Description
This Orange-Ricotta Pound Cake is a moist, tender loaf bursting with fresh orange zest and a hint of amaretto. It combines creamy ricotta cheese with classic pound cake ingredients for a rich texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more to grease the baking pan
- 1 1/2 cups cake flour or all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 orange, zested
- 2 tablespoons amaretto (or Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
- Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9- or 10 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan very well with butter to prevent sticking.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour (or all-purpose flour), baking powder, and kosher salt until well combined.
- Using a mixer, beat the unsalted butter, whole-milk ricotta, and 1.5 cups granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Then add the vanilla extract, orange zest, and amaretto, mixing until just combined.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet batter in small amounts, mixing only until just incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, filling it no more than 3/4 full. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Perfect for gifting or enjoying with afternoon tea.
- The cake is best served fresh but can be stored in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg