17 ricotta cheese cookie recipes

Unlike New York style cheesecake, this cheese pie is much lighter and much lower fat; but it is still creamy, smooth and tasty, sour cream gives the extra zing, and the lemon zest brings the refreshing flavor.

Lighter honey vanilla cheesecake made with reduced-fat cream cheese, cottage cheese, and fat-free ricotta on a gingersnap crust. Sweetened with honey instead of sugar and baked with steam for a silky, crack-free top.

Cheesy, crispy and tasty. These phyllo rolls are great for a fancy appetizer, or a side dish, or a simply delicious main dish.

Whole wheat berry breakfast pancakes made light with fluffy egg whites and skim milk, sweetened with a little honey, then topped with creamy ricotta, fresh berries and maple syrup. Ready in about 20 minutes.

Impressive and tasty, perfect for brunch and hearty enough to serve for dinner.

An orzo pasta crust filled with ricotta, spinach, and nutmeg, topped with spaghetti sauce and melted mozzarella. A creative twist on savory pie that kids and adults both devour.

Mini cheesecakes with chocolate cookie crusts, creamy ricotta-cream cheese filling, and fresh orange zest topping. These bite-sized treats bake in a water bath for silky texture.

Chocolate and strawberry stuffed French toast: whole-wheat sandwiches filled with ricotta, fresh berries, and chocolate chips, griddled until golden. A lighter twist on weekend brunch indulgence.

Spinach rolls wrap garlicky spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan in phyllo pastry, then bake until gold and crackling. A lighter take on spanakopita with just a few minutes of hands-on time.

Spinach phyllo rolls stuffed with garlic spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, baked until golden and crispy. A light, flaky weeknight dinner or appetizer.

Green rice casserole with spinach, ricotta, Monterey Jack cheese, and cooked rice. A quick 30-minute vegetarian side dish baked with a melted cheese topping.

Spinach ricotta stuffed shells with a cabbage twist, baked in tomato-broth sauce with nutmeg. A lighter Italian-American main with hidden-vegetable smarts.

Ricotta souffles with raspberry sauce are light, puffed individual desserts baked in a water bath with lemon zest, vanilla, and cinnamon. Slashed open at the table and filled with bright raspberry sauce.

Homemade crepes filled with a vanilla ricotta and cream cheese filling, baked golden, and topped with fresh mixed berries. These lighter cheese blintzes are brunch royalty.

I added some Italian seasoning and fresh ground pepper to the Ricotta and I added about 1/4 tsp. of white truffle oil to the mushroom and onion mixture after it had cooled. It had great flavor

Baked couscous casserole with black beans, corn, roasted red peppers, and creamy ricotta, served over fresh spinach. A hearty vegetarian one-dish dinner for six.