Ricotta Cheese Cookies Recipe For Baby and Toddler
Table of Contents
Ricotta Cheese Versus Cottage Cheese
Ricotta cheese and cottage cheese both offer valuable nutritional benefits for babies.
Ricotta is creamy and soft, making it easy for little ones to chew and swallow, while being rich in calcium and protein, which are essential for bone development. Great for these ricotta cheese cookies.
It also contains a good amount of fat, necessary for healthy brain growth.
On the other hand, cottage cheese has a grainier texture and is lower in fat, providing a great source of protein and essential vitamins such as B12 and calcium.
Both cheeses can be easily incorporated into baby-led weaning recipes making them a perfect addition to meals, whether mixed into purees, spread on toast, or combined with fruits and vegetables, offering a versatile approach to expanding your baby’s palate while ensuring they receive important nutrients during this crucial growth phase.
Why Are Cookies Called Cookies
The term "cookie" derives from the Dutch word "koekje," which means "little cake." This name was adopted by American colonists in the 17th century as they made sweets that were small and cake-like, a deviation from the larger and denser cakes common in Europe at the time.
Over the years, the definition of cookies broadened to encompass a variety of baked treats using basic ingredients that are typically sweet, including those made with chocolate, nuts, and dried fruits.
As culinary traditions blended and evolved, the cookie became an iconic and versatile snack, firmly establishing its place in baking culture.
Ingredient information
Oats - Oats are great when blitzed to oat flour, you can make many cakes, cookies and treats with oat flour. A great alternative to all purpose flour when baking for baby. You could use almond flour with a little almond extract if you like a nutty flavour
Pear - I have used a pureed pea pouch for this recipe for convenience. If you wanted to stew fresh pears and blitz to a puree, you can do this too if you prefer. You can add a little lemon zest or orange zest to add even more flavour to the cookies if you like a citrus taste.
Ricotta cheese - Whole milk ricotta cheese is great in this recipe. The addition of ricotta cheese adds protein and moisture to the cookies.
Egg - I have used 1 medium egg for this recipe.
Baking powder - I have added a little baking powder so that the cookies rise a little bit and are not flat cookies.
Cinnamon - I have added a little cinnamon within the cookies to add a little more flavour.
Serving suggestion
The Italian ricotta cookies are great using simple ingredients served on their own as a stand alone snack. You could serve with plain Greek yogurt with sliced strawberries and squished blueberries.
You can serve the fluffiest cookies with whole sliced pears, I find tinned pears are great for baby-led weaning as they are so soft and can be the perfect finger food for your baby.
Other delicious recipes you may like: Peanut butter cookies, Teething biscuit or Greek yogurt cookie.
Storage instructions
Storing the easy ricotta cookies in the fridge cooked:
All you will need to do is store the sweet cookies in an airtight container or a freezer-safe container or even tightly wrapped plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just make sure the cookies are at room temperature before packaging up.
You can also store the cooked cookies in the freezer in the same way for up to 3 months.
Store the ricotta cookies in the freezer raw:
All you will need to do is place the raw delicious cookies in an airtight container spaced out in the container in a single layer, you will need a large one or you can place on the baking tray wrapped in plastic wrap if you have enough room.
When you decide to cook the cookies from frozen you will need to cook an extra 5 minutes or so.
Equipment used to help with this recipe
Baking tray - I have chosen to use a non-stick and BPA free baking sheet - they are easy to clean and, if you buy more than one, easily stackable and easily stored.
Airtight container - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others. They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use.
Nutri bullet - I have found a blender to be an invaluable tool in the preparation of many of my baby led weaning recipes.
Large mixing bowl - Definitely choose a stainless steel one - they are lighter than the stone or glass ones and very easy to clean.
Recipe | Ricotta Cheese Cookies Recipe For Baby and Toddler
Ricotta Cheese Cookies Recipe For Baby and Toddler
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 180C or 350F. Prepare a baking sheet/cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside
- Pop all the ingredients into a medium bowl and mix together using a spoon.
- Spoon approx a heaped tablespoon or small cookie scoop onto the baking sheet. Repeat until you have 8 spaced out dollops of batter.
- Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with cinnamon if you like and place into the oven. The baking time is 18-20 minutes.
- Leave the cake-like cookies to cool on the baking tray or a wire rack.
Notes
To make this perfect recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free oats or you can use almond flour if you like. Using oat flour makes for a yummy cake-like-texture.
You could add a little more fruit to the ricotta cookies recipe such as chopped up strawberries or 1-2 blueberry per cookie.
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