Almond Ricotta Twists Recipes

Steps:

• Make the crust: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds for both the crust and topping (1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup) on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden, about 5 minutes. Let cool. Crumble the biscotti into a food processor; add 1/4 cup toasted almonds and the granulated sugar and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse to combine. Press the mixture into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. Bake until set, about 12 minutes, then transfer to a rack and let cool completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the egg yolks and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on high speed until pale, about 2 minutes. Add the ricotta and beat until smooth, about 2 more minutes. Beat in the amaretto, vanilla and almond extracts, and orange zest. Put the egg whites and the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a separate bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form (do not overbeat). Using a rubber spatula, fold about one-third of the beaten egg whites into the ricotta mixture, then gently fold in the rest until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared crust. Bake until slightly puffed and lightly golden on top, about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool, 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen, then remove the springform ring and let cool completely. Combine the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon in a fine-mesh sieve and dust over the cheesecake. Scatter the remaining 1/3 cup toasted almonds on top and dust again. Serve at room temperature. Photograph by Johnny Miller

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter until blended. Beat in eggs, then ricotta cheese and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 2 hours or until firm enough to shape., Preheat oven to 350°. Using 1 tablespoon dough for each cookie, divide in half and shape each into a 3-in. rope. (If dough is soft, work in batches and keep remaining dough chilled until ready to shape.) Twist two ropes around each other, pinching and tucking under ends. Place 2-in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute before removing to wire racks to cool completely., Drizzle melted baking chips over cookies; let stand until set. Store in airtight containers.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until blended. Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in ricotta cheese, lemon juice, almond extract, lemon zest, and egg on medium speed until well combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour, baking powder, and salt; beat slowly until a dough forms.
• Drop dough about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet using a cookie scoop.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are very lightly golden but still soft, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, transfer to a wire rack, and cool completely before icing, about 30 minutes.
• Stir powdered sugar and lemon juice together in a small bowl to make a smooth icing. Drizzle icing onto the cookies. Set cookies aside to allow icing to dry completely.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Unfold puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface; roll each sheet into a 15x10-in. rectangle., In a small bowl, whisk egg and water; brush over rectangles. Spread pastry filling over one rectangle to within 1/4 in. of edges; sprinkle with almonds. Top with remaining pastry, egg wash side down, pressing lightly., Brush top with egg wash. Cut in half lengthwise; cut each rectangle crosswise into 16 strips. Twist each strip 2-3 times. Place 1 in. apart on baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 12-14 minutes. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Prepare the egg wash: Combine the yolks, whole egg, and milk in a small mixing bowl and whip with a hand whisk until well combined. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Flour the dough and table as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the table or the rolling pin. Place the dough on your work surface with a long side facing you. Use a pastry brush to coat the surface of the rectangle with some egg wash. Liberally sprinkle the ground almonds over the rectangle, followed by the salt and pepper. Use a sharp paring knife to cut the rectangle into ten 1-inch wide strips. Next, cut each of these strips into three 4-inch-long pieces. Flip each strip so that the almonds are on the bottom. Twist each strip by rolling each end in opposite directions. Always remember to twist so that the topping faces out --that way you can see how they are flavored. Place the strips on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet and bake until well risen and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving. These puff pastry items are best eaten the day they are made.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper.
• Combine butter and 3/4 cup sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice; mix until well combined. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Fold in almond flour and ricotta cheese with a silicone spatula.
• Wash and dry the beaters and beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Fold stiff egg whites into the batter. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with sliced almonds.
• Bake on the center rake of the preheated oven until edges of the cake are lightly browned, about 50 minutes. Cake will still be a little wobbly in the middle.
• Remove from the oven and let the cake to cool completely in the pan before transferring to a cake platter, about 1 hour. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.