Description
Coconut ricotta cloud cake emerges as a delightful Mediterranean-inspired dessert. Silky coconut layers mingle with rich ricotta, creating a heavenly experience you’ll savor with each ethereal bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk ricotta cheese (room temperature)
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) almond flour (or finely ground coconut flour)
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp coconut extract (optional)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar (for dusting)
- ¼ cup toasted coconut flakes
- Fresh berries (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously brush an 8-inch round cake pan with butter, then line the bottom and sides with parchment paper, ensuring a seamless, wrinkle-free surface for optimal cake release.
- Dry Ingredients: Sift flour mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to eliminate potential lumps, creating a uniform base that guarantees a smooth cake texture.
- Meringue Formation: In a spotless, grease-free bowl, whip egg whites until soft peaks develop, gradually adding sugar while continuing to beat until the meringue transforms into a glossy, voluminous masterpiece.
- Ingredient Integration: Delicately fold ricotta and coconut into the whipped egg white mixture using a spatula, employing circular motions to preserve the meringue’s airy structure and prevent deflation.
- Batter Composition: Gently incorporate the sifted flour blend into the wet ingredients, utilizing a figure-eight folding technique to ensure even distribution while maintaining the mixture’s delicate volume.
- Baking Process: Transfer the silky batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly and tapping gently to release trapped air bubbles, then position on the oven’s center rack at the specified temperature.
- Cooling and Finishing: Bake until the surface achieves a golden honey hue and a toothpick emerges clean, then cool completely in the pan before inverting onto a wire rack and removing parchment paper with precision.
- Presentation: Dust the cake’s surface with a delicate snowfall of powdered sugar, creating an elegant finish that enhances the cake’s ethereal texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Prevent Meringue Collapse: Ensure all utensils and bowls are completely grease-free and use room temperature egg whites for maximum volume and stability when whipping.
- Temperature Precision Matters: Allow ingredients to reach room temperature before mixing, which helps create a smoother, more consistent batter and promotes even rising during baking.
- Gentle Folding Technique: Use a large spatula and make slow, deliberate circular motions when incorporating dry ingredients to maintain the cake’s delicate, cloud-like texture and prevent deflation.
- Moisture Control: Cool the cake completely inside the pan to help it retain moisture and prevent cracking, ensuring a soft, tender crumb that melts in your mouth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg