Description
Italian Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake is a rich, creamy, and moist dessert that combines the smooth texture of ricotta cheese with bursts of delicious chocolate chips. This classic Italian cake features a tender crumb and balanced sweetness, perfect for any occasion from casual weekday treats to elegant gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (fresh, whole-milk preferred)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup olive oil or melted butter
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup chocolate chips (milk or dark chocolate)
- Optional: 1 tablespoon lemon zest (or orange zest for variation)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a cake pan and set aside. Ensure your ricotta cheese and eggs are at room temperature to optimize mixing.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the ricotta cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy. Slowly incorporate the olive oil or melted butter, blending consistently.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Add the optional citrus zest here if using, to evenly distribute the flavor.
- Fold Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain the cake’s tenderness.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Gently mix in the chocolate chips, making sure they are evenly spread throughout the batter to ensure delicious chocolate in every bite.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for smooth mixing and even baking.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake tender and light.
- Fresh, whole-milk ricotta provides the best moisture and flavor.
- Maintain a consistent oven temperature to avoid uneven baking or drying out.
- Allow the cake to cool fully to set and develop flavors better before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/10 of cake)
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Italian dessert, ricotta cake, chocolate chip cake, moist cake, gluten-free option, simple ingredients, traditional Italian baking
