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This Lemon Ricotta Cake is everything you could want – it’s light, almost custardy with citrusy freshness, and it’s got that unique, creamy hint of ricotta. Plus, it’s so easy to make! No fancy baking skills are required here. It’s finished off with a light dusting of powdered sugar for a beautiful presentation. This lemon ricotta cake is perfect for all occasions, whether you’re having friends over for a casual brunch, or just treating yourself on a quiet afternoon.
Table of Contents
- Why you’ll Love This Lemon and Ricotta Cake
- Ingredients to make A Lemon Ricotta Cake
- How to make Lemon Ricotta Cake
- Tips for making lemon ricotta cake recipe
- Popular substitutions & additions
- Topping ideas for your lemon cake
- How to store lemon ricotta cake
- Frequently asked questions
- More cake recipes:
- Lemon Ricotta Cake Recipe
If you love lemons as much as I do, you must try this simple, refreshing lemon ricotta cake. The ricotta cheese gives the cake a creamy and rich texture, yet it’s still got a light feeling to it, thanks to the fresh lemons. This lemon cake truly brings a touch of sunshine to any occasion.
Why you’ll Love This Lemon and Ricotta Cake
- Bright and refreshing flavor. The tangy lemon zest and juice cuts through the sweetness, creating a perfectly balanced dessert.
- Easy, one-bowl treat. Whip up the batter quickly by combining all ingredients in a single bowl, minimizing cleanup and saving time in the kitchen. The simplicity of the recipe allows you to enjoy a delicious homemade dessert with minimal effort.
- Perfect for any occasion. Enjoy this cake as a standalone treat or alongside brunch favorites like a yogurt parfait and this vegetable frittata. Its vibrant flavor profile adds a wonderful touch to the table, making it a crowd-pleasing choice for guests to enjoy.
- Great treat with a protein punch. Don’t let the light and delicate texture of this cake fool you. Thanks to the protein-rich ricotta, this simple treat is wholesome and satiating. Pair it with a cup of coffee or tea!
Ingredients to make A Lemon Ricotta Cake
- Lemon: This bright citrus fruit adds a refreshing flavor to the cake. The zest and juice infuse the batter with a tangy aroma, adding a burst of freshness that complements the richness of the ricotta and olive oil.
- Ricotta cheese: You will want to opt for ricotta on the firmer side; whole milk is preferred. If your ricotta is very runny, strain it slightly in a fine mesh strainer before using it. Firm ricotta lends a moist and tender crumb, adding creamy richness.
- Sugar: Any type of granulated sugar will add sweetness to the cake while also balancing the tartness of the lemon.
- Olive oil: One of the key players in keeping the cake moist and creating that delicate crumb without the need for butter. Olive oil also adds a subtle fruity note that complements the lemon and ricotta well.
- Eggs: Helps bind all ingredients together and provide proper structure. Eggs also help give the cake a slight rise, resulting in a lighter texture. You can swap eggs for flax egg.
- Flour: All-purpose flour is best for making this cake. But cake flour will work too.
- Baking powder: This leavening agent creates air pockets in the batter, helping the cake rise.
- Vanilla extract: Balances the tangy flavors of lemon by adding a sweet aroma.
- Salt: Essential to balance flavors and enhance the overall taste of the cake.
How to make Lemon Ricotta Cake
- Add the lemon zest and sugar to a large bowl. Use your fingers to massage the zest into the sugar until it’s fragrant and moist.
- Next, add in the lemon juice, olive oil, ricotta, eggs, and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Add flour, baking powder, and salt to the egg mixture.
- Whisk until combined.
- Pour batter into a round pan and bake.
- When done baking, remove from oven and allow to cool before you remove the cake from the pan.
Tips for making lemon ricotta cake recipe
- Use room-temperature eggs. Eggs from the refrigerator are harder to mix with the other cold ingredients. To quickly bring eggs to room temperature: run them under warm water for a few minutes.
- Opt for whole milk ricotta cheese. Whole milk ricotta has a higher fat content, giving you a richer and creamier cake.
- Don’t overmix the batter. When combining the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, mix just until the batter is smooth and there are no more lumps. Overmixing cake batter can lead to a dense and tough texture.
- Grease or line the cake pan. To prevent the cake from sticking, grease the pan with nonstick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. You can also run a butter knife along the sides after it has cooled off to release any stuck parts.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Swap any other citrus. This cake is wonderful with any citrus, so feel free to swap in lime, orange, or grapefruit. Each will bring a unique twist to the cake while maintaining the bright flavors and moist texture.
- Add crunch. Add chopped nuts like walnuts, almonds, or pistachios for a flavorful and satisfying crunchiness. You can also add a subtle crunch by adding a tablespoon or two of poppy seeds to the cake batter.
- Sweet additions. If you prefer a sweeter cake with varying textures, fold in some dried fruit like raisins, cherries, dates, or cranberries.
Topping ideas for your lemon cake
A dusting of powdered sugar is always a classic option for lemon ricotta cake but have fun with it and experiment with other delicious toppings. Here are a few tasty ideas:
- Strawberry sauce or fresh berries
- Whipped cream
- Vanilla frosting add lemon to match the flavor and add an extra burst of freshness
- Cream cheese frosting
- Ganache
- Simple icing
- Runny almond butter
How to store lemon ricotta cake
This cake keeps fresh at room temperature for several days, tightly wrapped (if it lasts that long!). To extend its shelf life, you can also wrap the cake in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out and store it in the refrigerator.
How long will lemon ricotta cake last in the fridge?
This lemon ricotta cake will last for up to 5 days in the fridge.
Can I freeze lemon and ricotta cake?
Yes, you can store the cake in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use low-fat ricotta but keep in mind the texture and moisture content will be affected. Whole milk ricotta cheese yields a richer and creamier cake.
You can reduce sugar if you prefer the sweetness toned down. Alternatively, you can bump up the amount of sugar if you want the cake sweeter or incorporate sweetened additions like dried fruit.
Bottled lemon concentrate will work in a pinch, but the overall flavor won’t be as robust. Plus, you’re missing out on the benefits and taste of lemon zest. Using fresh lemons will always trump bottled lemon juice for the best flavor.
This lemon and ricotta cake is a refreshing and flavorful dessert that comes together in one bowl. It’s irresistibly soft and incredibly moist. And the best part? This cake with ricotta is not only delicious but also satisfying. So treat yourself to a slice of pure lemony perfection and level up your dessert game.
More cake recipes:
- Olive Oil Cake
- Vanilla Mug Cake
- Simple White Cake
- Cranberry Almond Cake
- Semolina Cake Namoura
- Almond Cake
- Coffee Crumb Cake
- Chocolate Mug Cake
- Turmeric Cake Sfouf
If you try this feel good Lemon Ricotta Cake recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
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Lemon Ricotta Cake
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray as needed
- 3 small lemons zest and juice, divided
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup olive oil
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Powdered sugar for serving.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line an 8-inch round baking pan with parchment paper, then spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add lemon zest and sugar to a large bowl. Use your fingers to massage the zest into the sugar until it’s fragrant and moist. Whisk in the lemon juice, olive oil, ricotta, eggs and vanilla until smooth.
- To the same bowl, add flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk until combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool for about 20 minutes, then invert to remove from the pan and cool completely. Serve dusted with powdered sugar.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Oh yeah, this is a winner. I needed something to use up leftover fresh ricotta I had and this was a great find!! I also used our expensive olive oil as opposed to our everyday olive oil, and oranges as my lemons had turned.
I did use a 9 inch pan as my 8 inch ones are kind of shallow and would’ve overflowed as someone else noted. The cooking time remained the same and it came out perfectly browned on the outside.
Fabulous recipe that’s easy to make and lets the ingredients shine!
So happy you enjoyed it!
This cake sounds delicious and cannot wait to make, would the results be the same if I substitute the regular flour for Almond Flour instead for health reasons.
I have not tried this recipe using anything other than all purpose flour, I am not sure how it would turn out using gluten free flour or almond flour. If you try it you’ll have to let me know!
I made this with Pamela’s gluten free flour and it turned out fantastic!
Thanks for letting me know about the flour brand, very glad to hear!
Can this be made with monkfruit sugar? How much would you substitute? It’s disheartening that there aren’t really any dessert recipes for diabetics.
Sorry, I have not tried this recipe with that substitution so I can’t speak to how it would turn out.
I’ve baked TWICE in my 50 years before this with minimal success. This has redeemed me in spades …I followed it exactly and it was AMAZING…
Love this! So glad to hear.
So delicious!
Thank you!
I made this lovely sounding cake to your specifications BUT there is no way that the batter fits into a regular sized 8 inch cake pan. It overflowed in the oven which is now a mess. I have it cooling so will see how the cake comes out of the pan. I have baked for years so, perhaps, should have realized it would be a problem when the batter was almost to the top of the pan. Does you 8 inch cake pan have taller sides??
Hmm, so sorry to hear this. Perhaps there was an issue with the measurements as I’ve never had this issue before. This is the pan I use.
Hi!
Should the ricotta be room temp or cold? I had it at room temp, I also had little lumps of ricotta in my cake and it was very dense… Not where I went wrong tbh 🙁
Oh no, sorry to hear.Either should work fine, I would suggest whisking vigorously to make sure all of the ricotta lumps are incorporated before adding the dry ingredients.
Just made it this morning. My construction guys loved it! Very moist and bright. Great
Thanks so much!
Recipe doesn’t state when to use the cooking spray
Thanks for the feedback, I adjusted this within the recipe in step 1.
Just made this wonderful and easy cake according to recipe. Perfect! I will surely make again for company and might add in some blueberries to the batter.
So glad you liked it!
I look forward to making this cake for a dinner party this week! It looks amazing!
Question: when you line the pan with parchment paper, do you line the sides as well?
Could you line the bottom and butter and flour the sides? Or could you use a springform pan
with no parchment paper? Many thanks!
Hi there, you only need to line the bottom with parchment, but you could butter and flour the pan instead if you didn’t have parchment. You could also do a springform without parchment, as long as is it buttered and floured.
How many cups of lemon juice should I use?
The recipe calls for the juice from 3 lemons which is roughly 1/2 cup.
I made this cake and EVERYBODY raved about it. I’m making it again for New Years.
Yay! So glad it was a hit!
Hi, would it be possible to substitute flour with almond flour?
I have not tried this recipe using anything other than all purpose flour, I am not sure how it would turn out using gluten free flour or almond flour. If you try it you’ll have to let me know!
I don’t usually comment but this was absolutely delicious and so easy to make. This will be a regular at our 🏠
This makes so happy, so glad you enjoyed it!
This cake sounds wonderful, but my husband is not a lover of lemon. Would you mind telling me how much orange zest and juice would be needed to switch out the citrus? Thanks so much!
Hi There, you could just swap the exact amount of orange zest and juice instead of the lemon. Enjoy!
Wow! What an easy recipe with so much flavor. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. I made this recipe just as written and it turned out beautifully. I served it with rosemary infused whipped cream and candied lemon wheels.
So glad you loved it! Thank you so much fo the sweet feedback 🙂
Made this as I wanted a small cake, one without butter and lots of lemon taste. this is a keeper for us…I split the batter between 2 6” pans and it was just perfect for a dinner party for 4…wish there was some to eat today but ALL gone! Gonna make it again very soon!
Thank you so much, Debbie!
Loved this! The olive oil, the ricotta, and the lemon all compliment each other without being overpowering. The golden crust on the edges is a nice textural contrast. This is such an simple, classy dessert. I will absolutely make this again.
Thank you so much!
I made this using gluten free self raising flour, leaving out the baking powder. It was amazing!! Husband said it was the best cake he’s ever had! Served it slightly warm. So moist, with a perfect combination of zest and sweet!
So glad you both liked it!
I tried this recipe today and the cake came out ‘soo good’ ! It’s moist and refreshing, perfect for summer!
So glad you liked it!
Hi! How does this recipe compare to the Olive Oil cake in texture? Is it as light and fluffy?
It does have a light texture, but not the same as the Olive oil cake. It’s really hard to describe, but it isn’t super dense and heavy. Hope you enjoy!
Can you use almond flour?
I have not tried this recipe with almond flour, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. If you try it you’ll have to let me know how it turned out!
Amazing cake. So moist, delicious, and packed with lemon flavor. Thank you Yumna
You’re so welcome, Lisa!
This was soooo good!! Super moist and delicious and I’m a horrible baker ha! so this was the best cake I’ve made
So glad it turned out well for you, Amanda!
I just baked this cake, it’s very moist, lemony and fresh! Delicious! Even my fussy son loved it:) plus it’s super easy to make.
So glad you liked it, Leila!
I love anything citrus… so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it. Well, it was DELISH😋. I followed the recipe exactly except I substituted 1myler lemon because my lemons were large. This cake is so light and spongy- definitely ‘company worthy’ per my rating system. I really enjoy following you. Your recipes are always good, easy to follow and varied. I especially liked your posts during Ramadan as my daughter lives in the Middle East and after visiting her I had a new appreciation of the foods and culture so I was familiar with the dishes you posted! Thank you!
You’re so welcome!!
Can this cake be done using any gluten free flour or almond flour instead of all purpose flour?
I have not tried this recipe using anything other than all purpose flour, I am not sure how it would turn out using gluten free flour or almond flour. If you try it you’ll have to let me know!
This looks delicious. I’m definitely going to try it. Do you use regular olive oil or extra virgin?
Thanks.
Hi Laurie, I used regular olive oil, but you can use extra virgin if that is what you have on hand. Hope you enjoy!