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Desserts

Italian Ricotta Cake

This Italian ricotta cake is a soft and fluffy dessert that's quick and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. Let's discover how to prepare this traditional ricotta cake!
Recipe Italian Ricotta Cake
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Preparation 10 minutes
  • Cooking 40 minutes
  • Servings for 8 servings

The ricotta cake is a soft and delicious dessert that can be prepared in less than an hour. Our ricotta cake recipe is very simple and made with few ingredients available in every kitchen: perfect for a last-minute dessert. The texture of the ricotta cake will surprise you, each bite melts in your mouth, almost imperceptible to the palate. Perfect for breakfast or a snack, this ricotta dessert is also ideal as a delicious end to a meal, thanks to its moist dough and its delicate and classic taste.

Typically part of the Sicilian culinary tradition, ricotta desserts always bring everyone together, thanks to the full and rounded flavor of this fresh cheese, which is also perfect as a filling for many typical desserts like Sicilian Cannoli and Neapolitan Sfogliatelle Ricce, or even as a substitute for butter in many recipes. This simple ricotta cake is no exception: a cake that is tall, soft, and incredibly light, characterized by the sweet flavor of ricotta. One slice leads to another!

If you’re looking for more delicious recipes to make other ricotta cakes, try our tasty Cocoa Tart with Ricotta or the more original Rice and Ricotta Cake. And if you love fruit in desserts, try the Ricotta and Pear Cake or the Soft Ricotta and Blackberry Cake: truly tasty and fresh, they won’t disappoint you.

Ingredients for 8 servings

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Method

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  1. To prepare the ricotta cake, first preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F), so it reaches the right temperature. Meanwhile, separate the egg yolks from the whites into two bowls. Start beating the egg whites with an electric mixer until they form stiff peaks. Set the beaten egg whites aside.
  2. Add sugar to the egg yolks and beat until the mixture becomes fluffy. Then add the softened butter and incorporate it into the egg yolk and sugar mixture. Now add the sieved ricotta cheese, mixing gently with a folding motion (from top to bottom) until you achieve a smooth, homogeneous consistency.
  3. Add the sifted flour and baking powder in two or three additions, along with the milk, pouring it in a thin stream while mixing. Finally, gradually fold in the beaten egg whites, being careful to mix gently with a top-to-bottom motion to maintain the airiness of the batter.
  4. Butter a cake pan and dust it with sugar, then pour in the batter and level the surface using a spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake the ricotta cake in the oven for about 40 minutes. Once done, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely before removing it from the pan. Before serving, dust the ricotta cake with powdered sugar. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Variations and Alternatives

To make the ricotta cake even more delicious, try adding chocolate chips to the batter. If you prefer a fresh citrus flavor, simply add some grated organic lemon zest to the batter (the zest of half a lemon will be sufficient).

Tips

To properly beat both egg whites and yolks with sugar, use eggs at room temperature. To maintain stiff peaks when beating egg whites, add a pinch of salt while using the electric mixer. Finally, we recommend sifting both the ricotta cheese and dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) to avoid any lumps in the batter.

Storage

The ricotta cake can be stored at room temperature for a couple of days in a cake container. In the refrigerator, it will last up to 4-5 days, but we recommend storing it in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing odors and flavors from other foods. Before serving, you can warm the ricotta cake in the microwave for about thirty seconds, or in a preheated oven for about ten minutes.

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