Lemon Ricotta Cake Almonds (Printable)

Moist and tender cake featuring lemon zest, creamy ricotta, and crunchy almonds.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
09 - Zest of 2 lemons
10 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Almonds & Toppings

12 - 1/2 cup sliced almonds
13 - 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, for dusting

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
05 - Mix in ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
06 - Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
07 - Pour batter into prepared pan, smooth top, and sprinkle with sliced almonds. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and top is golden.
08 - Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before serving if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The ricotta keeps it incredibly moist for days unlike butter cakes that dry out
  • Its equally stunning for guests or just Tuesday coffee with your book
  • The almond topping creates this gorgeous golden crust people always ask about
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non negotiable here or the batter can curdle and separate
  • Overmixing after adding the flour makes the cake tough so stop as soon as you see no dry flour
  • The cake continues cooking slightly from pan heat so pull it when a toothpick has just a few moist crumbs not completely dry
03 -
  • Zest your lemons before juicing them its so much easier to handle
  • Use the paddle attachment on your mixer to avoid overworking the batter

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