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5 from 5 votes

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake

A terrific little cake with plenty of lemon flavor and an amazing moist texture. Lightly glazed with an intense lemon syrup for plenty of bite and tang. 
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: blueberry, cake, lemon, pound cake, ricotta
Servings: 8
Calories: 391kcal
Author: Tricia

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 ¾ cup cake flour sifted after measuring
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ cup ricotta cheese room temperature
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs room temperature, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries optional

For the lemon syrup:

  • juice of 1-2 lemons about ¼ cup
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly spray an 8 by 4 inch loaf pan. (You can also use a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan - reduce the time to 50-60 minutes and watch it carefully) Line the pan with a piece of parchment paper creating a sling. The paper should cover the two long sides, the bottom and have a little overhang for easy lifting.
  • Sift together the cake flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside. In a small bowl combine the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and light, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and blend another 30 seconds.
  • Add the beaten eggs in three additions, mixing well after each addition until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed between each addition. With the mixer on low, add one-third of the flour mixture and blend just until incorporated. Add half the ricotta mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Repeat until you have used all the flour and ricotta mixtures. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the batter pulling up from the bottom of the bowl to ensure it’s well blended.
  • If adding blueberries, gently fold into the batter taking care not to crush or burst the berries. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan and lightly smooth the top. Bake until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 60-70 minutes.
  • While the cake bakes, prepare the lemon syrup. Combine the lemon juice and granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Heat on medium-high and stir until the sugar is dissolved and it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and boil gently for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and cool for 20-30 minutes in the pan. Using the parchment paper to assist, remove the cake from the pan and transfer to a wire rack. Brush the top and sides of the cake with all the prepared lemon syrup. Continue to cool for about two hours before serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. This cake also freezes beautifully.

Notes

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 187mg | Potassium: 101mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 582IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 1mg