Me Amore' - Italian Love Cake
"You don’t have to be an ‘Italiano’ to enjoy this ‘slice of heaven.’ The moist shortcake-like density, generous layer of sweetened ricotta cheese, and cinnamon-sugar crumble topping will surely impress family, friends, and guests alike. Surprisingly simple to prepare, the result is unbelievably delicious! Your guests will think you slaved for hours over this splendid dessert cake. That’s O.K. – Just smile and sip your after dinner espresso.
Please Note: I would like to share credit for this "Italian Love Cake" recipe version with the Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation."
- Ready In:
- 1hr 20mins
- Ingredients:
- 13
- Serves:
-
12
ingredients
-
For The Cake
- 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package cake mix (Yellow or lemon, Your favorite brand)
- 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil
- 8 large eggs, Plus
- 3 eggs, needed to prepare the cake mix
- 3 lbs whole milk ricotta cheese (Drained, See 'directions')
- 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (Not imitation)
-
For The Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
- 1⁄4 cup dark brown sugar (Packed)
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch squares (Chilled)
directions
-
For The Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees*.
- Grease and flour a 12x15x3 cake pan.
- Prepare the cake according to the package instructions; using the 3 eggs and vegetable oil.
- Pour the cake mix into the prepared pan, spread evenly, and set aside.
- SPECIAL TIP: If desired, mix cake batter using 1 cup water and 1/4 cup Anisette, Limoncello, Frangelico or other liqueur in place of the 1 1/4 cups of water as called for on the package directions.
- With a mixer on medium speed, beat the remaining eggs; add the ricotta cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until sooth and fluffy.
- Carefully pour over the middle of the cake mix. DO NOT SPREAD OR BLEND THE TWO BATTERS TOGETHER.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. (Ricotta cheese will go to the bottom.)
- Remove from the oven; cool in pan on baker's rack.
-
For The Topping:
- In a food processor or blender, blend the first 5 ingredients together.
- Add chilled butter cubes; cut in until the mixture looks like wet sand.
-
To Finish Off The Cake:
- Cool cake until warm, about 1 hour. Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar crumbles over the cake.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or gelato and a cup of steaming espresso. "That's Amore' !".
- ______________________________________________________________.
- TO DRAIN RICOTTA CHEESE: Wrap ricotta in a double layer of cheesecloth. Place in a colander, weighed down with 2 or 3 soup-like cans from your pantry. Drain over a bowl in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- *NOTE: If using a glass baking dish or disposable foil pan, bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
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Reviews
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I tried this cake on my son and family. I made the mistake of using a 9x13 regular cake pan. It was very full, I baked it longer. Untill tooth pick came out fairly clean. It was very dense, but very good too! The kids ate it with coffee in the morning.
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It was at my Italian grandmother's apron strings, in the "Patterson, New Jersey region" of Italy, that I learned the secrets of creating real home style Italian dishes, and where my passion for food and my culture were nurtured.
Always kept neat as a pin, grandma's kitchen was the centerpiece of our social settings and the focal point of our lives together as a family. Yes, it was the heart of her home. There, friends and family exchanged news, grandchildren stood on stools over the counter and grated chunks of Romano and Parmesan cheese to be served with dinner, and under the watchful eye of grandma the women (young and old) planned and prepared mouthwatering menus that reflected the marvelous flavors and textures of Italian cooking.
On any given day tantalizing aromas would build and escape through her kitchen window, dance about the balcony and drift down onto the street; where men chatting on the corner of Putnum Street would stop in their tracks to inhale the mouth-watering fragrance. So many sumptuous meals were prepared in that modest, yet functional, kitchen.
If I close my eyes and think of Grandma's cooking, I can vividly recall some of those fragrant food memories: tomato sauce with meatballs and sausages simmering on the stove top; onions, peppers and garlic roasting in a fragrant pool of olive oil, Neapolitan pizza with vine-ripened tomatoes (from grandpa's garden), fresh garlic, basil, Parmesan and anchovies bubbling in the oven; Italian bread smothered with creamy butter, minced garlic, and fresh parsley toasting under the broiler ... "Yummmmm - Heaven in your mouth!"
Among the many recipes that I've collected over the years, are those that I hold especially near and dear. They are tattered, faded pieces of paper that provide a glimpse into my past -- Family recipes passed down from mother to daughter, granddaughter to great-granddaughter. Generations of my family's heritage are captured in grandma's recipes for flavorful soups (Minestrone, Pea, Ruccola); hearty meat, poultry and fish dishes (braciole, pot roast, chicken casseroles, seafood stews); fresh vegetable entrees and salads, and those baked goodies that bring a happy ending to every meal (Ricotta pies, Struffoli, Cenci, Pine Nut cookies). Whenever I am 'hungry' for "the good old days" or I want to soothe my soul after a tiring day, these are the comfort-recipes to which I turn.
I once heard it said: "What distinguishes great cooks from good cooks is that great cooks love to cook. Every meal is an opportunity to express that love." A credo that I am certain grandma lived by -- I believe that she prepared her meals to fill her family and friends with love. I am proud of grandma's spirit of "abbondanza" (an abundant table). Indeed, no one ever left grandma's table hungry.
I'd like to share with you some of the foods from my beloved grandmother's kitchen. Enjoy and make these Italian classic favorites in your own family's kitchen.
Buon appetito!
