Description
A delightful Italian torta, bursting with the bright flavors of lemon and honey. Topped with a luscious ricotta cream, its pure springtime indulgence.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (118 ml) hazelnuts
- 1 cup (237 ml) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 7 tbsp (100 ml) honey
- 1/4 cup (59 ml) packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (59 ml) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 cup (118 ml) whole milk
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- zest of one lemon
- 1 cup (237 ml) heavy cream
- 3/4 cup (178 ml) fresh whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp grappa or dessert wine
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) with rack in the middle.
- Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter and line with parchment paper.
- Pulse hazelnuts with 1 tablespoon of flour in a food processor until finely ground; transfer to a large bowl.
- Add remaining flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to the bowl; stir to combine.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together butter, ¼ cup honey, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the whole egg and egg yolk, one at a time.
- Whisk together milk, vanilla, and lemon zest.
- Alternating, add the flour mixture and milk mixture to the butter mixture in three additions.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and place the pan on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, rotating halfway through, until golden brown and springy to the touch.
- Transfer the cake to a wire rack.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of honey in a saucepan over medium-low heat until warm and viscous; brush over the cake.
- Let the cake cool completely.
For the cream
- In a large bowl, whisk together cream, cheese, honey, and liquor until soft peaks form (about 3 minutes).
- Serve cake warm or at room temperature with a large spoonful of cream.
Notes
- Toast the hazelnuts before pulsing to enhance their flavor and aroma.
- If you don’t have grappa, substitute with an equal amount of orange liqueur or lemon juice.
- For best results, let the torta cool completely before adding the ricotta cream to prevent it from melting.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 100
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 100