23 Best Ricotta Desserts (+ Easy Recipes)

Create the perfect end to an amazing meal with these delectable ricotta desserts!

This humble Italian cheese is so versatile you can use it not just in savory dishes but in sweet treats, as well.

Whether it’s cheesecake, cannoli, or pudding, trust ricotta to give desserts a creamy flavor and a smooth, luscious texture. 

If you’re not used to working with ricotta yet, I have you covered. 

Today, I’ll show you some of the best (and easiest) ways to turn ricotta into delectable desserts everybody will go wild over.

Read on for 23 ricotta desserts that’ll make you look like an expert baker without all the fuss!

1. Ricotta Cheesecake With Fresh Raspberries

This ricotta cheesecake is a mash-up of American and Italian cheesecakes, and it’s heaven in a bite!

The ground almond crust provides an exciting alternative to the traditional graham cracker crust. 

The addition of ricotta to the cream cheese filling gives the cake an exceptionally smooth and creamy texture. 

Finish it off with fresh raspberries for some tartness and a dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant touch.

Whether you bake it for a special occasion or make it just because, this cheesecake will have everyone asking for seconds.

2. Italian Ricotta Cookies

Italian ricotta cookies are soft and cake-like with a decadent sugar glaze on top.

They’re pretty as they are, but you can decorate them further by sprinkling colored sugar on top. 

With just a little bit of dolling up, these treats can make any special occasion even more festive. 

They’re not just ideal for parties, though.

Pair these cookies with your favorite espresso, and they’ll put a smile on your face, one bite at a time.

3. Lemon Ricotta Cake

Lemon ricotta cake is the perfect balance of sweet and citrusy. 

The ricotta cheese adds richness and moistness to the cake, while the lemon provides a bright pop of flavor. 

It’s decadent, but the tangy lemon flavor balances it out, keeping the cake from becoming too heavy. 

A few bites of this blissful dessert will leave your tastebuds just as delighted as the first!

4. 5-Ingredient Cannolis

This traditional Italian dessert consists of light and crispy pastry shells stuffed with a creamy filling.

And it’s a lot easier to make than you think.

You make the filling by combining ricotta, powdered sugar, and vanilla.

Once combined, they create a wonderful harmony of sweet and tangy flavors. 

For extra decadence, you throw some chocolate chips into the filling. You definitely can’t go wrong with that!

Don’t worry about making the cannoli shells from scratch.

Fortunately, you can get pre-made ones from your local pastry shop.

5. Vanilla Ricotta Dessert

This delightful ricotta dessert is one of the easiest ways to add sweetness to your day! 

Just a few ingredients, ricotta, honey, and a hint of vanilla, are all you need to whip up this smooth and creamy treat. 

You can even make this dessert low-carb or keto-friendly simply by using a different sweetener.

So if you’re looking for a refreshing dessert that only takes a few minutes to prepare, you’ve just found it.

6. Ricotta Crumb Bars

If you’re a fan of desserts that melt in your mouth, these crumb bars are absolutely a must-try.

The base of these bars is a soft, buttery shortbread. We’re off to a good start.

It’s topped with a luscious cheesecake-like filling of sweet creamy ricotta, sugar, and egg yolks. 

The finishing touch is a crumbly topping that’s made using the same ingredients as the crust.

The combination is a perfect balance of texture and flavor, creamy yet crumbly, and sweet and tangy. 

7. Almond Ricotta Cake

Almond ricotta cake is a simple yet spectacular Italian dessert.

It’s technically a sponge cake, but it’s not as plain as you might think it is.

Ricotta cheese is added to the batter, making the cake exceptionally rich and moist.

Almond slivers and powdered sugar are sprinkled on top for the perfect finishing touch.

Whether you serve it for a special occasion or a regular day at home, this cake will satisfy your palate.

8. Chocolate Ricotta Pudding

Chocolate ricotta pudding is a luxurious dessert you can make in your own kitchen in just a few minutes.

It’s incredibly delicious, but also super easy!

Just blend ricotta cheese, sugar, and cocoa powder in the food processor, and voila. 

Not only does this delectable dessert come together in minutes, but it’s also low in calories.

You’re free to indulge in this treat without feeling guilty.

9. Baked Vanilla Ricotta Pudding

This baked pudding is a beautiful blend of ricotta, honey, lemon, and vanilla.

An egg is thrown into the mix to bind the ingredients, and then into the oven, it goes.

Together, they create a delicately creamy pudding with a sweet & slightly tart flavor.

It’s another simple dessert that can bring something truly special to your next family gathering.

10. One-Bowl Lemon Ricotta Cupcakes

These lemon ricotta cupcakes are a ray of sunshine even on the gloomiest of days!

These cupcakes feature ricotta in both the cupcake and the frosting, giving you twice the creamy goodness with every bite. 

They’re a delightful blend of sweet and tart, thanks to the addition of both lemon juice and zest.

Their sweet, zesty flavor and light texture will melt a bad mood away in no time.

11. Mini Ricotta Cheesecakes

I’m such a sucker for desserts that come in bite-sized portions, and these heavenly cheesecakes are no exception. 

The cheesecake filling is perfectly sweet and creamy, thanks to the perfect mix of ricotta, sugar, and vanilla.

The crushed graham crackers provide a wonderfully crumbly buttery crust. 

And, because they’re small, you don’t get too full after indulging in them.

The only problem is limiting yourself to one serving!

12. Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake

This chocolate chip ricotta cake is sure to be a hit with both adults and kids. 

It’s a notably moist and rich cake that’s dotted with chocolate chips, for good measure.

It’s a fantastic combination of fun and sophistication!

13. Classic Ricotta Pound Cake

This ricotta pound cake is dense yet moist, and rich but not heavy. 

The lemon zest livens up the flavors even more!

Pair this cake with your favorite coffee or tea for a hearty breakfast or afternoon snack

14. Italian Ricotta Pie

Looking to expand your repertoire of pie recipes? How about one with an Italian twist?

This ricotta pie uses a crumbly Italian crust, which is a fantastic vessel to carry the creamy pie filling.

Filled with a smooth and creamy mix of ricotta, cream, sour cream, and marsala wine, this pie is simply out of this world. 

15. Lacy Brown Butter and Ricotta Cookies

These thin cookies are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Flavored with ricotta and browned butter, they have a lovely combination of sweet, nutty, and a little bit tangy.

The thinness of the cookies gives them a distinctive crispness. 

They’re perfect for any time of day as an indulgent snack, or as an accompaniment to your morning coffee. 

16. Easy Italian Cannoli Truffles

These cannoli truffles are a sweet and crunchy treat that you won’t want to miss out on! 

They’re citrus-spiked ricotta balls covered in dark chocolate adorned with crushed cannoli shells and pistachios.

The ricotta gives the treats a creamy and smooth center, while the chocolate coating delivers a satisfying crunch.

17. Mixed Berry Ricotta Parfait

This ricotta parfait is a must-have summer indulgence. 

It starts with a rich ricotta pudding flavored with honey, vanilla, and lemon zest. 

The pudding is layered with fresh mixed berries to brighten up the dessert and round out its flavors. 

The end result is an incredibly refreshing and delicious parfait that’s perfect on its own or with a drizzle of honey.

18. Strawberry Trifle with Ricotta Cream

If a picture is worth a thousand words, one look at a strawberry trifle would be worth a million!

It’s layers of ladyfingers alternating with layers of fresh strawberries and fluffy ricotta cream.

Every bite is an exquisite symphony. 

19. Cannoli Pound Cake

This next dessert is a fun hybrid of two classic Italian treats: ricotta pound cake and cannoli.

A tender and moist pound cake is flavored with orange zest and studded with chocolate chips and pistachios.

It’s a pound cake bursting with classic cannoli flavors. Genius!

20. Cannoli Cupcakes

These cannoli cupcakes are an innovative way to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Fluffy and moist cupcakes are topped with whipped mascarpone and an actual mini cannoli, to boot.

The perfect blend of creamy sweetness and lovely crunch makes this dessert impossible to resist.

21. Extra Fudgy Ricotta Brownies

For fans of indulgent desserts, these ricotta brownies are a real treat. 

Ricotta cheese gives classic brownies a unique richness and fudginess. 

Frosted with dark chocolate and cocoa powder, you get a lovely balance of sweet, tart, and mildly bitter.

22. Cannoli Dip

Chocolate chip cannoli dip is a delicious dessert that’s easy to make and enjoy. 

It calls for ricotta, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla to create a glorious sweet cream.

Serve the dip with broken waffle cones for dipping, and enjoy!

23. Ricotta Mousse with Strawberries Romanoff

If you’re looking for a light yet sensational dessert, look no further than this.

The base is a smooth and velvety mousse made with ricotta and mascarpone.

It’s topped with fresh strawberries macerated with sugar and liqueur for a sophisticated touch.

Finished off with almond slivers and a sprig of mint, this mousse is refreshingly divine.