Lemon Ricotta Cake

Total Time Prep: 15 mins. Cook: 40 mins. + cooling
Yield 1 cake
Test Kitchen Approved
Thanks to full-fat ricotta, fresh lemon juice and other simple, straightforward ingredients, this is the best lemon ricotta cake ever. It's excellent with a strong cup of coffee or a smidge of limoncello.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1-1/2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons grated lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
  • Optional: Fresh fruit and whipped cream

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9-in. springform pan with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar at medium speed until incorporated, 1-2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until fluffy and pale in color, 3-4 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to medium-low; beat in ricotta, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla extract until smooth, 2-3 minutes.
  4. Slowly beat dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined. Pour batter into prepared springform pan. Bake 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven; cool on a wire rack.
  5. Run a knife around the edge of the cake; remove sides of pan. Dust with powdered sugar; slice and serve.

Nutrition Facts

12 pieces: 253 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 79mg cholesterol, 246mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein.

Made from scratch and using a 100-year-old recipe, this cake uses simple pantry ingredients and is moist and delicious. Served plain or with fruits and cream, it's a wonderful addition to any recipe collection. —Claudia Lamascolo, Melbourne, Florida
Recipe Creator

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