Ricotta Cake With Cake Mix

By
Carroll Pellegrinelli
Carroll Pellegrinelli
Expert baker and published author, Carroll Pellegrinelli shares her knowledge of bread baking and desserts.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/22/21
Ricotta cake recipe

The Spruce 

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 55 mins
Total: 75 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 9-by13-inch cake

You may not think that you can make ricotta cake with a cake mix, but you can use a standard cake mix and make a traditional ricotta cake. This recipe starts with a yellow cake mix that you can find at the grocery store and combines ricotta cheese. Some feature other flavors such as raspberry or lemon. 

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ricotta

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 4 large eggs

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 (18.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for ricotta cake
    The Spruce

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease an oblong 13- by 9-inch pan.

    Grease an oblong pan
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  3. In a bowl, mix ricotta, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

    Mix ricotta and sugar
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  4. Then add the yellow cake mix. Mix ingredients thoroughly.

    Add yellow cake mix
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  5. Transfer the mixture to the pan.

    Transfer mixture to pan
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  6. Bake for 55 minutes to one hour.

  7. Cool the cake.

    Cool the cake
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  8. Slice and serve.

More on Ricotta Cheese

A ricotta cake includes ricotta cheese, which is a whey cheese that is made from whey that is left over from cheese production. It is made by coagulating proteins, albumin, and globulin, that are left over after the casein is used to make cheese. Ricotta means "recooked," and the cheese is produced by passing the liquid through a fine cloth so the curd is left behind. It is similar to cottage cheese in liquid through a fine cloth so the curd is left behind. It is similar to cottage cheese in texture and can have varying fat content. It has a slightly sweet taste.

Production of it dates back to the Bronze Age in Italy. Traditionally, it was made with whey and a small amount of milk. In the United States, whole-milk ricotta is popular and known as "ricottone." In cooking, it is often used as a part of Italian meals, or in cheesecake and cannolis. When it is mixed with eggs and cooked grains, it is the centerpiece of Neapolitan pastiera, a popular Italian Easter pie.

More Types of Ricotta Cheese

There are different types of ricotta cheese available, and they are made through different methods such as baking, salting, smoking, and additional fermentation. They include the following:

  • Ricotta salata is a firm, pressed variety of ricotta that is salted and dried, often grated or shaved on top of food. It is sold in cheese wheel form. 

  • Ricotta infornata, also known as ricotta al forno, is made by baking ricotta until the crust is charred or becomes brown throughout. This type of ricotta is popular mostly in Sicily and Sardinia. 

  • Ricotta affumicata, which is similar to ricotta infornata, is smoked ricotta. 

  • Ricotta forte, which is also called ricotta scanta, is a salted, creamy brown paste that can be smeared on bread.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
536 Calories
14g Fat
85g Carbs
18g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 536
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 17%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 128mg 43%
Sodium 625mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 85g 31%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 54g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 461mg 35%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 208mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)