Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake

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Adapted from Melissa Weller, this chocolate chip ricotta cake has a rich flavor and an impossibly moist texture.

Slices of chocolate chip ricotta cake on small plates.

Adapted from A Good Bake by Melissa Weller and Carolynn Carreno, this chocolate chip ricotta cake is easily one of the best cakes I have ever made — and I have baked a lot of cakes in my day. Weller, a master baker and French Culinary Institute graduate, developed the cake for Sadelle’s, a brunch mecca in Soho, New York City. The addition of ricotta cheese gives the cake a rich flavor and an impossibly moist texture. The cake is also jam-packed with mini chocolate chips, making it a crowdpleaser for all ages.

What You’ll Need To Make Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake

chocolate chip ricotta cake ingredients

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

dry ingredients in bowl

Whisk well and set aside.

whisked dry ingredients

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, combine the the butter and sugar.

butter and sugar in bowl

Cream on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down the sides as necessary.

creamed butter and sugar

Add the eggs one at a time, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl between each addition.

adding the eggs one at a timeBeat in the vanilla (don’t worry if the batter looks curdled).

adding the vanilla

Add the ricotta cheese.

adding the ricotta

Mix on medium-low speed until incorporated.

batter before adding dry ingredients

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the dry ingredients in one addition.

adding dry ingredients

Mix on low speed until just combined.

Cake batter in a stand mixer.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and add the chocolate chips.

adding chocolate chips to ricotta cake batter

Using a rubber spatula, fold the chocolate chips into the batter until they are evenly dispersed, making sure to scrape the very bottom of the bowl. (You’ll notice that the ricotta cheese gives the batter a slightly grainy texture.)
Spatula in a bowl of batter.

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and use an offset spatula to smooth and level out the top.

chocolate chip ricotta cake ready to bake

Bake the cake for 55 to 65 minutes, until completely set and golden brown on top. Place the pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes.

baked chocolate chip ricotta cake

Run a thin knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake, if necessary, then remove the ring of the springform pan.

cake cooling on a rack

Let the cake cool completely on the rack before cutting. Enjoy!

Slices of chocolate chip ricotta cake on small plates.

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Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake

Slices of chocolate chip ricotta cake on small plates.

Adapted from Melissa Weller, this chocolate chip ricotta cake has a rich flavor and an impossibly moist texture.

Servings: 12
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 50 Minutes
Total Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour (preferably King Arthur), spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1½ sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1⅔ cups whole milk ricotta cheese, preferably Galbani brand
  • 1¼ cups mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray a 9- or 10-inch springform pan (see note) with nonstick cooking spray with flour, such as Baker's Joy or Pam with Flour. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and spray again.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add the eggs one at a time, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl between each addition. Beat in the vanilla (don't worry if the batter looks curdled). Add the ricotta cheese and mix on medium-low speed until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the dry ingredients in one addition. Mix on low speed until just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Using a rubber spatula, fold the chocolate chips into the batter until they are evenly dispersed, making sure to scrape the very bottom of the bowl. (You'll notice that the ricotta cheese gives the batter a slightly grainy texture.)
  4. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and use an offset spatula to smooth and level out the top. Bake the cake for 55 to 65 minutes, until completely set and golden brown on top. (If the top starts to get too dark towards the end, cover the pan loosely with foil.) Place the pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake, if necessary, then remove the ring of the springform pan. Let the cake cool completely on the rack before cutting.
  5. Note: If you don't have a springform pan, a 9-inch square pan works well (a 9-inch round pan, however, is too small). If you'd like to be able to remove the cake from the square pan, you can line the pan with a parchment sling.
  6. Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake can be made 1 day ahead of time and stored in a cake dome at room temperature. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months; after the cake is completely cooled, wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or freezer wrap. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (12 servings)
  • Calories: 460
  • Fat: 23 g
  • Saturated fat: 14 g
  • Carbohydrates: 56 g
  • Sugar: 40 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 8 g
  • Sodium: 300 mg
  • Cholesterol: 98 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • Hey, Jenn

    I forgot to bring up one important thing.

    I cut into it after an appropriate time of cooling and the texture was perfect…except for the center, which was a bit underdone, almost mushy. The next day I reheated the cake covered in foil at 275, which made a huge difference – firmed up the center without overbaking/drying out the rest of the cake.

    Having had this experience, next time I make this would it be better to bake this on convection mode? My gut instinct leads me to feel that the cake would bake more evenly. I’ve baked cookies and scones on convection before, but never a cake.

    Thoughts?

    • — Jeffrey D - Minneapolis, MN on April 25, 2025
    • Reply
    • Hi Jeffrey, it sounds like it was just slightly underbaked. Next time, you could leave it in for a few extra minutes or it’s perfectly fine too use the convection setting if you’d like.

  • This was fantastic! I’ll definitely be making this again.

    I have two questions, Jenn:

    1) Do you think by reducing the vanilla from 1 Tbsp to 1 1/2 tsp it will allow the richness of the dairy to come forward? (The cake almost bordered on a bit too sweet for me.)

    2) What ingredients other than chocolate chips might you consider trying this with?

    • — Jeffrey D - Minneapolis, MN on April 24, 2025
    • Reply
    • Hi Jeffrey, Glad you liked it! Regarding your first question, if you found it too sweet, I don’t think reducing the vanilla will have an impact but you could reduce the sugar a bit. And in answer to your second question, I have a cherry ricotta cake in my second book. If you have the book, it’s on page 180. If you don’t and would like the recipe, just email me at jennifer@onceuponachef.com; I’d be happy to send it to you.

  • It’s in the oven now. I used Gabaldi ricotta also, but I used the Double Cream ricotta version, as it only has four ingredients and doesn’t use thickeners. It smells wonderful!

    • — Christine S Brennan on March 25, 2025
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn, I am planning on making this cake but want to know substitute for chocolate chips since one of my family member has chocolate allergy. Thanks.

    • — Harb on March 13, 2025
    • Reply
    • I don’t think this is a great option to make if you can’t include the chocolate chips as they’re kind of the highlight. I have a cherry ricotta cake in my second cookbook if you’re interested in making a ricotta cake. If you are but don’t have to cookbook, let me know I’d be happy to email you the recipe.

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