Christmas
Louisa's Cake
- Prep time 20 minutes
- Cook time 30 minutes
- Serves 6
Author Notes
Louisa is a family friend, gardener and chef from Castellina in Chianti, Italy, where we gather several times a year. She cooks everything from memory and threw this together one night last spring. When we pressed her for the recipe she hastily rattled some ingredients off and we scrambled to write it all down on a napkin. Along with my husband and children, we've tested this cake about 6 times, and friends are constantly asking for the recipe. —SML Office —Jennifer Wagner
Test Kitchen Notes
Only a true Italian nonna could produce something this ethereal with such a simple list of ingredients. SML Office got the recipe for this cake from a family friend in Chianti (Louisa), and to us it's the epitome of a classic Italian dessert. It's airy and light, but not without integrity: ricotta, eggs and plenty of butter give it richness, grated apple lends heft, and lemon zest rescues it from being at all bland. The cake is gently sweetened, and thus equally suited to breakfast and dessert. We think it would be great with something tangy and fresh, like a fruit compote -- and rhubarb season is coming up! - A&M —The Editors
- Test Kitchen-Approved
- Your Best Recipe with Fresh Ricotta Contest Winner
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Watch This Recipe
Louisa's Cake
Ingredients
-
9 tablespoons
unsalted butter, at room temperature
-
1 cup
plus 2 tablespoons sugar
-
3
large eggs
-
1 1/4 cups
all-purpose flour
-
1 pinch
salt
-
1 cup
fresh ricotta
-
Zest of 1 lemon
-
1 tablespoon
baking powder
-
1
apple, peeled and grated (should yield about 1 cup)
-
Confectioners' sugar for serving
Directions
- Heat the oven to 400° F. Butter and flour a 9- or 10-inch springform pan.
- Cream the butter and sugar in a standing mixer until light and fluffy.
- On the lowest speed, add the eggs one at a time.
- Slowly add the flour, salt, ricotta, lemon zest, baking powder, and apple.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and the sides start to pull away from the pan.
- Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cake out of the pan and cool completely on the rack. Sift confectioners' sugar over the top or serve with your favorite seasonal fruit.
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526 Reviews
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March 13, 2025
Basically, this cake is all about simple elegance. It's one of those recipes that seems almost too easy to be so good. The base is ricotta, which gives it a light, airy texture, and the eggs and butter add richness without making it heavy. The grated apple is a clever touch, providing moisture and a bit of substance, while the lemon zest keeps everything bright and fresh. It's not overly sweet, which makes it super versatile – perfect for breakfast or as a light dessert. Plus, the editors suggest pairing it with a tangy fruit compote, especially rhubarb, which sounds absolutely divine!
Honestly, it sounds like a recipe worth treasuring and definitely one to keep on hand for any occasion :))
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I've baked this cake countless times; it's become almost second nature, just like how Italian Nonna Louisa would make it! It's my go-to for hosting friends at home or bringing a comforting treat to those who need it most—everyone adores it. Though I misplaced my recipe recently, I recalled its origin: Food 52, one of my beloved websites for discovering amazing recipes! Vidmate app has quickly become my go-to companion for video exploration.
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