Quick and Easy Lemon Ricotta Cake
Ingredients
- 1 large lemon zested and juiced
- 1 ¼ cups (250g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (170g)unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ cups (365g) whole milk ricotta cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9-inch spring form pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, massage the lemon zest and sugar together until very fragrant and smells of fresh lemons. Add the butter. Using a hand or stand mixer, mix together until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the ricotta and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Blend to combine.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Blend until combined. It may look lumpy from the ricotta, but that's okay.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the batter and stir together with a large rubber spatula until combined.
- Tip the batter into the pan and spread to smooth with an offset spatula. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack until the pan is no longer too hot to handle. Remove the pan and continue to cool until serving. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into thick slices.
Notes
Store the cake at room temperature covered with plastic wrap or in an air tight container for up to 3 days. You can also store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freeze baked and cooled ricotta cake by wrapping well in plastic wrap. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw the frozen cake overnight in the refrigerator.
Thoroughly blend the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Softened butter should be able to easily hold a fingerprint when lightly pressed. It should not feel greasy or be melted or it won't be able to hold in as much air.
For the best cakes, measure the flour accurately (preferably with a scale). Do not pack it in.