Thanks for the suggestions. Before I threw away the dough, as a last-ditch effort to save it, I added 1+ cups of flour (originally 2.5 cups) and 1 t. baking soda and the zest of another lemon. They puffed up beautifully. Dough saved!

Strange, I've made Giada's recipe several times and love it.

Sally’s recipe is really good. Have been thinking about it lately for a cookie exchange

I don't remember where I got this recipe from but they came out good.
ITALIAN RICOTTA COOKIES
1/2 lb. butter
2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb. Ricotta
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Grated rind of 1 orange
4 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
Cream butter; add sugar and continue creaming. Add egg and Ricotta and vanilla; beat well. Sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda, salt; add to batter.
Drop about a teaspoon of dough on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degree oven about 10 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool.
FROSTING:
2 c. confectionery sugar
1/4 c. butter
3 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Mix well and put on top of cookies and sprinkles.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014420-italian-ricotta-cookies

Same recipe on a blog, if you can't access NYT Cooking:

https://cookpad.com/us/recipes/16909951-italian-ricotta-cookies

They're easy and delicious.

Try the one on Sally’s Baking Addiction! I’ve made them a few times and they were great.

I am looking for a tried-and-true Lemon Ricotta cookie recipe. I tried Giada's and it was a bust. They were flat and almost like ricotta pancakes. My baking powder was new. The batter was almost the consistency of pancake batter, just a bit thicker. I am looking for soft, pillowy, really lemony cookies. It does not necessarily have to contain ricotta. Post your favorite recipe, please!