Description
Delightful Orange Cranberry Ricotta Cookies sparkle with zesty citrus and tart berries, creating a perfect holiday treat. Sweet Italian cheese and festive flavors blend seamlessly, promising pure enjoyment in each delectable bite you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients:
- 16.25 ounces (461 grams) white cake mix
- 1.5 cups (354 ml) water
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
Coffee Drizzle Ingredients:
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) hot water
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) espresso powder
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) coffee-flavored liqueur (Kahlua, optional)
Mascarpone Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) mascarpone cheese
- 4 cups (960 ml) cold heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 0.75 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (7 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- Whole coffee beans (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to temperature specified on cake mix package.
- Thoroughly grease and dust cake pans with flour to prevent sticking.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, blend white cake mix with water, vegetable oil, and egg whites, following package mixing instructions until smooth and homogeneous.
- Evenly distribute batter between prepared pans, ensuring uniform thickness.
- Bake according to package time and temperature guidelines, checking doneness with a toothpick inserted in the center.
- Allow cakes to cool completely within the pans, maintaining structural integrity.
- Create coffee syrup by dissolving granulated sugar in hot water and mixing with espresso powder until fully integrated.
- Optional: Enhance syrup with coffee liqueur for additional depth of flavor.
- Once cakes have reached room temperature, generously drizzle coffee mixture over each layer.
- Prepare mascarpone frosting by whisking mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and sugar until achieving stiff, peaks form.
- Gently incorporate unsweetened cocoa powder into frosting, maintaining light texture.
- Apply mascarpone frosting to first cake layer, ensuring even coverage.
- Carefully position second cake layer atop the frosted base.
- Completely enrobe cake with remaining mascarpone frosting, creating smooth exterior.
- Decorate top with whole coffee beans for elegant presentation.
- Refrigerate cake for minimum one hour to allow flavors to meld and frosting to set.
- Serve chilled, savoring the rich, complex flavor profile of this tiramisu-inspired dessert.
Notes
- Add extra orange zest to intensify the citrusy flavor and create a more vibrant taste profile.
- Replace dried cranberries with fresh ones for a juicier and more pronounced fruity texture.
- Use gluten-free cake mix and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days, allowing flavors to meld and develop a richer taste.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 292 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 135 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 44 mg