This ricotta pie recipe with a pasta frolla crust is the perfect Italian Easter pie dessert. Its creamy, lightly sweetened ricotta cheese filling, flavored with lemon and spices, is sure to please and so easy to make!
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As someone who has making ricotta cheese desserts for decades, I can confidently say that this Italian pie recipe is the easiest and best you will ever make!
In the recipe I am sharing today, I love how the pasta frolla crust combines perfectly with the ricotta filling.
As you probably know, Italian sweet shortcrust pastry, pasta frolla, is popular for pie and tart shells.
I especially love using a variation of this pasta frolla recipe to make other Italian desserts, such as this Ricotta Chocolate Tart and this Italian Crostata.
Any of these pie recipes would make great Easter desserts!
But today, we are making the best recipe for ricotta pie!
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Why this Easter ricotta pie is the best
Easy to make: It is relatively easy to make and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients or special equipment. This means that even novice bakers can make it for their Easter celebration.
Versatile: It can be made with various fillings, including chocolate chips, candied fruit, or orange zest. This means you can customize the pie to suit your taste and preferences.
Delicious: Ricotta pie is a sweet and creamy dessert that will please everyone at your Easter celebration. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and tangy, with a light and fluffy texture.
Are you ready to make the best recipe for ricotta pie?
How to make ricotta pie
Let’s begin by making this simple pie crust recipe.
Part 1: The crust
Pasta frolla is very easy to prepare and comes together in no time. This whole process will literally take about 5 minutes with a food processor.
Pulse the dry ingredients (1 cup of flour, 3 tablespoons of sugar, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and a pinch of salt) with 4 tablespoons of cold butter to obtain a coarse texture. Add a slightly beaten egg and then pulse until the mixture begins to come together. It might take up to 20 pulses… don’t give up; eventually, the dough will form into a ball.
Turn the dough on a floured wooden board and form a smooth round disc.
Wrap it in cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. The dough can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for one month.
For more information, please refer to this detailed article on making the best pasta frolla, which includes a helpful video.
Part 2: The ricotta filling
This ricotta filling recipe is equally quick and easy to prepare.
One by one, incorporate all the ingredients together in your stand mixture. More specifically:
- 2 cups ricotta whole milk, well-drained (about 15 oz)
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon grappa
- 4 eggs
If you’re feeling bold, you can try making this recipe for homemade ricotta cheese.
It’s important to scrape down the bowl’s sides and incorporate the eggs, one at a time properly. It should take you less than 10 minutes to complete this part.
Part 3: Assembling the pie
Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Place oven rack to bottom third.
Now it’s time to roll out the dough (about ⅛-inch thick). Fold the dough in quarters and place it on your 9-inch pie plate.
Next, unfold the dough to fit your pie plate.
Remove the dough overhanging from the sides with a sharp knife.
This recipe is an excellent starting point for those new to rolling out dough, as it is very forgiving.
Pour the filling into your pie pan. (Please note that if your ricotta filling is not yet made, refrigerate your prepared pie shell until ready to be filled). I tried to remove air bubbles in the ricotta mixture by dropping the pan gently on my countertop.
As far as the lattice top is concerned, you can take it or leave it. This Italian ricotta pie is equally great-tasting and great-looking without it. I re-rolled the extra dough and cut some strips that I placed on the top of the pie.
Only when you try something for yourself can you truly appreciate how difficult it is to create the perfect lattice top for an Italian Easter ricotta pie.
Place your pie on the oven grate on the bottom third of a preheated oven, and in less than one hour, you will have a perfect Easter ricotta pie!
Serve the sweet ricotta cheese pie in wedges at room temperature. Garnish it with a light dusting of icing sugar, or serve it with this healthy fruit salad recipe.
Tips
- Use cold butter when making the crust. This is a must.
- Do not over-manipulate the pie crust dough; form a disc and refrigerate once it comes together.
- Refrigerating pasta frolla dough before rolling helps it firm up, making it easier to handle and less likely to tear or stick to your work surface. It also allows the gluten in the dough to relax, which helps prevent the crust from shrinking as it bakes.
- Strain the ricotta cheese before using it in the pie to remove excess liquid and ensure a smooth, consistent texture.
FAQ
Ricotta pie has a creamy, slightly sweet, and mild flavor. The pasta frolla crust adds a crisp texture and buttery flavor that complements the creamy filling perfectly.
Refrigerating ricotta pie to maintain its freshness and prevent spoilage is recommended.
Once the pie is at room temperature, cover it tightly with plastic wrap before placing it in the refrigerator. When refrigerated, ricotta pie can last up to 3-4 days, but consuming it within 1-2 days is recommended for the best taste and texture.
Ricotta pie can be served at room temperature or cold, depending on your preference. If you prefer a firmer texture, refrigerating the pie for at least 1-2 hours before serving can help it hold its shape better and make it easier to slice. On the other hand, if you prefer a softer and creamier texture, serving the pie at room temperature is a good option. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and the desired texture of the pie.
Yes, here is how…
Whisk together all of the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Then,
incorporate the cubed butter with your fingertips (you can also grate the butter using the large holes of a box grater and then use your fingertips to incorporate).
Add the egg and gently “knead” until the mixture comes together;
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Traditional Italian Easter desserts
Traditional Italian Easter desserts are an important part of this holiday celebration, with each region boasting its specialties. One of the most popular Easter desserts is this Italian grain pie, a Neapolitan tart made with ricotta cheese, candied orange peel, and boiled wheat berries. Another favorite is Rice Ricotta Pie, a dense dessert with orange zest and cinnamon.
Mini Italian Easter Pie
If you’re searching for a traditional Italian Easter dessert, try these mini Fiadoni Dolci con Ricotta, Italian Easter pie. They’re made with an oil-based pastry crust that envelops a mildly sweetened ricotta filling and baked till golden brown.
So much ricotta…so little time! More Easter recipes can be found in the Easter Category.
Recipe inspiration
Without a doubt, one of my favorite bakers is Nick Malgieri. (I previously shared his recipe for the strudel dough in this cheese strudel recipe.
I adapted one of his pie recipes for this baked ricotta dessert. A few of my friends have stated that this pie tastes exactly like a Sicilian ricotta cheesecake.
No matter what you call it, one thing is for sure, if you like ricotta (like me), you’ll love this recipe!
And if you are new here, welcome! You may want to sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter. You can unsubscribe any time you want.
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community, where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
Ciao for now,
Maria
★★★★★ If you have made this Ricotta Pie Recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Recipe
Ricotta Pie Recipe: Perfect for Easter!
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Ingredients
The crust:
- 1 cup flour 142 grams, all purpose
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- pinch salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter cold and cut up in small pieces
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- extra flour for rolling
The filling:
- 2 cups ricotta whole milk, well-drained (about 15 oz), room temperature
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon white liquor rum, grappa,…
- 4 eggs room temperature
- 1 tablespoon milk optional, for brushing
Instructions
The crust:
- In a food processor combine the dry ingredients and pulse a few times.
- Add the cut-up butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse ground meal.
- Add the slightly beaten egg and pulse until the dough starts coming together.
- On a lightly floured wooden board, turn out the dough and form into a smooth disc, by pressing dough together.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 60 minutes.
The filling:
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl (of a stand mixer) beat the ricotta on low speed with the paddle attachment until smooth (approx 30 seconds). Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times.
- Slowly add the sugar and continue to beat for another 30 seconds or so.
- Add the lemon zest, cinnamon, liquor, and 1 egg.
- Beat until the egg is properly incorporated. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Continue to add one egg at a time, making sure to properly incorporate into the mixture and scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Set aside while you roll out your dough.
The assembly:
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Place oven rack to bottom third.
- Roll out the dough to fit your pie plate (9-inch). The thickness should be about ⅛of an inch. Carefully fold over and fit into your pie pan.
- Pour the filling.
- Optional step: Decorate with strips of dough and brush tops of dough strips with milk.
- Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until the center filling is set. Place foil on the edge of crust to prevent over-browning.
- Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Refrigerate until serving.
Video
Notes
-
- Use cold butter when making the crust. This is a must.
-
- Do not over-manipulate the pie crust dough; form a disc and refrigerate once it comes together.
-
- Refrigerating pasta frolla dough before rolling helps it firm up, making it easier to handle and less likely to tear or stick to your work surface. It also allows the gluten in the dough to relax, which helps prevent the crust from shrinking as it bakes.
-
- Strain the ricotta cheese before using it in the pie to remove excess liquid and ensure a smooth, consistent texture.
- whisk together all of the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl;
- incorporate the cubed butter with your fingertips (can also grate the butter using the large holes of a box grater and then use your fingertips to incorporate);
- add the egg and gently “knead” until the mixture comes together;
- wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on March 24, 2016, republished on March 15, 2019 and more recently on April 6, 2023 with updated content. Thanks for watching and sharing!
Tazzy
Amazing recipe. No only difference I did was that I made the pastry by hand and also stirred the wet ingredients together by hand. Ill definetly be making it again.
Maria
Tazzy, I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed this ricotta pie. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, appreciate it!
2pots2cook
Top of the pops ! Really !
Maria
Thanks so much!
Ciao Chow Linda
Your ricotta pie looks perfect, and just in time for Easter.
Maria
Thanks so much Linda ♥ It has quickly become a family favorite.
Deborah
I make a similar pie that I place chunks of dark chocolate on the bottom before adding the cheese filling and it is delicious. I was wondering if you thought a thin layer of jam on the crust, before pouring, in the filling , would work. I was thinking apricot preserves would be wonderful
Maria
The dark chocolate chunks sounds wonderful Deborah… I love dark chocolate! I have made it with grated dark chocolate and it tastes wonderful. Yes, I think the apricot preserves would be lovely. Great comment. Thanks so much for stopping by, appreciate it ♥
Frank savignano
Hi Maria,hope it’s not a brand name!im from Australia I love your old fashion recipes,making ricotta etc;any way your can also add temperatures,and weights in Celsius etc ,regards frank
Maria
Hi Frank, sorry for the late reply… somehow your comment was in my spam folder. Yes, I am slowly revising all my recipes to include metric and weight measurements. Thanks for your patience. Great comment. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Franca
Hi Maria, can a cooked ricotta tart be frozen and and defrostd when needed?
Maria
Hi Franca, that is a great question!I’ve never tried,but I think it should be ok. If ever you decide to try it, I would love to hear how it turned out for you. Thanks for stopping by! Buona Domenica delle Palme ♥
Regina
This looks delicious. Would it be impossible to make the dough in my kitchen aid stand mixer?
Maria
Thanks Regina 🙂 To be honest, I don’t think there is enough of the ingredients for the stand mixer to “work” the ingredients together. I would recommend to work the flour and butter together with your fingertips in a bowl and slowly incorporate the rest of the ingredients… the mixture comes together rather quickly.
That is a really great question, thanks for asking Regina.
I will update the recipe by adding this alternative step as a comment in the recipe notes. Thanks again ♥
Donna
Supersonic! Magnifico! Buono!
Maria
Grazie Donna ♥♥♥
Amanda@craftycookingmama
I’m in ricotta pie heaven! This pie sounds so delicious and looks absolutely gorgeous! Cheers to you for your lovely lattice work – I admit I usually don’t have the patience to fuss with it. Time for me to check out your other ricotta pies while trying not to drool 🙂
Maria
Thanks Amanda! I could only manage lattice work of 3 strips of dough across. You will see that I love ricotta…a little too much! Appreciate you taking the time to drop by 🙂
Deb@glutenfreefarina
You hit me on several fronts here. Nick M is one of my favorites and, of course, I love ricotta. My family never made this, but it looks beautiful. Too bad about the food processor. I couldn’t live without mine for long. In fact, I saw my exact model Cuisinart that I paid a lot for at a garage sale recently. It was brand new with the attachments for $10. I bought it as a backup. Now I feel secure. I so appreciate your posts. Happy Easter!