Description
Luxurious chocolate chip ricotta crumb cake brings Italian-inspired comfort to classic American baking. Delicate ricotta creates a moist, tender texture while rich chocolate chips deliver irresistible sweetness you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2½ cups (590 milliliters) all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups (355 milliliters) + 2 tablespoons ricotta cheese
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) butter, very cold or frozen and grated
Sweeteners and Sugars:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) granulated sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 milliliters) powdered/icing sugar
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) mini chocolate chips
Leavening and Seasoning Agents:
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 pinch salt (if using unsalted butter, add ¼ teaspoon salt)
Binding Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Thoroughly crumple a large parchment square, dampen it, and line an 8-inch round cake pan, ensuring even coverage and minimal wrinkles.
- Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
- Grate frozen butter directly into the dry ingredients, using a fork to transform the mixture into a coarse, sandy texture.
- Incorporate an egg into the crumbly dough, mixing until the ingredients barely hold together without becoming overly smooth.
- Carefully press approximately two-thirds of the crumb mixture into the pan’s bottom and sides, creating an even, sturdy base. Refrigerate while preparing the filling.
- In a separate bowl, whip ricotta, sugar, and egg until the mixture achieves a silky, consistent cream-like consistency.
- Gently fold mini chocolate chips into the ricotta mixture, distributing them evenly throughout the filling.
- Extract the chilled crust from the refrigerator and spread the ricotta filling in a smooth, uniform layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the filling, then generously scatter additional mini chocolate chips across the surface.
- Position the cake in a preheated 350°F oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until the top transforms into a rich, golden-brown color.
- Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature, ensuring structural integrity and enhanced flavor development.
- Before serving, dust the surface with a delicate layer of powdered sugar and optionally accompany with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Crumple and wet parchment paper creates a unique, easy-to-release cake liner that prevents sticking and adds moisture to the pan.
- Freezing and grating butter helps create a perfect, flaky crumb texture that distributes evenly throughout the cake.
- Use drained ricotta to prevent excess liquid, ensuring a creamy and stable filling that doesn’t make the cake soggy.
- Mini chocolate chips distribute more evenly than regular chips, providing a consistent chocolate flavor in every bite.
- Chilling the crust before adding filling helps set the base and prevents the crumb from becoming too soft or absorbing moisture.
- Cooling the cake completely allows the filling to set and develops deeper, richer flavors, making it taste even better after resting.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg