No ratings yet

Cassata – Sicilian Ricotta Cake with Pistachio Marzipan

Cassata recipe | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

This cake makes me think of sitting on the porch swing in my Italian grandmother’s lanai. It was about 1973 and I would have been 6 years old and eating something sweet and spring-like. She had hanging baskets of flowers dangling from the ceiling from elaborately woven macramé; in shades of orange, chartreuse and gold. I’m sure I was eating Jell-o, but it should have been this cassata, with its basket weave icing and magical candied fruit flower. Ok, truth be told, my grandmother isn’t Italian, she didn’t have a lanai, I just like the word, and there probably was macramé, but I don’t actually remember any. But, this cassata makes me wish all these things were true. Not only is it visually stunning, but the cake is so delicious I licked the plate clean.

I really made the cake with my friend Bret, who I’ve known since I taught my very first baking class at Cooks of Crocus Hill about 13 years ago. He is a dynamite chef and baker, and I love playing in the kitchen with him. We decided to make this classic Italian ricotta cake after seeing it on the pages of Saveur magazine, just in time for Easter. Bret’s interpretation honored the traditional style of the cake and I went for a more 1973-macramé-hanging-on-the-lanai look. We were in a zone and made, not only the cake and all of its parts, but we also candied all the fruit. I discovered that one of my all time favorite taste sensations is a whole candied kumquat. They become translucent jewels in the process of cooking and the flavor is both tart and sweet. I ate them like popcorn. The candied citrus is a perfect compliment to the creamy smooth layers of ricotta and the orange liqueur soaked sponge cake. The frame around the cake is made from pistachio marzipan, which is a revelation of its own. I adore marzipan made with almonds, but this is exponentially better and adds a bit of flash to the outside of the cake; as if the basket weave and candied fruit flower weren’t enough.

Sicilian Ricotta Cake (Cassata)

Inspired by one I saw in Saveur, but with my own flare for the dramatic. Follow along with the step-by-step instructions and find the full recipe below

Candied fruit – I recommend you make your own, but you can use store bought in a pinch. We made Meyer lemon, pink grapefruit, orange, lime and kumquats. Make a bunch, they last a long time in the refrigerator, up to a month.

To prepare the sponge cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack in center of the oven. Line a 13 X 18 Baking Sheet with parchment paper and grease the paper.

Beat the sugar, zest, and eggs in a stand mixer using the whip attachment, on high speed for about 5 minutes. The eggs will be light in color and very thick.

Sift the flour over the egg mixture and fold it in carefully.

Pour into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly in the pan.

Bake for about 18 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

Cake cooling in a pan | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Allow the cake to cool completely.

Shelled pistachios | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

While the cake is cooling prepare the Pistachio marzipan:

Pistachios in a food processor | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

In a Food Processor pulverize the nuts and powdered sugar,

Pistachios in a food blender ground to a powder | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Until they are powdery.

Pistachio powdered combined with egg whites | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Whisk the egg white in a small bowl and add most of it, but not all to the pistachios and blend until it all comes together in a ball. If the dough is too dry to come together, add the rest of the egg white.

Kneading pistachio marzipan | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Remove from the bowl and knead for a minute on a surface covered with powdered sugar.

Prepare a 4-1/2-by-8-1/2-Inch Loaf Pan by covering it in plastic wrap.

Pistachio marzipan rolled out next to baking pan and rolling pin | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Roll the marzipan in powdered sugar until it is 1/4-inch thick.

Loaf pan lined with pistachio marzipan | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Measure the loaf pan sides and cut the marzipan in strips to completely cover the sides. Set aside.

To prepare the ricotta filling:

Straining ricotta into pan | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

In a stand mixer beat together the cream cheese, strained ricotta, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.

Cream cheese, strained ricotta, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt in stand mixer | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Beat on medium speed until the mixture is smooth.

Brushing simple syrup and liqueur on cake | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Measure the bottom of the loaf pan and cut a piece of the cooled cake to fit the bottom. Mix together the simple syrup and liqueur, then brush it on to the cake. You want enough to really flavor the cake, but not so much that it because soggy.

Cake in pan covered with ricotta filling | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Cover the cake with a layer of the ricotta filling to reach almost midway up the pan. Repeat this process with another later of cake, more soaking syrup and ricotta filling.

Cassata recipe | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Top the ricotta filling with another layer of cake and soaking syrup. It should come just to the top of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best.

Cassata recipe | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Unmold the cake onto a serving platter.

Decorative icing on cassata | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Mix the cream cheese icing:

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar, and zest.

Using a pastry bag and a basket weave tip to pipe the icing onto the cake. Here is a Basket Weave 101.

Cassata recipe | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Then use a small star tip to pipe a border along the base of the cake.

Candied fruit on cooling rack | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Decorate the top of the cake with the candied fruit in a pattern that makes you happy.

Cassata recipe | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

I sliced up the fruit to create the petals and stem of the flower.

Cassata recipe | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

Enjoy!

Casatta

Cassata

The pistachio marzipan adds a wonderful flavor and striking visual to this cassata. The candied citrus is a perfect compliment to the creamy smooth layers of ricotta and the orange liqueur soaked sponge cake.
No ratings yet

Ingredients

Sponge Cake

  • 1 cup flour
  • cup sugar
  • 1 tsp zest of a lemon or orange
  • 5 large eggs, room temp
  • ½ cup simple syrup
  • 2 tbsp orange liqueur or juice

Pistachio Marzipan

  • 1 cup shelled pistachios
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 egg white

Ricotta Filling

  • ½ lb cream cheese, softened
  • 1 lb ricotta cheese, full fat if using homemade, drain overnight in a cheese cloth
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, scraped
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • pinch salt

Cream Cheese Icing

  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 oz butter, softened
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • ½ tsp lemon or orange zest
  • 1 recipe candied fruit get recipe

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack in center of the oven. Line a 13 X 18 Baking Sheet with parchment paper and grease the paper.
  • Beat the sugar, zest, and eggs in a stand mixer using the whip attachment, on high speed for about 5 minutes. The eggs will be light in color and very thick.
  • Sift the flour over the egg mixture and fold it in carefully. Pour into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly in the pan.
  • Bake for about 18 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely. While the cake is cooling prepare the pistachio marzipan.
  • In a Food Processor pulverize the nuts and powdered sugar until powdery.
  • Whisk the egg white in a small bowl and add most of it, but not all to the pistachios and blend until it all comes together in a ball. If the dough is too dry to come together, add the rest of the egg white.
  • Remove from the bowl and knead for a minute on a surface covered with powdered sugar. Prepare a 4-1/2-by-8-1/2-Inch Loaf Pan by covering it in plastic wrap. Roll the marzipan in powdered sugar until it is 1/4-inch thick.
  • Measure the loaf pan sides and cut the marzipan in strips to completely cover the sides. Set aside and prepare the ricotta filling.
  • In a stand mixer beat together the cream cheese, strained ricotta, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is smooth.
  • Measure the bottom of the loaf pan and cut a piece of the cooled cake to fit the bottom. Mix together the simple syrup and liqueur, then brush it on to the cake. You want enough to really flavor the cake, but not so much that it because soggy.
  • Cover the cake with a layer of the ricotta filling to reach almost midway up the pan. Repeat this process with another later of cake, more soaking syrup and ricotta filling.
  • Top the ricotta filling with another layer of cake and soaking syrup. It should come just to the top of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best.
  • Unmold the cake onto a serving platter and mix the cream cheese icing.
  • In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar, and zest. Using a pastry bag and a basket weave tip to pipe the icing onto the cake. Here is a Basket Weave 101. Then use a small star tip to pipe a border along the base of the cake.
  • Garnish with candied fruit in your favorite pattern.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Share this post

28 thoughts to “Cassata – Sicilian Ricotta Cake with Pistachio Marzipan”

  1. Can you elaborate on how to candy a whole kumquat? I’m experienced with candied citrus peel– but a kumquat?! We have more kumquats than we can figure out what to do with, and this sounds like an exceptional way to use them!

    1. Hi Angela,

      I did it exactly the same way I did the grapefruit (follow the candied fruit link in the ingredient list). I was thrilled at how they came out!

      Thanks, Zoë

  2. I thought about making this when I saw it on Saveur, but it seems too daunting for me. I like your version as well. I am tempted now. Thanks Zoe!

  3. Hi Zoe – It was such a great day, cooking with you in your kitchen. I hope we can do it again sometime soon. And for anyone thinking about making this cake. It looks harder than it actually is, so go for it and impress you family and friends.

  4. Who gets the end piece with the extra pistachio marzipan? Wouldn’t it be a little too rich?

    Looks FABULOUS though! Yummy!

  5. Hey Zoe

    This is soo beautiful. Nd i cant wait to try out the pistachio marzipan. Your step by step pics are great.

  6. saw this recipe and knew I had to try it- surprisingly easier thank i thought it would be to put together and turned out great! (and delicious to boot!)

  7. I love the fruity flower! That’s such a creative touch.
    I’m wondering if there is a way to make the marzipan without eggs?? I just read the article in Savuer. The pistachio marzipan peeked my interest to make it again. The very first time I candied fruit was to decorate a cassata for my then 13 yr. old dd who was studying Italian. It was soo much fun. The syrup is delicious too on ice cream. I wonder like how you replaced the Grand Marnier with juice and simple syrup. I was going to try the syrup from the fruit but I didn’t think about adding juice to help moisten the cake too. Thanks for posting all the steps and a better way to get the marzipan just right.

  8. G’DAY to you Zoe I thought I would give you a real OCKER greeting from Sydney Australia (G’Day=Good Day + Ocker is used both as a noun and adjective for an Australian who … The typical ocker is “usually found in a blue singlet and rubber thongs = flip flops(foot wear) I hope you do not mind my silliness I found your blog the other day while browsing for Christmas cookie recipes (one can never have enough! )I saw your beautiful cakes How talented you are THANKYOU so much for your great “tutorials” on cake decorating in this case BASKET WEAVE Though a great cook I am fairly new to Cake decorating & now that I am getting older so to speak I want a career that will grow along with me Cake decorating fits the bill as I love Baking/cooking Years ago & in between jobs I started a “Cottage Industry” selling Jams, Rhubarb chutney, Lime marmalades & Walnut/Chocolate Roulades I did quite well with word of mouth Then I went back to Law work I love what you have made Zoe I will also take this time to wish you & your family “A very Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays & a wonderful productive & blessed New Year

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating