Ricotta Cake
A plain cake that's anything but. The ricotta adds moisture and softness to the crumb. I used lemon zest and vanilla, but it can be flavored with other citrus or spices. It's perfect for brunch, afternoon tea or as a snack during the weekend.
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups sugar
- 5 eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup vegetable oil like sunflower
- 1 cup whole ricotta drained if watery
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest or orange zest
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar to sprinkle and serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180ºC).
- Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake springform pan.
- Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until doubled or tripled in volume and light in color. This will take 5 minutes or so.
- Add the oil in a thin stream as you beat on medium speed.
- Add ricotta, lemon zest and vanilla and beat on low speed just until combined. Don’t overbeat.
- Add the dry sifting (directly over the eggs) in 3 parts, and mixing just until combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out dry. It might take more or less depending on your oven and pan.
- Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes and remove the cake from the pan. Let it cool completely on the cooling rack and serve with powdered sugar on top, plain or with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh berries.
- You can also glaze it with powdered sugar and lemon juice.
Notes
Baking time: consider that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as possible, but it might take you more or less time. You can use an oven thermometer to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend tracking how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.
Glaze: if you want more than a sugar dusting, use a simple lemon glaze with powdered sugar and juice. A tablespoon or two of rum or orange juice are also good options.
