What makes this an "Italian" love cake?

The defining Italian characteristic of this beloved Italian-American dessert is the ricotta cheese layer paired with cake in this most uniquely layered format. Ricotta cheese is a most classically Italian dairy ingredient frequently used in Italian desserts including cannoli and cheesecake. This particular combination of ricotta and cake has become a most beloved dessert tradition embraced widely throughout America, particularly within Italian-American families and communities.

Why didn't my ricotta layer sink to the bottom?

The most common causes of the ricotta layer failing to sink properly are accidentally stirring the two batters together even slightly during pouring, using a cake mix with pudding already incorporated into the dry ingredients, using a gluten-free cake mix which tends to be denser, or overbeating the ricotta mixture until it becomes too thick and aerated to sink properly through the cake batter beneath.

Can I add flavoring to the ricotta filling?

Yes. A small amount of fresh lemon zest or orange zest stirred into the ricotta filling adds the most beautifully bright and the most subtle citrus undertone that complements the chocolate cake layer most wonderfully. Different flavored extracts can also be experimented with for the most personalized and the most completely extraordinary variation on the classic recipe.

Italian Love Cake Easy Ricotta Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Name: Italian Love Cake The Most Easy Ricotta Chocolate Cake Pudding Whipped Topping Layered Cake You Will Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: PT-497485H24M57S
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 containers 15 oz each Ricotta Cheese; 1 cup Granulated Sugar; 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract; 4 large Eggs room temperature; 1 box 15.25 oz Chocolate or Devils Food Cake Mix; 1/2 cup Canola or Vegetable Oil; 1 cup Water; 3 large Eggs for cake; 1 box 5 oz Instant Chocolate Pudding; 3 cups Milk cold; 1 container 8 oz Whipped Topping thawed

Description

The most magical self-layering Italian Love Cake made by preheating oven to 350°F greasing 9×13-inch dish beating two 15 oz containers ricotta cheese with 1 cup sugar and vanilla smooth slowly working in 4 eggs one at a time mixing chocolate cake mix with 1/2 cup oil 1 cup water and 3 eggs until smooth pouring chocolate batter into pan first then carefully pouring ricotta mixture over without stirring baking 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes until baked through and slightly jiggly in center cooling to room temperature then whisking instant chocolate pudding with 3 cups cold milk resting 2 to 3 minutes folding in thawed whipped topping spreading evenly over cooled cake and refrigerating minimum 4 hours before serving. A completely magical self-layering Italian love cake recipe.

Ingredients

Scale

2 containers 15 oz each Ricotta Cheese

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

4 large Eggs room temperature

1 box 15.25 oz Chocolate or Devils Food Cake Mix

1/2 cup Canola or Vegetable Oil

1 cup Water

3 large Eggs for cake

1 box 5 oz Instant Chocolate Pudding

3 cups Milk cold

1 container 8 oz Whipped Topping thawed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9×13-inch baking dish.

2. Beat ricotta cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Slowly work in eggs one at a time.

3. Mix cake mix, oil, water, and eggs in separate bowl until smooth.

4. Pour chocolate cake batter into prepared pan.

5. Carefully pour ricotta mixture over chocolate batter without stirring.

6. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes until baked through, slightly jiggly in center.

7. Cool to room temperature.

8. Whisk instant pudding with cold milk until combined. Rest 2 to 3 minutes.

9. Fold in thawed whipped topping.

10. Spread pudding frosting evenly over cooled cake.

11. Cover and refrigerate minimum 4 hours before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Category: Dessert, Cake, Italian, Holiday
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian, American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 385
Sugar: 32g
Sodium: 320mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 48g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 9g
Cholesterol: 95mg

Keywords: italian love cake, easy ricotta chocolate italian love cake recipe self layering pudding, best italian american ricotta chocolate cake, magical self layering ricotta dessert