Saturday, March 28, 2020

Ricotta-Citrus Bundt Cake

Let's brighten up the day with a slice (or two) of this soft and delicate ricotta and citrus bundt cake
Ciao! I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.
Here is an easy and sweet recipe for you, that I hope will brighten up your day as much as it did mine.
This bundt cake is made with delicate ricotta cheese which yields an extra moist and dense cake. It's flavored with a touch of lemon and orange zest and juice, for an extra citrusy flavor. And it's sprinkled with a little (or a lot!) of powdered sugar for a beautiful presentation... The eye needs is part too. Take a look!


This recipe is pretty easy to make. All you need is a bundt baking pan. Here is the one I have and I love: 
Make sure to check out my Amazon Storefront here. What I have on there are some of my favorite kitchen supplies that I bought on Amazon and that I love!  (Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn a small percentage from any qualifying purchase from my website or storefront).

Also, PLEASE check out MY NEW COOKBOOK!!!! Sorry for being so loud, but YES, I'm that excited about it! As I mentioned before, The Complete Italian Cookbook is all about the most beloved (and my favorite) traditional recipes from various regions of Italy. With 110 recipes, you will find how to make the most popular appetizers, soups and salad, pasta and risotto, polenta and bread, meat and fish. And desserts of course. The book is available for pre-order right now on Amazon, and will be on sale on April 28, 2020. 
You can find it here
Now let's talk cake for a second. Here are a few things you might need to know 
before you start with this recipe.
 - As in many cake, you want to start with soft/room temperature butter, which you'll beat well with the sugar (mixes recommended for this step, but not necessary). All the nice and fluffy blending should be done with the wet ingredients only. When the dry and wet come together the least amount of mixing is the best... to keep the cake soft and moist. 
- Make sure to grease your pan well. Use butter or a spray. And no matter what you are using, make sure to get it in each of the fold of the pan. I suggest using a brush if possible to avoid the cake sticking and breaking into pieces when flipping it over at the end. 
- It's best if you bake in the lower third part of the oven. Depending on your oven this cake might take between 45 and 50 minutes to be ready. I've used my smallest oven and mine was ready right at 45 minutes. My bigger oven normally takes longer. So I suggest start checking at 30 minutes (cover loosely with aluminum foil if the top gets too dark). And around the 45 minutes mark test with a toothpick. 
- Let the bundt cake cool down in the pan for 5 to 10  minutes. And flip onto a serving dish or cooling rack. I like the cooling rack best... It's a lot lighter and easier to flip. 
Ready to try it out too?!?
Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

YIELD: 1 bundt cake, 8 to 12 servings
    • 3 cups (390 gr) all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 4 oz (113 gr) unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 1 cups (200 gr) sugar
    • 3 large eggs
    • 14 oz (400 gr) ricotta cheese (I used whole   milk)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 lemon, zest and juice (about 1/4 cup)
    • 1 orange, zest and juice (about 1/4 cup) 
    • 1 cup (235 ml) milk
    • powdered sugar, to decorate

PREPARATION:

TIME: about 1 hour

    Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
    In a large bowl, add the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine.
    In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy.
    Add the eggs, one at a time, while beating till smooth and fluffy.
    Add the ricotta cheese and beat some more.
    Beat in the vanilla extract, lemon and orange zest (finely grated) and juice of both.
    Add about 1/2 of the dry ingredients to the wet, while blending at low speed just until combined.
    Add the milk and blend quickly.
    Add the rest of the dry ingredients and blend just until combined - Do not over mix!
    Grease a 10 cup bundt cake pan thoroughly, with butter or a spray.
    Pour the batter in the pan. Tap the pan to the counter a couple of times to level and remove air bubbles. You should have about 1 inch empty to the top of the pan, for the cake to grow when baking.
    Bake in the lower third of the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 45-50 minutes. Cover loosely with aluminum foil if the top gets too dark (I did it at around 35 minutes).
    Test with a toothpick for readiness.
    Remove from the oven and let the cake cool down in the pan for 10 minutes.
    Using a cooling rack placed on top of the bundt cake, flip the cake around. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if you like (or your favorite lemon glaze) and enjoy!







    2 comments:

    1. very nice. looking very testy. please check my blog it has a lot of recipes
      Get Easly

      ReplyDelete
    2. Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.

      ReplyDelete