This Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake gives you a deliciously light and creamy dessert packed with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. It's a wonderful treat to enjoy year-round!
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Why You'll Love This Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake
- light and creamy in texture
- a cross between a cheesecake and cake in one delicious recipe
- packed with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- a wonderful after-dinner treat for the chocolate chip lovers in your life!
This chocolate chip ricotta cake recipe is adapted from my lemon raspberry ricotta cake recipe. It's absolutely delicious and one I hope you'll try in this new year! Enjoy!
Grab Your Ingredients!
This chocolate chip ricotta cake recipe requires only the following 8 ingredients:
- All-Purpose Flour. Use your favorite brand of flour—I used King Arthur.
- Granulated Sugar. Gives this ricotta cake the perfect level of sweetness!
- Baking Powder and Salt. 2 ¼ teaspoons of baking powder is needed—make sure it is fresh. And you will need one teaspoon of salt.
- Eggs. You will need three large eggs at room temperature.
- Ricotta Cheese. Gives this cake its name with a light and creamy texture. Whole milk ricotta cheese is recommended for this recipe.
- Vanilla Extract. The classic vanilla taste helps bring all the flavors together.
- Unsalted Butter. This is added in melted form. Ensure it is slightly cooled before adding it to the cake batter.
- Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. You can use regular-size chocolate chips, but the mini version is a bit lighter, which prevents sinking. Sprinkle a few more mini semi-sweet chocolate chips on top before baking this chocolate chip ricotta cake, if desired. I recommend the Ghirardelli brand of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
As I did with my lemon raspberry ricotta cake, you can dust some powdered sugar over the top for a garnish.
Recommended Cake Baking Tools
Below are the recommended baking tools needed to make this recipe.
How to Make the Recipe
Below is a brief overview of how to make this easy chocolate chip ricotta cake recipe. For the full detailed version, visit the recipe card below.
- Melt the butter. Melting the butter now is a good idea, so it's cooled slightly before adding it to the batter later.
- Coat the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. Add 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour to coat the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips before adding them to the batter.
- Whisk the dry ingredients. This includes granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix the wet ingredients together. In a separate mixing bowl, you'll whisk the eggs, ricotta cheese, and vanilla extract. Do not add in the melted butter just yet. So far, the batter should be light yellow in color, relatively smooth, and thin in texture.
- Add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet. Use a spatula for this part, as it helps not to over-mix the chocolate chip ricotta cake batter. Partway through stirring, go ahead and pour in the slightly cooled melted butter.
- Fold in the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. Using your spatula again for this part is recommended. The ricotta cake batter will be light in color and airy and a little thick and doughy in texture.
- Transfer the batter to the 9-inch springform pan. The pan should be sprayed with a flour-based baking spray and, if desired, coated with a thin layer of powdered sugar. If desired, top with additional mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Bake, then cool. Bake the chocolate chip ricotta cake for 45-50 minutes or until an inserted toothpick to the center of the cake comes out clean. My tests of this recipe came out well at 46 minutes. The top of the cake should be light golden brown in color and puffy with golden brown sides that have slightly pulled away from the sides.
Recipe FAQs
What size baking pan is best for this chocolate chip ricotta cake?
You will need a 9-inch springform pan. You can also make this in a 9-inch cake pan. However, making it in the springform pan is nicer because removing the sides makes cutting the cake easier.
Why should I coat the mini chocolate chips in all-purpose flour?
Because this helps prevents them from sinking to the bottom of your cake.
Try These Other Chocolate Chip Dessert Recipes!
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake
Author:This Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake gives you a deliciously light and creamy dessert packed with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. It's a wonderful treat to enjoy year-round!
Ingredients
Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake
- 1 ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 ⅔ cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 ⅔ cups Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
- 3 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¾ cup Unsalted Butter (melted and cooled slightly)
- 1 cup Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (coated in 1-2 tablespoon all-purpose flour)
- Powdered Sugar (for dusting/garnish top of cake)
Instructions
- Adjust the oven rack to the 2nd level position (just above center) and preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously spray the sides and bottom of a 9-inch diameter springform pan with a flour-based baking spray and (optionally) dust with powdered sugar.
- In a small bowl, toss the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1-2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Set to the side.1 cup Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set to the side.1 ¼ cup Granulated Sugar, 1 ⅔ cups All-Purpose Flour, 2 ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon Salt
- In a large-size mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, ricotta cheese, and vanilla extract until well combined.3 Large Eggs, 1 ⅔ cups Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese, 3 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- With a spatula, fold in the whisked dry ingredients until just blended. Then stir in the melted butter and flour-coated mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. The batter will be thick and on the heavier side but airy.¾ cup Unsalted Butter
- Spoon the batter into the prepared 9-inch springform pan and top with additional mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes at 350ºF or until an inserted toothpick into the center of the cake comes out clean. The top of the cake should be light golden brown in color and puffy with golden brown sides that have slightly pulled away from the sides.
- Let the cake cool for a minimum of 20 minutes before releasing it from the springform pan. Allow to cool completely, dust with powdered sugar (optional), and serve.Powdered Sugar
- Keep the chocolate chip ricotta cake stored in an airtight cake dome container or wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep it fresh longer, you can store the cake for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Video
Recipe Notes
The recipe is adapted from my Lemon Raspberry Ricotta Cake recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 322mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 576IU | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritonal information provided above is an estimate only and will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Tried this recipe and loved it?Snap a pic and share it with me over on Instagram tagging @beyond.the.butter and #beyondthebutter in your caption or stories!
Kat says
Hi! can I use light ricotta cheese (4%M.F.) at 80% moisture since I don't have the full fat variety?
Jennifer says
Hi! Great question. Whole milk is preferred for this chocolate chip ricotta cake recipe, but if you only have the light on hand, you can use that!
Jenna says
I’m a big fan of ricotta cakes so when I saw your recipe for this one I knew I had to try it. I was not disappointed in the least! Definitely in the top for the best cake 🙂
Jennifer says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it, Jenna!
Barb says
I love the sound of this recipe & the added protein! I’d love to make this for my grandkids for school lunches. Could this be made in muffin tins?
Jennifer says
While I never tested the recipe this way, I have had some followers make this chocolate chip ricotta cake in muffin tins with liners.
Jennifer says
Made recipe exactly as written - with exception of only having a round cake pan vs a spring pan. Simple with very few ingredients. Cake was rich, dense and delicious. My family calls this cannoli cake because we love cannolis and it takes similar. Although it didn’t need icing, I piped small chocolate icing swirls for decoration. Would be a fantastic cake to bring to a dinner party. Goes great with Italian. 😉 will be a staple in my recipe collection.
Jennifer says
Thank you so much for making this recipe, Jennifer, and for sharing a photo of it with me over on Instagram!
Alicia says
I loved this cake! It was easy make, so moist and dense. I've started hobby baking and trying recipes every second weekend. I made this last weekend and it turned out perfectly.
Jennifer says
So happy you loved this recipe; thanks, Alicia!
Lori says
Just made this cake…absolutely love it!! So easy to make, will def be making it again! Thank you 😊
Jennifer says
Yay! Thank YOU for making this cake! I'm pleased that you loved it!
Amy says
Hello!
Do you think I could make this into muffins or cupcakes? Any advice on what changes I might need to make? Thanks!
Jennifer says
I'm sorry, I never tested the recipe this way, but you could certainly give it a try!
Seema says
I’ve made this twice in the past month and it’s one of my favorites. No mixer but tastes like it took all day to make. I was wondering if anyone has tried swirling jam through it before baking it? And thoughts on doing that? I would wanna do strawberry.
Jennifer says
Thank you so much for making this, Seema! As for the jam, I haven't tried that, but I think it would be fine and delicious! If you try it, let me know how it turns out; thanks!
Seema says
I will try it! Please disregard the same question I just posted, didn’t realize you had already answered it! Thank you!
Jennifer says
No worries..and you're welcome! Excited to see how it comes out with the jam!
Tara says
Going to try this one this weekend, love your website and recipes 🙂 quick question if anyone has tested this yet with gluten free flour, like a 1 for 1 type (I usually use bob mills)...I love gluten but some family members don't. I usually don't substitute on recipes that have a cup or more of flour in the recipe as sometimes it just isn't as great (i just make the delicious gluten version for me!) but just curious if anyone has tested it yet?
Jennifer says
Thank you for the kind words, Tara! I've had a few people ask me if this can be made with gluten-free flour, but to my knowledge; no one has tested it this way yet.
Kelly says
Loved this recipe!! The cake was so moist! Definitely will make it again!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
Johanna says
OMG!! This cake is absolutely AMAZING! It is soft and moist and not too sweet - it's perfection!
Thank you, Jenn!!
Jennifer says
So happy you guys love it, Johanna!❤️
Patty says
I took mine out at 45 and it was still underbaked, added an additional 10. It definitely got much darker than your photos. Not sure what I did wrong but it also cracked in the center. Currently waiting for it to cool down.
Jennifer says
I'm so sorry you had issues with baking this cake! It should definitely be done around this time for sure. Every oven is different though, so I always recommend everyone have an oven thermometer inside their oven. It's possible you may have baked the cake on a much lower oven rack, or perhaps it was baked in a different type or size cake pan. It's tough to say, but I appreciate the feedback and hope you'll give it another go!
Jackie Carrano says
I only have a 8inch pan, will this work?
Jennifer says
Hi Jackie! I saw your question on IG but will answer it over here, too, if you see it here first. I only tested this recipe in a 9-inch springform pan (it's easier to remove the ring to cool the cake down this way), but you could experiment with an 8 x 3 cake pan. I wouldn't recommend an 8 x 2 simply because this cake is a bit thicker (taller). Hope this helps!
Jenn says
This cake was soooo delicious and EASY!! Bonus was no mixer needed! Definitely a keeper!
Jennifer says
I love the no mixer part too! Thank you so much for making the recipe, Jenn!
Kimberly says
This recipe is AMAZING! I seriously want all of my future cakes to he this texture from now on lol. It was incredibly easy (mixer not needed), and my entire family loved it. My husband in particular doesn’t like frosting, but likes cake itself so this was perfect. Having never baked with ricotta before, I had no idea what to expect texture-wise. Hard to describe but the texture is just perfect lol. Definitely am going to recommend this recipe to everyone! 🙂
Jennifer says
Thank you so much for making it, Kimberly!