Classic Ricotta Pound Cake
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Classic Ricotta Pound Cake is dense, soft, and sweet. It is guaranteed to get you to rave reviews at your next potluck!
This slightly sweet Classic Ricotta Pound Cake packs a flavor punch. It satisfies your craving for a moist, buttery, and tender dessert.
This dessert is incredibly rich, buttery, irresistible. I use whole milk ricotta in this pound cake recipe.
Classic Ricotta Pound Cake
I have plenty of pound cake recipes, but this is the only one that I make in a loaf pan. Usually, when I bake a cake or sweet bread in a loaf pan, they always sink a little in the center. For some reason, I can’t get the center to bake completely before the edges get overcooked.
Also, this pound cake doesn’t have a fine crumb-like most of the other pound cakes. It’s moist, dense, and creamy, but the crumb is actually quite large especially for a pound cake.
Lemon and ricotta just go together to me so I used lemon zest and lemon extract. I also test this cake with vanilla flavoring. Both flavors were good, but I prefer the lemon.
Serving Suggestions
Like most other pound cakes, this is delicious by itself. BUT, It also makes a great base for ice cream, whipped cream, berries, chocolate, or caramel sauce. And, how great would grilled peaches and mascarpone be!?
*Helpful comment from Lea –
I noticed that a few people had a problem with the cake being undone, or falling in the middle. When I use ricotta cheese in making cannoli cakes, you can’t beat it for very long or it will get runny.
I made this pound cake twice and I creamed thebutter and sugar together first, then mixed in all of the other ingredients, then added the ricotta cheese last and mixed it in on low speed and only until it was incorporated. Don’t over beat. As well, I baked the first one in 2 – 9 inch round cake pans and the second one in a fluted pound/bundt cake pan and they both turned out fine. In fact I had one person who ate it say it was her new favorite pound cake. Its awesome, in fact, I’m going to make a 2 tier baby shower cake and cupcakes with this recipe for next week.
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Classic Ricotta Pound Cake
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Save To Your Recipe BoxIngredients
- 1 and ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter at room temperature
- 1 and ½ cups whole milk ricotta
- 1 and ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or lemon extract and zest from 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease a 9-inch loaf pan with butter or solid vegetable shortening then sprinkle of granulated sugar or flour. Wilton cake release is great to prevent sticking too! (I use shortening and sugar. Sugar doesn't leave white patches like flour does.)
- In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter, ricotta, and sugar until smooth about 2 minutes.
- Add eggs, one at a time. The batter may look curdled at this point. It's okay just keep mixing. Stop the mixer and scrap the sides. Return the mixer to med-low.
- Add the flour mixture and either vanilla extract or lemon zest and extract, depending on which you prefer. Scrap down sides and allow to beat about 30 seconds.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake 45 to 50 minutes. Test cake by inserting a wooden pick into the center. If the pick is clean or has dry crumbs the cake is cooked perfectly. Dark pans cook faster than light pans as well as if you put the pan on a cookie sheet to bake. (I ALWAYS put cakes or pies on another pan to prevent spills from leaking in the oven.) Watch the time and cake carefully according to your oven and your pans.
- Allow cake to cool on wire rack 15 minutes before inverting onto serving tray.
Notes
Nutrition
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Had Ricotta cake at a cafe today and it was delish! This one had almond extract and it wasn’t overpowering. I had to go online and find a recipe, so I will definitely try yours and the lemon actually sounds even better!
Made this tonight and it was so perfect! My measurements and technique were a bit fast-n-free because my assistant was 4 years old but somehow it still turned out just like described. I did have closer to a cup of ricotta than 1.5 and it was still fine.
I noticed that a few people had a problem with the cake being undone or falling in the middle. I have used ricotta cheese in making cannoli cakes and you can’t beat it for very long or it will get runny. I made this pound cake twice and I creamed the butter and sugar together first, then mixed in all of the other ingredients, then added the ricotta cheese last and mixed it in on low speed and only until it was incorporated. Don’t over beat. I baked the first one in 2 – 9 inch round cake pans and the second one in a fluted pound/bundt cake pan and they both turned out fine. In fact I had one person who ate it say it was her new favorite pound cake. Its awesome, in fact, I’m going to make a 2 tier baby shower cake and cupcakes with this recipe for next week.
Hi Lea, what size bundt pan did you use and how long did you bake it.
Sorry Lynn, I was going through the comments and just saw your question. I’m not sure how big the pan was, but I’m guessing 8 to 10 cups.
Thanks for the tips! I thought the cake looked underdone in the photos so I was a bit concerned about whether or not this recipe would work out.
Thank you for the heads up Lea! I followed your tweaks & it came out great! Minus it sticking to the pan!! Adding the ricotta at the end was the key! Cheers!
I’ve had mine in the oven now for well over an hour and it’s still not done, wet in the middle…has anyone else needed to cook longer and for how long?
I had a similar thing happen. I think it took 1:10 for it to bake through in the center. I’m attributing it to either my measuring of the ricotta or the ricotta being too wet. I weighed out 12 oz of ricotta, which to me was 1 1/2 cups. That may not be the case – so maybe I used too much ricotta. HOWEVER, the finished product was “outtasite!” as we used to say – delicious and perfectly baked. A HUGE hit! 😉
can i use fat free ricotta instead? that’s all i have…will it still work?
Usually fat free and low fat products don’t do well in baked goods
Could you use only one cup ricotta?
You will need to make up the other 1/2 cup with buttermilk, sour cream, or milk or the cake will be dry
I made this yesterday, as I had most of a container of Ricotta to use up! I only had about 1 1/4 cups of Ricotta, so I took a chance and made up the other 1/4 cup with some sour cream and heavy cream. I also used both the 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon lemon extracts. I always use either parchment paper or waxed paper to line my pans, so skipped the pan greasing. Cake turned out PERFECT! Mine was a bit darker in color on the top, but could be my oven. Baked at 350 for 50 minutes. We’re loving this recipe! Will try it again using all Ricotta, but would still use both flavorings. Thanks for the post.
I wish mine would darken more on top, so I’d call yours a success!!! It is good isn’t it? One of my favorites.
Hi can I use Xylitol instead of sugar for the recipe?
I have never cooked with artificial sweeteners.
I have replaced a portion of the sugar with stevia and couldn’t tell the difference
Just made it. Mine dripped over the edge and even those little pieces were wonderful. I used fresh lemon rind & juice from lemons given to me by the local food bank and my eggs were small so I used 3 plus one extra yolk only. Can’t wait for it to cool 🙂 Thanks for the recipe
I made this ricotta pound cake and it came out perfect and delicious. Going to save this one.
Also took Jean’s tip- ” cook at 350 for first 15 minutes and reduce to 325 till done. ”
Thanks for this recipe.
I read above that you made yours in a loaf pan. I was wondering if I could still use a bundt pan for this recipe.
You can. This pound cake doesn’t rise very high. The ricotta is heavy and prevents the cake from rising a lot, but it’s a very moist cake because of the ricotta on the flip side. I put it in the loaf pan because it won’t be very thick in a bundt pan. Watch the cook time, it may take less time to cook. Start watching the last 10 minutes.
I made this over the weekend and was impressed. Very good. The only thing I did different because of other pound cakes I make was cook at 350 for 15 minutes and reduce to 325 til done. Very good cake
Paula,
My hubby would love this and I’m going to make it soon. Pinning.
Annamaria
This got my attention because of the ricotta. I posted about some ricotta cars that turned out wonderfully: gingerwroot .com /cherry-ricotta-bars/ I’ve been so impressed by how ricotta bakes up in cakes and dessert bars! Your photos are great, by the way!
I’ve never put ricotta in pound cake before but I’m sure it does give it that nice moistness. Yum!
No doubt this pound cake is amazing! Everything with ricotta tastes great.