Chocolate Ricotta Cake

The chocolate ricotta cake is a delicious dessert that combines the freshness of ricotta with the indulgence of chocolate. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 250 g of ricotta cheese
• 100 g of sugar
• 3 eggs
• 100 g of dark chocolate
• 100 g of all-purpose flour
• 50 g of butter
• 1 packet of vanillin (or vanilla extract)
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• Icing sugar (for decoration)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. In a bowl, mix the ricotta with the sugar until smooth and uniform.
3. Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Add the yolks to the ricotta and sugar mixture, and stir well.
4. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave and combine it with the mixture.
5. Add the vanillin (or vanilla extract) and melted butter, mixing carefully.
6. Fold in the sifted flour with the baking powder to avoid lumps, and add a pinch of salt.
7. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, and then gently fold them into the mixture, with movements from bottom to top to avoid deflating them.
8. Pour the batter into a buttered and floured cake tin, or lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake the cake in the center of the oven for about 30-35 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the oven; check the doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center of the cake, which should come out clean.
10. Let the cake cool before unmolding and serve dusted with icing sugar.

Curiosity

This cake is a more indulgent variant of the classic ricotta cake, often enriched with chocolate chips or pieces of chocolate inside. Some variations also include the addition of chopped nuts for added crunchiness, or flavoring with orange or lemon zest for a touch of freshness. Remember that you can use sheep’s or cow’s milk ricotta depending on the flavor you prefer.