Torta di Ricotta e Limone (Italian Ricotta and Lemon Cake)

Ricotta and lemon cake sits firmly in the Italian tradition of simple, dairy-rich bakes: soft, lightly sweet and made to be served without heavy decoration. The ricotta gives the crumb a gentle creaminess and helps keep it moist, while lemon zest and juice bring a fresh citrus lift rather than sharpness. A little vanilla rounds out the flavour, and the flour is folded in just enough to keep the texture tender. Once fully cooled, it slices cleanly and works well as an afternoon cake, a light dessert, or something to serve with coffee, fruit or a spoonful of softly whipped cream.
Cuisine style Italian home baking
Flavor profile Lemony • Lightly sweet • Creamy
Techniques Whisking • Folding • Baking
Key equipment Oven • 20 cm cake pan • Microplane
Cooking style Make-ahead friendly • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Moist, tender crumb: Ricotta keeps the cake soft and gently creamy without needing a heavy frosting or filling.
  • Bright citrus balance: Lemon zest and juice cut through the richness of the ricotta and butter, keeping the flavour fresh.
  • Straightforward method: The batter comes together with basic whisking and folding, making it approachable for everyday baking.

Get the most out of this recipe

Ingredient notes

  • Choose good ricotta: Use smooth, fresh ricotta for the best texture. If it looks watery, drain it briefly before mixing so the cake bakes up light rather than dense.
  • Use unwaxed lemon if possible: Because the zest is central to the flavour, an unwaxed lemon gives a cleaner citrus note and avoids any waxy residue.

Texture tips

  • Fold gently after adding flour: Mix only until no dry patches remain; overworking the batter can make the crumb less tender.
  • Cool fully before slicing: The ricotta-rich crumb sets as it cools, giving cleaner slices and a better eating texture.

Make-ahead tips

  • Good for making ahead: The cake holds well in the fridge and can be served the next day once brought back to room temperature.
  • Warm slices gently: For a softer texture after chilling, warm individual slices briefly in a 160°C (320°F) oven.
  • Freeze well wrapped: Freeze the cooled cake or individual slices tightly wrapped, then thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Heat the oven to 170°C (340°F). Grease a 20 cm cake pan with a little of the unsalted butter, then melt the remaining butter and leave it to cool slightly.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the plain flour, baking powder and fine sea salt. Finely zest the lemon, then squeeze out 2 tbsp of lemon juice.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and caster sugar for 1 to 2 minutes until pale and slightly thickened. Whisk in the vanilla extract, ricotta, lemon zest and lemon juice until smooth.
  4. Fold in the flour mixture just until no dry patches remain. Fold in the melted butter until the batter is uniform, then scrape into the prepared pan and level the top.
  5. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the cake is lightly golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out and cool completely before slicing.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • For the cleanest slices, let the cake cool fully, then cut with a long knife wiped clean between cuts.
  • If your ricotta seems very wet, drain it briefly in a sieve so the cake bakes up light rather than heavy.
  • Eggs are lightly cooked in this recipe, but if you are pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, use pasteurised eggs where available.

Substitutions

  • Replace Vanilla extract with the finely grated zest of an extra Lemon for a brighter citrus finish.
  • Replace Plain flour with Gluten-free plain flour for a gluten-free version; check the cake is fully set before removing from the oven.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 4 days
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Bring to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving, or warm slices briefly in a 160°C (320°F) oven; freeze well wrapped for up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the fridge.

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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 8 servings
  • Total time: 1h 25min (20min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Allergens:
    Eggs Gluten Milk Wheat
Beginner friendly Freezer friendly Kid friendly

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