Ricotta Cream
This recipe is adapted from Grace Massa Langlois’ new book, Grace’s Sweet Life. If you haven’t been to her blog of the same name, I highly recommend that you visit. It’s a treasure trove of Italian and Italian-inspired bakery. Ricotta cream can be used as a filling for all sorts of things, but is most commonly seen piped into cannoli. You’ll need:
1 lb. 6 ounces (3 cups) fresh ricotta cheese, drained overnight
6 ounces (1 1/3 cups) confectioner’s sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.75 ounces (1/3 cup) finely diced candied citron or orange peel (optional)
2.75 ounces (1/3 cup) miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Put the cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle. Beat until smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the confectioner’s sugar and beat until fluffy and smooth, about 4 minutes. Stir in the candied peel or chocolate ships if using. Transfer the filling to an airtight container and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it.
Try this filling between 2 cake layers. It’s what was done for my baby shower cake, and let me tell you: A happier pregnant woman could not have been found!
Whoa…Jacki, you’re carrying a happy baby as well!
Cheers — have a delightful pregnancy and a lovely bouncing babe!
– Joe
Have done this a few times when caught short but needed an ‘fancy’ desert. I make this filling with almond extract or orange peel & flavor. then bake a chocolate box mix in 2 round pans. After cooling slice the 2 cakes across so you have 4 disks. spread the icing between the layers & on top. You can spritz the layers with Amaretto or Grand Marnier if you have it. Toss toasted almond slices or chocolate chips on top. Its simple but seems exotic.
VERY nice. Thanks very much for that, Frank!
– Joe
I tried doing this once a long time ago and was disappointed with the results because the mouthfeel was kind of gritty, and I was expecting something smoother. I never knew whether it was supposed to be like that, or I had used the wrong kind of ricotta, or had handled it wrong, and I’ve been shy to go back and try again. If it’s supposed to still feel like plain ricotta in the mouth, then it’s my expectations that need adjusting. If it’s supposed to be more custard-like, how do I get there?
Hey Sialia!
My experience with it is that it’s supposed to be a little clumpy. Though there’s nothing saying you can’t sieve the cheese first, or run it through the food processor!
Cheers,
– Joe