Lemon & Ricotta Cake

This Lemon & Ricotta Cake is the perfect citrusy dessert or celebration cake. Completely gluten-free and topped with flaked almonds, it's elegant and totally delicious!

Whether you eat a gluten-free diet, are catering for a gluten-free friend, or simply prefer gluten-free cakes, then this is the recipe for you!!

Some of my very favourite cake and brownie recipes are gluten-free - like my Gluten-Free Orange and Almond Cake, Super Easy 3 Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake, and Gluten-Free Almond and Coconut Cake! They are all so moist and rich in flavour.

This Lemon & Ricotta Cake is so sweet and full of flavour, you would never guess it doesn't have any flour (and you certainly don't need to be gluten-free to enjoy it!)

This Lemon & Ricotta cake is dense yet moist, with a creamy ricotta cheese and lemon filling, decorated simply with crunchy flaked almonds, a dusting of sugar, and fresh berries too (if you like).

It's gorgeous and elegant enough to serve to company or at a party, but easy enough to make for an afternoon tea treat.

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

1. Only 10 Minutes To Prep – This recipe only takes a few minutes to mix and decorate. The rest of the time is in the oven!
2. No Flour – This Lemon & Ricotta Cake uses almond meal, so it's gluten-free and a little bit lighter in carbs that other cakes.
3. Elegant (Yet Easy) – Like a fancy dessert, this recipe will impress your guests, yet doesn't take a lot of effort or skill to make!
4. Fresh & Zesty - The lemon zest gives this moist cake a summery and fresh flavour.

What You Need

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

• ricotta – a soft Italian cheese, ricotta can be found in the specialty cheese section at most supermarkets, or you can even make your own.
• eggs
• lemon zest – if you've never zested a lemon, here are several methods. The easiest method is to use a fine grater and remove the yellow outer section to use (leave the white section).
• almond meal – almond meal is made from ground raw almonds, whereas almond flour is made from peeled and blanched ones. You can grind raw almonds to make your own at home.
• caster sugar – if you don't have caster sugar, you can use regular granulated sugar, or make your own by pulsing granulated sugar in the blender or food processor a few times to make it more fine.
• flaked almonds - these can be bought from the packaged nuts section of the supermarket.
• icing sugar – for dusting, also called powdered or confectioners' sugar

How To Make Gluten-Free Lemon & Ricotta Cake

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method!

Step 1 – Make The Filling

Place the ricotta, eggs, lemon zest, almond meal and caster sugar into a large bowl and beat until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Step 2 – Assemble The Cake & Bake

Pour the mixture into a prepared cake tin, then sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top. Bake until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Sprinkle over a little icing sugar just before serving. You can also add fresh berries (like raspberries or strawberries) for a burst of color.

Recipe Tips & FAQ

What should I serve with my lemon & ricotta cake?

This can be served on it's own or with a little yoghurt, cream or ice-cream. It's equally as delicious warm or cold!

Where can I buy ricotta cheese?

Ricotta cheese can be bought from the cream cheese section of the supermarket. You can also use ricotta cream cheese from the deli (just make sure it is soft ricotta cheese).

I recommend using full fat ricotta cheese as it has a better texture and flavour.

Help! I don't know if my cake is cooked... it seems very dense!

Like all gluten-free cakes, this is a dense and rich cake! Be careful not to overcook it as it will become dry around the outside edges. Your cake is ready when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs on it.

How do I store this recipe?

Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge up to 7 days. You can also freeze this cake for up to a month.

More Gluten-Free Recipes

Once you try this Lemon Ricotta Cake, you'll be wanting to make more and more delicious gluten-free recipes!

Here are my most popular gluten-free recipes:

• 3 Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake - this is less like a chocolate cake and more like a delicious, moist and super rich dessert torte! You'll only need a tiny slice of this yummy gluten-free cake.
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies - these are the absolute BEST BROWNIES EVER (and that's a big call coming from someone who isn't gluten-free herself!) These are my number 1 go-to brownies!!
• Orange & Almond Cake - this flourless whole orange cake is an absolute classic!
• Gluten-Free Almond & Coconut Cake - this simple and delicious cake is SO popular! Just check out the 5 star recipe reviews.

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