Lemon Ricotta Cake Inspired by Flavours of the South
Cakes & Cookies · David Scott Allen · Dessert · Provencal Recipes · TasteIn our house, this dessert is named after our friend Luisa and inspired by Louisa’s Cake from Castellina in Chianti. The tangy combination of lemon zest and fresh ricotta are a terrific balance with sweet apple and raspberry jam. Take a look at the original post “Heard it From a Friend” for step-by-step photos of this Lemon Ricotta Cake.

Luisa’s Louisa’s Lemon Ricotta Cake
This cake is easy to make, requires only a few ingredients and provides a delicious finish.
Ingredients
- 9 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup Ricotta cheese
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 cup (approx) apple peeled and grated
- 1/2 cup (approx) seedless raspberry jam
- confectioners’ sugar for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F. Butter and flour a 9-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 grated apple.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the cake is deep 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.
- Using a long, serrated knife, slice the cake in two horizontally. Because the cake is tender and will break, use a rimless cookie sheet or the bottom of a French tart pan to slide under the top of the cake to remove it. (See photo.)

- Spread the jam over the bottom and then return the top.
- Sift confectioners' sugar over the top and serve.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication InformationAffiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Related Provence Articles
Celebration Recipe Baba au Rhum
December 9, 2016
A French classic Baba au Rhum: A soft spongy cake soaked in aromatic aged rum and topped with fresh whipped cream.…
Remembering My Grandmother’s Chocolate Cake Recipe
July 3, 2020
A Book with Provencal Recipes: Small-town florist Natasha is determined to leave the past far behind her. But when she learns her ex-husband never told his family about their divorce – and that he needs her to accompany him on a trip to the French countryside – could love bloom again between them? ~ Excerpt …
Entertaining? A French Winter Menu from Dancing Tomatoes
January 3, 2023
For our 2023 Winter Menu, we turned to author, chef, and journalist Susan Herrmann Loomis, who has 20 years of culinary teaching experience. Loomis has published 14 best-selling cookbooks and founded the Dancing Tomatoes website. Living in Paris, she offers live cooking classes via video link and a collection of six (6) pre-recorded instructional videos …
Lemon Tart for any Season (and Reason)
March 20, 2018
Lemon tart is Tarte au citron in French. Regardless, of language the blend of tangy and sweet is enough to turn even a non-dessert eater into a fan. This recipe comes from Provence Food and Wine: The Art of Living a cookbook and reflection on the Mediterranean lifestyle with photos by François Millo.…
No Comment