Italian Love Cake Recipe: A Decadent Dessert with a Magical Twist Recipe
Italian Love Cake is a luscious layered dessert featuring a moist chocolate cake base topped with a rich, creamy ricotta layer, and finished with a smooth chocolate pudding frosting. This decadent cake combines velvety textures and rich flavors, making it a perfect treat for special occasions or any time you crave an indulgent sweet.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Ricotta Layer
- 2 (15 oz) containers ricotta cheese
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs (room temperature)
Chocolate Cake
- 1 (15.25 oz) box chocolate cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 3 large eggs
Pudding Frosting
- 1 (5 oz) box instant chocolate pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
- 1 (8 oz) container whipped topping, thawed
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Make Ricotta Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Prepare Cake Batter: Follow the directions on the chocolate cake mix box, mixing together the cake mix, vegetable oil, water, and eggs until fully combined.
- Layer Cake and Ricotta: Pour the prepared chocolate cake batter evenly into the greased baking dish. Slowly and carefully pour the ricotta mixture over the top of the cake batter to create two distinct layers.
- Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the center of the cake is set and a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Remove from oven and let the cake cool completely in the pan.
- Prepare Pudding Frosting: In a bowl, whisk the instant chocolate pudding mix with the cold milk until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until smooth and combined.
- Frost the Cake: Spread the pudding frosting evenly over the completely cooled cake, smoothing with a spatula for full coverage.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the cake for at least 4 hours to allow the layers to set and the flavors to meld. Slice and serve chilled for the best texture and taste.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs for better incorporation in the ricotta and cake batters.
- Ensure the cake is fully cooled before frosting to prevent the pudding topping from melting.
- For a richer flavor, substitute water in the cake mix with milk or coffee.
- Chilling the cake overnight enhances the flavor and texture.
- This cake can be made a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
Keywords: Italian Love Cake, ricotta cake, chocolate cake, creamy chocolate pudding frosting, layered dessert, Italian dessert
