It’s all about the texture.
A generous dollop of ricotta cheese gives this delightful (and simple-to-make) vanilla cake an elegant fine crumb. Throw in some beautiful raspberries and this delicate cake becomes fragrant and even more delicious. Serve it with whipped cream or a scoop of high quality vanilla ice cream and you will have a memorable dessert–one that is special enough for a dinner party but also awfully good for breakfast.
Ricotta is a creamy curd–light and slightly sweet. Food historians trace its origins to Sicily where there is a long and gloried tradition of crafting ricotta-based desserts and pastas.
Here is an illustration showing the making of ricotta during the Middle Ages. Note the dog begging. I’m pretty sure that is Juliet in an earlier life.
Ricotta Cake With Raspberries
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
- 1 C. sugar
- 2 t. baking powder
- 3/4 t. kosher salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 C. ricotta
- 1/2 t. vanilla paste (or extract)
- 1/2 C. unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 C. frozen raspberries (divided)
- Whipping cream for garnish
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a springform pan by lining the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with a light coat of nonstick spray.
- Step 2 Whisk dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder and salt) together in a large bowl.
- Step 3 In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, ricotta and vanilla together until you have a smooth mixture.
- Step 4 Fold the ricotta/egg/vanilla mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix in melted butter. Gently stir in 3/4 C. of frozen raspberries trying not to break the berries. Put this batter into your parchment-lined pan. Distribute the remaining raspberries across the top of the batter.
- Step 5 Bake cake for 50-60 minutes. When it is done the cake should be a golden brown and a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake should come out clean.
- Step 6 Remove cake from oven and let it cool for at least 20 minutes.
This recipe is adapted from one that appeared here: Bon Appetit’s Ricotta Cake With Raspberries.
