Italian Almond Ricotta Cake Recipe

Italian Almond Ricotta Cake Recipe Heavenly Delight

Whisking together a delightful italian almond ricotta cake becomes a culinary adventure that sparks joy in every kitchen.

Soft, pillowy textures meld with rich, nutty flavors that dance across your palate.

Memories of Mediterranean afternoons drift through each delicate slice.

Almonds bring a subtle crunch that contrasts beautifully with creamy ricotta’s smooth embrace.

Simple ingredients combine to create something magical and unexpected.

This cake tells a story of tradition and innovation, inviting you to savor each perfect bite.

Let’s transform an ordinary afternoon into an extraordinary moment of pure deliciousness.

Ricotta Cake with Almond Elegance in Every Slice

  • Prepare and bake in just over an hour, making it ideal for spontaneous gatherings or weekend family desserts without consuming entire day.
  • Dress up with powdered sugar or fresh berries, transforming this humble cake into a show-stopping dessert for birthdays, brunches, or afternoon tea parties.
  • Soft ricotta and delicate almond flavors create a universally appealing dessert that delights both kids and adults, ensuring everyone at the table enjoys a slice.

Your Ingredient List for Almond Ricotta Cake

Cake Base Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour, Almond Flour: Basic structure and nutty flavor for the cake, with almond flour adding richness and soft texture.
  • Baking Powder: Essential leavening agent to help the cake rise and become light.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Butter: Provides richness and contributes to the cake's tender crumb, best when softened at room temperature.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a golden, soft texture.
  • Eggs: Binding agent that adds structure and moisture to the cake.
  • Ricotta Cheese: Adds moisture, softness, and a subtle creamy flavor to the cake.
Flavor Enhancers:
  • Almond Extract, Vanilla Extract: Provides deep, complex flavor profile with nutty and sweet undertones.
  • Sliced Almonds: Optional topping for extra crunch and visual appeal.
  • Powdered Sugar: Decorative finishing touch with a light sweetness.
  • Fresh Berries, Whipped Cream: Optional serving accompaniments for added freshness and indulgence.

How to Make Italian Ricotta Cake Seamlessly

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm your oven to 350F. Coat a springform pan with butter and line the bottom with parchment paper. Make sure your baking space is clean and organized.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

Grab a medium bowl and combine:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Almond flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt

Whisk these ingredients until perfectly blended.

Step 3: Create Creamy Base

Using an electric mixer, blend softened butter and sugar until the mixture looks fluffy and light. This process takes about 2-3 minutes of continuous mixing.

Step 4: Incorporate Liquid Elements

Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Pour in almond and vanilla extracts, creating a smooth, fragrant mixture.

Step 5: Fold In Ricotta

Gently mix ricotta cheese into the batter until completely smooth. Gradually add dry ingredients, stirring carefully to maintain a light texture.

Step 6: Transfer To Pan

Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Sprinkle sliced almonds across the top for extra crunch and visual appeal.

Step 7: Bake To Perfection

Place cake in preheated oven. Bake for 45-55 minutes until the top turns golden brown. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick- it should come out clean.

Step 8: Cool And Finish

Allow cake to rest in pan for 15 minutes. Remove springform sides and transfer to wire rack. Once completely cooled, dust with powdered sugar.

Step 9: Serve With Style

Present the cake with fresh berries and whipped cream. Enjoy the delicate almond and ricotta flavors that make this dessert extraordinary.

Tricks That Keep Your Cake Light and Moist

  • Measure Ingredients Precisely: Use standard measuring cups and spoons to ensure accurate proportions, which guarantee the cake's perfect texture and taste.
  • Soften Butter Smartly: Remove butter from refrigerator 30-45 minutes before baking to achieve optimal creaming consistency and smoother cake batter.
  • Control Mixing Technique: Blend ingredients gently and avoid overmixing, which prevents tough cake texture and maintains the delicate ricotta cake's light, tender crumb.
  • Choose Quality Ricotta: Select fresh, high-quality ricotta cheese with minimal liquid to maintain cake's ideal moisture and prevent potential sogginess.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: Bring eggs and ricotta to room temperature before mixing to help ingredients blend seamlessly and create a more uniform cake batter.

Tips to Store Ricotta Cake the Right Way

  • Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
  • Slice the cake and place individual portions in freezer-safe containers or wrap each slice in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Remove frozen cake from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • Warm individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300F (150C) for 5-7 minutes to restore moisture and freshness.

What Tastes Great with Almond Ricotta Cake

  • Pinot Grigio or Prosecco will beautifully highlight the cake's delicate almond and ricotta notes, cutting through the sweetness with refreshing acidity.
  • Serve alongside macerated strawberries or raspberries to add bright, tangy contrast that elevates the cake's rich, creamy texture.
  • Serve with a smooth cappuccino or light espresso, allowing the coffee's robust flavor to enhance the cake's subtle almond undertones and provide a perfect afternoon indulgence.
  • Top with toasted sliced almonds or a sprinkle of crushed amaretti cookies to add delightful textural complexity and reinforce the cake's natural almond essence.

Tweak Your Ricotta Cake with These Ideas

  • Gluten-Free Almond Ricotta Cake: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and increase almond flour for better texture and binding.
  • Dairy-Free Alternative: Swap ricotta cheese with coconut cream and use dairy-free butter substitute to accommodate lactose-intolerant individuals.
  • Low-Sugar Version: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia instead of regular sugar, reducing overall calorie and glycemic impact while maintaining cake's delicious flavor profile.
  • Vegan Transformation: Substitute eggs with flax eggs, use plant-based ricotta alternative, and select vegan butter to create a completely plant-based cake that maintains original recipe's richness.
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Italian Almond Ricotta Cake Recipe

Italian Almond Ricotta Cake Recipe


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4.9 from 38 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8 to 10 1x

Description

Sweet memories of Italy dance through this Italian Almond Ricotta Cake, blending creamy ricotta with delicate almond notes. Silky texture and rustic charm invite you to savor each delightful slice of Mediterranean comfort.


Ingredients

Scale

Flour and Almond Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups (190 g / 6.7 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (50 g / 1.8 ounces) almond flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Dairy and Eggs:

  • ½ cup (115 g / 4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g / 7 ounces) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup (240 g / 8.5 ounces) ricotta cheese

Flavor and Topping Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup (30 g / 1 ounce) sliced almonds
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Prepare the baking environment by warming the oven to 350F (175C). Create a non-stick surface in a 9-inch springform pan using butter and parchment paper.
  2. Craft a dry ingredient blend by thoroughly whisking flour varieties, leavening agent, and seasoning salt in a medium mixing vessel.
  3. Transform butter and sugar into a cloud-like mixture using an electric mixer, beating until the texture becomes pale and voluminous.
  4. Introduce eggs individually into the creamed foundation, ensuring thorough integration after each addition. Enhance the flavor profile by incorporating aromatic almond and vanilla extracts.
  5. Infuse the batter with ricotta cheese, stirring until the texture becomes uniformly smooth. Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet components, maintaining a delicate touch to prevent overmixing.
  6. Transfer the silky batter into the prepared pan, distributing evenly across the surface. Optionally, scatter sliced almonds for a rustic, textural garnish.
  7. Allow the cake to bake for 45-55 minutes, monitoring until the surface achieves a golden hue and a inserted testing utensil emerges clean. Post-baking, permit the cake to rest within the pan for 15 minutes before releasing from the springform and transferring to a cooling rack.
  8. Finalize the presentation by delicately dusting powdered sugar across the top. Consider accompanying the cake with fresh seasonal berries and billowy whipped cream for an elevated dessert experience.

Notes

  • Select room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, even mixing and optimal cake texture.
  • Fold dry ingredients gently to prevent tough, dense cake structure and maintain soft, delicate crumb.
  • Swap almond flour with gluten-free alternatives like coconut or oat flour for celiac or gluten-sensitive diets.
  • Reduce sugar content by using monk fruit sweetener or stevia for lower-calorie, diabetic-friendly version.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8 to 10
  • Calories: 267
  • Sugar: 19 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 67 mg
Daves Miller

Daves Miller

Contributing Chef & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • American Southern cuisine with a modern twist.
  • Instruction in culinary fundamentals and advanced techniques.
  • Development of recipes that highlight seasonal and local produce.​
  • Mastery of artisanal bread and pastry techniques, from laminated doughs to decorative sugar artistry.

Education

Sullivan University, Louisville, Kentucky

  • Degree: Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Specialized in cooking techniques and culinary sciences, hands‑on externships, professional kitchen lab training, and career preparation for restaurants, entrepreneurship, and global culinary opportunities.

White Mountains Community College, Berlin, New Hampshire

  • Program: Baking and Pastry Arts degree
  • Focus: Specialized in comprehensive baking and pastry arts, including bread making, artisan breads, cake decorating and design, chocolates, confections, and decorative centerpieces; product development and baking theory; and career preparation for baker and pastry chef roles in many places.

Daves is the friendly face guiding you through flavorful, fuss-free recipes at Picture Perfect Meals. 

He studied culinary arts at Sullivan University and embraced Baking and Pastry Arts at White Mountains Community College. Daves specializes in comforting meals with vibrant flavors, highlighting fresh, seasonal ingredients.

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