Ricotta Cheese Dessert Recipes: Creamy, Sweet & Savory Delights
Discover the delicious and versatile world of ricotta cheese desserts. From classic cannoli and luscious cheesecakes to creative pancakes and tarts, ricotta's creamy texture and mild flavor make it perfect for a variety of sweet treats. Learn essential tips and techniques to master ricotta desserts, and get inspired with recipes that will elevate your dessert game.
Ingredients
- Ricotta Cheese: Quality whole-milk or part-skim
- Sweeteners: Sugar honey, maple syrup
- Citrus Zest: Orange lemon
- Spices: Cinnamon vanilla extract
- Fruit: Fresh berries peaches
- Baking Ingredients: Eggs flour, butter, graham crackers (for crust)
- Additional Flavors: Chocolate chips nuts, Marsala wine (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the cannoli dough and fry until crisp.
- Mix ricotta with sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon for the filling.
- Pipe the filling into the cooled cannoli shells.
- For New York-style cheesecake, make a graham cracker crust, fill with a dense ricotta mixture, and bake.
- For Italian-style cheesecake, use a sponge cake base and a lighter ricotta filling.
- For a no-bake cheesecake, combine ricotta with sweeteners and flavors, pour into a crust, and refrigerate until set.
- Mix ricotta with flour, sugar, eggs, and flavorings such as lemon zest or chocolate chips.
- Drop dough onto a baking sheet and bake until golden.
- Optionally, frost or dip in glaze once cooled.
- Mix ricotta with pancake batter for light and fluffy pancakes.
- Serve with syrup, berries, and whipped cream, or try savory toppings like herbs and cheese.
- For a crostata, spread ricotta on a crust, top with fruit, and bake.
- For a lemon ricotta pie, use a shortbread crust and a lemon-flavored ricotta filling.
- For a chocolate ricotta tart, combine ricotta with melted chocolate and bake in a tart shell.
- Whip ricotta with honey, vanilla, or liqueur until smooth.
- Serve chilled, garnished with fresh fruit or nuts.
- Blend ricotta with fruit and sweeteners.
- Freeze in molds for a refreshing treat.
Notes
- Choosing Ricotta: Whole-milk ricotta for richness; part-skim for a lighter option.
- Flavor Boosters: Citrus zest, vanilla, cinnamon, herbs, roasted vegetables.
- Storage: Refrigerate most ricotta desserts; cookies can be stored in an airtight container for a few days. Cheesecakes and some cookies freeze well.
- Handling Watery Ricotta: Strain through cheesecloth to remove excess moisture.
- Health Tips: Ricotta is high in protein and calcium. Opt for natural sweeteners and fresh fruit for a healthier dessert.