If cannoli became a cake, it might look like this!  The ricotta adds richness and makes this cake a little denser than a layer cake.  But that’s how I like it.  I’m not one for airy, fluffy cakes.  I like a cake with substance and flavor.  When I first taught this cake, I was able to find candied citrus peels very easily, but I haven’t seen them recently so I opted to make this cake with citrus zest.  Still delicious and I will be serving this on Mother’s Day.  It is delightful for brunch or dessert.

Why You’ll Love this Ricotta Cake with Chocolate Chips and Citrus

• Perfect for brunch or dessert;
• Can be made ahead of time or frozen;
• Can be made grain-free!

Ingredients

• Butter – unsalted or plant butter 
• Flour – all-purpose flour 
• Baking powder
• Sea salt
• Spices – cinnamon and ground allspice
• Sugar – cane sugar or maple sugar
• Eggs – room temperature
• Extract – pure vanilla extract
• Ricotta cheese – whole milk ricotta or farmer cheese; dairy-free ricotta should work well, such as Kite Hill
• Add-ins  – mini chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate (I like bittersweet), diced candied oranges and lemons or citrus zest

How to Make this Ricotta Cake with Chocolate Chips and Citrus

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9- or 10-inch springform pan (see note) with butter. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 4 minutes, until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add the eggs one at a time, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl between each addition. Beat in the vanilla (don’t worry if the batter looks curdled). Add the ricotta cheese and mix on medium-low speed until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the dry ingredients in one addition. Mix on low speed until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips candied citrus making sure to scrape the very bottom of the bowl. 
4. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth out the top with a spatula. Bake the cake for 50 to 60 minutes, until completely set and golden brown on top. Place the pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake, then remove the ring of the springform pan. Let the cake cool completely on the rack before cutting.

Tips

• If you don’t have a springform pan, a 9-inch square pan works well (a 9-inch round cake pan, however, is too small). 
• To make-ahead – can be made one day ahead of time and stored in a cake dome at room temperature.
• To freeze – this can also be frozen for up to 3 months; after the cake is completely cooled, wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. 
• Although this cake is a little denser than most, here are some tips for a light and airy cake:
  • Use room temperature ingredients.
  • Use a ricotta that is not too wet or watery. Drain off any liquid before using.
  • Make sure to cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy! I never beat for less than 4 minutes.
  • Once the flour is added to the wet ingredients, do not over mix the batter.

  

Substitutions

• Flour – see grain-free version under the notes in the recipe below or use your favorite GF flour blend
• Butter – plant butter
• Cane sugar – maple sugar
• Ricotta cheese –  dairy-free ricotta, such as Kite Hill
• Candied orange/lemon – you can use the zest of 1 orange and the zest of 1 lemon or some orange oil in place of the candied fruit OR add it in addition to the candied fruit.  

Other recipes you may like:

Fluffy Whole Grain Lemon Poppy Seed Ricotta Pancakes

Savory Whole Grain Ricotta Pancakes

Olive Oil Yogurt Cake with Citrus Glaze

Sour Cherry Almond Cake

If you give this Ricotta Cake with Chocolate Chips and Citrus a try, snap a pic and tag @pamelasalzman so I can see your beautiful creations. I also really appreciate readers taking the time to leave a rating and review! Subscribe for free to my site for the latest recipes,  updates and things I’m loving lately.  If you enjoy this recipe, check out my online class here!  I teach a new class every month, which you watch on your own time.  Give me an hour a month, and I’ll make you a better, healthier cook!