chilled, 4 hours to overnight.
• At the same time, chill a mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.
• Add whipping cream to the chilled bowl and whisk until soft peaks form. Whisk in pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon.
• Remove cheesecake from the refrigerator. Remove the band from the pan; take a large knife or spatula and carefully run it under the bottom of the cheesecake to loosen it. Transfer cheesecake to a serving platter. Slice and serve with pumpkin whipped cream.

ITALIAN RICOTTA COOKIES

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer, cream 2 sticks butter with sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add ricotta, lemon zest and 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and beat well. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula, then beat in flour, baking soda and salt. Cover dough and chill for at least 2 hours and up to a week.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees and line several cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick liners. Shape tablespoons of dough into balls. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets and bake until pale golden on the bottom, about 15 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.
• Melt remaining tablespoon butter. Whisk confectioners' sugar to break up any large lumps, then whisk in melted butter, lemon juice, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and enough milk to make a spreadable icing. Spread icing on cooled cookies, then let set for at least 20 minutes before serving.

PUMPKIN-RICOTTA PANCAKES WITH CHUNKY APPLE-RAISIN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the compote: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the apples, cinnamon stick, star anise, and brown sugar. Cook until the apples are softened, about 4 minutes, then add the cider. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce to a simmer (BTB, RTS), then continue cooking until the liquid has reduced by half.
• Add the maple syrup and raisins. Simmer for another 3 to 4 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and serve spooned over the pancakes, dusted with powdered sugar if desired. Try not to eat too many.
• For the pancakes: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the pumpkin, ricotta, milk, vanilla, and egg yolks. In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Make a hole in the center of the flour mixture and add the pumpkin mixture and mix gently to combine.
• In a medium bowl, combine the egg whites with a pinch of salt. Using an electric mixer or whisk, beat the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks and look very fluffy, like snowdrifts.
• Using a rubber spatula, add a small scoop of the egg whites and mix it into the batter to lighten the mixture. Once combined, scoop a third of the egg whites into the pumpkin batter and fold to gently combine. Repeat this process two more times until all the whites have been added. Do this gently but quickly--the idea is to not squish the air out of the egg whites. This is the secret to keeping the pancakes fluffy!
• Place a griddle over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, drop a pat or two of butter onto the griddle. Once melted, schmear the butter around and wipe up any excess with a paper towel.
• Using a medium ice cream scoop or a small ladle, pour the batter onto the buttered griddle to create 3-inch pancakes. Let the pancakes cook until bubbles appear on the surface, burst, and then stay open--this will take about 5 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook the second side until golden brown. Place the cooked pancakes on a sheet tray and place in a warm oven. Re-butter the griddle and repeat until all the batter is gone or everyone is full. Hold the finished pancakes in the warm oven.