May 10, 2016

a lotta ricotta

For 33 years or so, ricotta cheese eluded me.


I don't think I was actively avoiding it, and I may have actually eaten it in some lasagna or random cheesecake somewhere, but I just didn't know much about it or foods containing it. Then, I had some incredible ricotta gnocchi at a pretty excellent restaurant in Charleston that made me OH-so-happy. SO light and fluffy and SO, so tasty. All my life, I had thought of gnocchi as dense and bland, and this was the absolute opposite. It literally melted in my mouth and was as pillow-esque as could be. I daresay I'll never forget it, and hope to try to recreate it myself sometime soon...or at least go back to Charleston and order it again!


"Ricotta" literally means recooked, but we don't have to focus on that. As I understand it, it's essentially composed of curds that are made from the whey left over from the production of other cheeses. It adds a moistness and richness to pound cake that goes above and beyond what you'd usually expect, which is saying a lot since pound cake is, by definition, moist and rich.

Try this cake! Even if you think cheese in cake batter is weird, you never know for sure until you try. I learned that the hard way and wasted 33 years of prime ricotta gnocchi eating time. The simple maple glaze is nice, but definitely not required (and I got mine a little too thick!)!

Recooked Vanilla Pound Cake
(printable recipe)
Makes 1 bundt cake or 1 9x5-inch loaf
Ingredients:
  • 1-1/2 cups cake flour (or all-purpose, if you must)
  • 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups whole milk ricotta
  • 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a bundt pan that holds at least 9 cups of batter or a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
In a medium bowl, sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. You won't regret doing this, even though it takes a little extra time and effort.
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream butter, ricotta, and sugar on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.
Beat eggs in one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add vanilla extract.
On low speed, beat in dry ingredients until well combined. Do not over-mix.
Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth down with a spatula.
Bake for 15 minutes then turn pan 180 degrees to ensure even browning.
Lower temperature to 325 degrees F and bake about 40 minutes more, until cake springs back lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes or so, then turn it out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.



Remember when I was wondering about bouquets made of food? Well, wouldn't ya know it...

23 comments:

  1. This cake looks heavenly! Ricotta is such a great ingredient.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks incredibly good. I think I may have to try this weekend. I have a tub of ricotta in my fridge, just bought yesterday and there will be leftover I know.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love ricotta, so I have to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I will definitely try this and I will use anthotiro cheese which is equivalent to ricotta! Looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ricotta is the best! (And let me know if you want my recipe for a homemade version, which is SO easy and SO good!) Meantime, this looks like a delectable way to use it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love to use ricotta in cakes! That smooth and even crumb is just perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I LOVE ricotta! Putting it in pound cake is such a genius idea, I can just imagine how fluffy and delicious this is. Pinning for later! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm glad to hear you are making up for lost time - and with cake! This sounds so intriguing that I've just got to try it :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. You know I think I'm a little ricotta challenged myself. Still putting cottage cheese in my lasagna. Perhaps this will serve as inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I always thought gnocchi was bland, and a whole lot of hype I didn't understand. I need to get to Charleston, I guess!
    I might have just enough ricotta in the fridge to bake this tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
    Your flowers are so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  11. My "tale of woe" is just the opposite, Grace. I LOVE ricotta!!! I practically grew up on it because my father made it all the time. (he wasn't a cheese maker per say just a ricotta maker, lol) However, gnocchi and I have never been able to get along until recently. I don't know why because I usually have had homemade but it just seemed like bland dough to me until one day when I thought I would give it one more try. Good thing too:)

    Your Ricotta Vanilla Pound Cake certainly looks moist and fluffy. I sure could use just one big bite right now! I bet the Maple Glaze added a whole new dimension.

    Thank you so much for sharing Grace...I took a look at those "foodie" bouquets. Your bouquet is by far much prettier and all yours!!! Picture Perfect:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the sound of this, I bet the ricotta adds a great flavour and texture to the cake.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi grace, the foodie bouquets are very pretty, who would have thought. This ricotta cake looks like a real keeper. Printed for later.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love baking with ricotta. It makes any cake moister and a little fluffier in texture. It's also amazing in pancakes. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm definitely trying this Grace! That texture looks incredible :O

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love ricotta in savory dishes but haven't tried it in my baking. Hmmmmm.

    Love the bouquet photo. So pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love the title, think it should be the title of my future biography. ;) Looks delicious too!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Grace, the cake looks delicious and any kind of pound cake is right up my alley. My son will go bonkers over that maple glaze, he lives for maple syrup and marshmallows! Bookmarked! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love ricotta cake...had it in Italy once. Must try this recipe.
    Also love your bouquet AND the photo!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nice story about you and the unforgettable ricotta :) It looks as good as you told. Wonderful fluffy feeling. Now I'd love to try ricotta.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This looks so good. I just recently made banana bread with ricotta, I don't think I'll ever go back. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sounds and looks amazing.

    Was wondering if Ricotta would work for a Lemon Pound Cake? Could I use the same recipe and just substitute lemon juice for the vanilla and add some lemon jest?

    ReplyDelete
  23. @DerrikMo: I think that sounds amazing! I don't think there would be a single thing wrong with it. :)

    ReplyDelete

Tell me things!