Blueberry Ricotta Cake is a delicious light and lemony Italian cake recipe that’s made with ricotta cheese and fresh blueberries. This simple cake is perfect for dessert or brunch, and is great for any occasion!
5-STAR REVIEW: Oh my this cake was delicious, we love blueberry and lemon the addition of ricotta was so good, it didn’t last long in our house!
Blueberry Ricotta Cake is sure to be your new favorite. The cake is light and slightly dense with a sweet finish. It’s perfect served with a cup of hot coffee and is great for dessert or even breakfast.
If you’ve never had a ricotta cake before, you are in for a treat. The ricotta makes the cake super moist and fluffy, with a slightly dense finish.
If you love ricotta cakes, be sure to try this fan-favorite Almond Ricotta Cake and this Raspberry Ricotta Cake. And, for a true classic, don’t miss this Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake recipe or these flavorful Lemon Blondies!
The Best Blueberry Ricotta Cake
One bite and you’ll agree that this cake is truly something special. It’s both light and slightly dense, with a subtly sweet and smooth finish.
This recipe has been tested and perfected! I have made it so many times and it’s a cake I get asked to make again and again. It’s a great recipe to have on hand for the holidays, or whenever you are craving a sweet treat.
This cake stays super moist thanks to the ricotta cheese. It’s great to make ahead of time and have on hand for when guests arrive.
You’re also going to love the flavor combo you get from the blueberries and lemon. The tart sweetness from the lemon juice and zest pairs perfectly with the sweet blueberries.
Blueberry Ricotta Cake is a simple recipe to put together too! Just be sure to follow the instructions of beating the ricotta for at least 4-5 minutes, and you’ll get the perfect cake crumb every time.
Ingredients
The ingredients needed to make this Blueberry Ricotta Cake include: butter, sugar, ricotta cheese, eggs, vanilla, lemon, flour, baking soda, salt, and blueberries.
- Butter: Be sure you are using room temperature (not melted) unsalted butter.
- Ricotta: Given a choice, always use full-fat ricotta cheese for baking. Be sure to drain the ricotta if it is wet, however, most store-bought ricotta cheese will not need to be drained.
- Lemon: Since you are using the zest of the lemon for this recipe, try to use an organic lemon if you can find it.
- Blueberries: The blueberry is the star of this recipe, so use the best fresh blueberries you can find! Organic is ideal. You may use frozen blueberries. Be sure to defrost them first then pat dry any moisture before adding to the batter.
How to Make Blueberry Ricotta Cake
Once you have mastered this cake, I guarantee you will make it again and again. It’s simple to do and full of flavor.
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter and set aside.
Step 1: In a large bowl, use a handheld mixer to beat together the butter and sugar until well combined. Then, add in the ricotta cheese and continue mixing for at least 4-5 minutes. Do not skip this step. The ricotta needs to be beaten well before moving on the next step.
Step 2: Add in the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Then add in the vanilla, lemon zest and juice. Mix until combined. Add in the baking soda, salt, and flour and mix until just combined.
Step 3: Fold in about three fourths of the blueberries. Use a rubber spatula to mix them in and scrape the walls of the bowl.
Step 4: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and top with the remaining blueberries. Bake in the center rack of the oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Finishing the Cake
Once the cake is cooked through, let it sit in the pan on a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes. Use a butter knife to loosen the edges of the cake and then remove the collar from the pan. Let the cake cool completely.
When the cake has cooled, you can use a butter knife and large spatula to move it off the base of the springform pan. Place on a cake plate and decorate.
You can finish this cake with fresh blueberries and sprinkle of powdered sugar over top. The cake would also be delicious with a simple powdered sugar icing or some whipped cream.
You can store the Blueberry Ricotta Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for three days. But, for maximum freshness, store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Helpful Recipe Tips
Once you’ve mastered this cake, you’ll want to make it all the time. Here are my tips and tricks to getting the perfect Blueberry Ricotta Cake every time.
- Drain your ricotta cheese if it seems really wet. However, you rarely have to strain store-bought ricotta cheese, just pour off any liquid that gathered at the top of the container.
- Be sure to use a handheld mixer to beat together the ricotta, butter, and sugar for 5 minutes! This is a necessary step and will ensure that you have a light and airy cake.
- Check your cake for doneness using a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake. If you find that your cake is getting too dark and is not done cooking yet, just cover it lightly with foil and let it continue baking until it is done.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, before removing the collar of the springform pan. And make sure the cake is completely cooled before sprinkling with powdered sugar and slicing.
FAQs
You can store your ricotta cake in an airtight container on the counter for up to three days. However, for maximum freshness, store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Ricotta cakes can be frozen with excellent results. Store in an airtight container or zip top bag in the freezer for up to two months. Defrost in the refrigerator when ready to eat.
Yes, you can use frozen blueberries in a cake, however fresh is best. To use the frozen blueberries, thaw them first. Then use a towel to dry up any excess moisture. You can then use the blueberries as instructed in the recipe.
More Ricotta Desserts
I love baking with ricotta cheese. It makes deliciously light and moist dessert with so much flavor. Here are some of my favorite ricotta desserts:
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or review in the comments section further down the page.
Blueberry Ricotta Cake
Equipment
- 9 inch springform pan
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened (one and a half sticks)
- 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese (drained if wet)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour (210 grams)
- 2 cups fresh blueberries, divided (about 10 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld mixer to beat together the sugar and butter until well combined. Add in the drained ricotta and blend until light and fluffy; about 4-5 minutes.
- Mix in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add in the vanilla, lemon zest and juice, and mix until combined. In the same bowl, mix in the baking soda and salt. Then, slowly mix in the flour until the mixture is just combined. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and fully incorporate the ingredients.
- Fold in 1 ½ cups of blueberries into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan. Sprinkle on the remaining blueberries.
- Bake for 55-65 minutes. You will know the cake is done when the sides pull away from the edges of the pan and the top is golden brown. Always test for doneness using a toothpick inserted in the middle of cake; the toothpick will come out clean when the cake is ready to be taken out of the oven.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing the collar of the pan. To remove the base, use a butter knife to loosen the bottom then slide the cake off using a spatula (or you can serve it on the base). Once the cake is cool, dust the top with powdered sugar before serving.
Video
Notes
- If you don’t have a springform pan, you can bake this in a large cake pan, bundt pan, or 9 x 13 baking pan, just be sure to adjust the cooking time and test for doneness using a toothpick.
- Most store-bought ricotta cheese does not need to be drained before using. You can just pour off any liquid that is on top. However, if you happen to have a wet ricotta cheese, strain it in a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth before adding.
- You must use a hand mixer to whip up the ricotta cheese along with the butter and sugar for 4-5 minutes. Don’t skip this step or you will end up with a denser cake.
- Fresh blueberries work best in this recipe. If you only have frozen, be sure to defrost and then use a paper towel to dry the berries and soak up any moisture.
- If notice the cake starting to brown in the oven before it is done, cover it lightly with foil so it can continue baking without browning.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Can you use almond flour instead of regular flour?
Yes, it will just be more dense.
This was amazing, moist, and got so many compliments. I didn’t have any lemons, so I substituted an orange instead, It was soooo good! Can’t wait to try it with lemons.
Great idea!
The most delicious, moist and rich cake. And so simple to make. Best part last good for 10 days without compromising the taste.
Made it and it’s amazing and easy to make. Thank you
I was a bit distracted when I made this cake, and for some reason I put it in the oven, forgetting to add the baking powder and flour (🤯). I mean who does that? I pulled the spring form pan out of the oven, sprinkled the baking powder and flour over the top, and quickly mixed it all together. Expecting a real dude, I pulled out the cake after 55 minutes, let it cool, and cut into a delicious and moist cake. When I tell you the recipe is foolproof, I am not kidding!
This is a great recipe! I made it for the holiday and substituted fresh cranberries for blueberries and used orange zest and juice instead of lemon, Just as wonderful!!!! Thank you 😊
I made this lemon blueberry ricotta cake for a Christmas dessert and it was easy to prepare and delicious! It was very well received and was great as a breakfast ‘leftover’ for a couple additional days! I may add some lemon zest and a little bit more lemon juice to highlight the lemon, but it’s great as is!
Amazing, delicious, light cake. Will make again and again.
Divine! Moist and delicious. Reduced sugar by 75g, and sprinkled Demerara. On top before baking. Love it!
Love this cake with blueberries. Love your chocolate chip ricotta cake too. Can I make the blueberry recipe with chocolate chips instead of the blueberries? Thank you
So happy you enjoyed the cake! Yes, for a chocolate chip version be sure to try my Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake https://thisitaliankitchen.com/chocolate-chip-ricotta-cake/
Sorry, just to clarify, if I wish to make it gluten free, I would use 1 1/2 cups GF instead of 1 1/2 cups all purpose?
That’s correct!