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30+ BEST Ricotta Desserts: Easy Recipes Included

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

January 6, 2026

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5 from 2 votes

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Wondering how to use up that container of ricotta cheese that’s in the fridge? Here are 30+ amazingly delicious ricotta dessert recipes to try out!

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Table of Contents

  • The BEST Desserts with Ricotta Cheese
  • 🕕 How to Make Ahead and Store
  • ℹ️ Ricotta FAQs
  • ✔️ More Ingredient Guides
  • 30+ BEST Ricotta Desserts

Wondering how to use up that container of leftover ricotta cheese that’s in the fridge?

It’s easy! Ricotta, a creamy Italian cheese, is such a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. It’s especially delicious in desserts!

Ricotta gives dessert recipes a moist, creamy texture, that I just can’t get enough of…

Here are 30+ of the best ricotta desert recipes. So you no longer have to ask the question – “What can I use ricotta cheese for?”

Seeking something savory? Here’s 25+ more recipes that use ricotta cheese.

The BEST Desserts with Ricotta Cheese

Overhead close up of bowl of coffee mousse topped with flaky salt, mint sprig and chocolate shavings.
Coffee Mousse
Coffee Mousse is a decadent, airy dessert flavored with coffee & cocoa. Made with whipped cream & ricotta cheese to make it creamy without gelatin.
Coffee Mousse
Overhead shot of strawberry ricotta cake cut up with three serving plates of cake.
Strawberry Ricotta Cake
This Strawberry Ricotta Cake is the most delicious Italian-inspired dessert. The rich ricotta provides the cake with perfect moisture and density and the strawberries make the flavor pop. It’s almost like a combination between a cake and a cheesecake.
Strawberry Ricotta Cake
SIDE VIEW OF THREE JARS OF RASPBERRY RICOTTA MOUSSE.
Ricotta Mousse with Raspberries
Ricotta Mousse can be made in just 10-minutes with 4 simple ingredients. This no-bake, make-ahead raspberry mousse is a creamy, decadent and delicious. 
Ricotta Mousse
Ricotta cake on piece of parchment before being sliced.
Blackberry Ricotta Cake
This Blackberry Ricotta Cake is the most delicious Italian-inspired dessert. The rich ricotta provides the cake with perfect moisture and density and the blackberries make the flavor pop. It’s like the best combination of cake and cheesecake.
Blackberry Ricotta Cake
Sicilian Cannoli with Ricotta Filling Recipe – Stefania’s Kitchenette
Sicilian Cannoli with Ricotta Filling Recipe.
Get the RECIPE from Stefania’s Kitchenette
Lemon Ricotta Cake With Brown Butter
A moist and super soft lemon ricotta cake perfect for this time of the year! It has brown butter inside, which makes it super delicious! A real treat!
Get the RECIPE from Healthy Little Cravings
Ricotta Tiramisu
Ricotta Tiramisu
This ricotta tiramisu is slightly different than your traditional version, but it is just as simple and just as delicious.
Get the RECIPE from Justine Snacks
Moist & Soft Apple Ricotta Fig Cake – Healthy Little Cravings
Apple fig cake with creamy ricotta. The perfect early Fall dessert.
Get the RECIPE from Healthy Little Cravings
Cannoli Cupcakes with Whipped Ricotta ~ Barley & Sage
What’s better than a cannoli? Cannoli cupcakes topped with whipped ricotta frosting and topped with a mini homemade cannoli!
Get the RECIPE from Barley & Sage
Italian ricotta cheesecake with dark chocolate hazelnut spread – Juls’ Kitchen
A ricotta cheesecake with an Italian twist, with lemon and orange zest, and a dark chocolate spread, inspired by Via Carota ricotta cake.
Get the RECIPE from Juls’ Kitchen
Italian Chocolate Cake – Cakescottage
A combination of chocolate marble cake and cheesecake with a creamy chocolate topping, this Italian Chocolate Cake is an absolute must try.
Get the RECIPE from Cakescottage
Whipped Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake.
This whipped lemon ricotta cheesecake is rich and luscious and takes so little effort to make. This unique cheesecake is light, creamy, airy, a touch buttery, lightly sweetened, and perfectly hinted with fresh lemon and vanilla. The best part? There’s no fancy water bath required!
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake
Celebrate blueberry season with this rich, fluffy, and moist Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake with sweet cream cheese icing on top!
Get the RECIPE from Emily Laurae
Ricotta Crumb Bars
Ricotta Crumb Bars
Ricotta Crumb Bars. The super tender crust just melts in your mouth and the cheesecake-like center is much more delicate and soft than a traditional cheesecake made with cream cheese. The crumb topping gives these simple treats a “bakery” finishing touch.
Get the RECIPE from Olga’s Flavor Factory
Orange Ricotta Cheesecake – Baker by Nature
Silky smooth and bursting with flavor, this Orange Ricotta Cheesecake is a total showstopper!!! Top with orange infused cranberry sauce for the ultimate holiday dessert! Bonus: this can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to two months.
Get the RECIPE from Baker by Nature
Italian Lemon Ricotta Cookies
This Lemon Ricotta Cookie recipe is so delicious, fluffy, soft and moist. Made with a cake-like consistency and perfect for any occasion!
Get the RECIPE from Kathryns Kitchen Blog
Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries Is Your New Go-To Easy Dessert
This creamy ricotta-mascarpone mousse recipe is as light as air and pairs perfectly with fresh strawberries marinated in balsamic vinegar. Plus, it’s ready in mere minutes.
Get the RECIPE from Simply Recipes
Cannoli Dip
This easy chocolate chip cannoli dip is made with ricotta, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla, then served with broken waffle cones for dipping.
Get the RECIPE from Homemade Hooplah
Overhead close up of ricotta toast next to honey wand.
Sweet Ricotta Toast
This Sweet Ricotta Toast with Blackberries & Honey is finished with fresh berries & coconut flakes. It’s a deliciously sweet & creamy breakfast or quick snack.
Whipped Ricotta Toast
Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake Recipe
This is the best rich and moist Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake recipe, topped with whipped cream and fresh berries!
Get the RECIPE from Veronika’s Kitchen
Cannoli cake on plate.
Cannoli Cake Recipe
The best Cannoli Cake recipe, an easy from-scratch Italian cake with cannoli filling.
Get the RECIPE from Snappy Gourmet
Healthy Persimmon Dessert
This 10 minute dessert is a great way to enjoy the fresh delicate flavour of persimmons on a smooth vanilla ricotta base.
Get the RECIPE from End of the Fork
Lemon Pound Cake with Almond Glaze – Kristine’s Kitchen
Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake. A totally addicting and delicious lemon pound cake topped with an almond glaze. It is so moist and bursting with bright fresh lemon flavor.
Get the RECIPE from Kristine’s Kitchen
Strawberry Ricotta Cake – Tornadough Alli
When it comes to the perfect, delicious and flavorful yet easy cake recipe this Strawberry Ricotta Cake is high on the list of must make delicious dessert recipes.
Get the RECIPE from Tornadough Ali
Pastiera Napoletana
Pastiera Napoletana is a traditional Easter dessert of pie crust filled with a citrusy combination of ricotta, grano cotto, citron, and orange zest topped with a golden crust and powdered sugar.
Get the RECIPE from Sip and Feast
Creamy Italian Ricotta Cheesecake Recipe – Baker by Nature
Creamy Italian Ricotta Cheesecake. It’s the perfect recipe to share with a crowd, and it’s make-ahead friendly, meaning you can bake it well in advance and just pull it out of the freezer the night before you plan on serving it!
Get the RECIPE from Baker by Nature
Fresh Peach Ricotta Cake – Seasons and Suppers
A wonderfully moist peach cake, that is full of fresh peaches and made without oil or butter. Lightly sweet, it’s perfect any time of day.
Get the RECIPE from Seasons and Suppers
Sweet Italian Ricotta Pie
A creamy ricotta filling with a hint of lemon and almond is baked inside of a sweet Italian pie pastry. Typically served on Easter, but not exclusively, this Ricotta Pie is the star of the show at any meal.
Get the RECIPE from Everyday Pie
Easy Ricotta Dessert with Raspberries
This Raspberry Ricotta Dessert with sour cream and topped with chocolate, is the ultimate easy and impressive sweet treat!
Get the RECIPE from Dani’s Cookings
Make-Ahead Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake | Alexandra’s Kitchen
Make-Ahead Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake. Made with both ricotta and mascarpone, lemon juice and zest, this lemon-ricotta cheesecake is a crowd pleaser and can be made a day in advance.
Get the RECIPE from Alexandra’s Kitchen

🕕 How to Make Ahead and Store

Many of these ricotta cheese dessert recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead. 

ℹ️ Ricotta FAQs

How Long Does Ricotta Cheese Last?

Once opened, that tub of ricotta cheese should be consumed within 3 to 5 days.

Can you Freeze Ricotta Cheese?

You can freeze ricotta cheese, however, the texture will change once frozen. Frozen ricotta is best in recipes where it is baked, like in this Cheese Manicotti or Ricotta Cake.

✔️ More Ingredient Guides

  • Ricotta Recipes
  • Italian Sausage Recipes
  • Lamb Recipes
  • Ground Turkey Recipes
  • Ground Beef Recipes
  • Gnocchi Recipes

Did you Make Any of These Ricotta Cheese Desserts?

Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of dessert recipes with ricotta cheese. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

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Overhead close up of bowl of coffee mousse topped with flaky salt, mint sprig and chocolate shavings.

Full Recipe

30+ BEST Ricotta Desserts

Wondering how to use up that container of ricotta in the fridge? Here are 30+ amazingly delicious ricotta desserts to try out! Try this Coffee Mousse. It's a decadent, airy dessert flavored with coffee & cocoa. Made with whipped cream & ricotta cheese to make it creamy without gelatin.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Resting Time: 1 hour hr
Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 15-ounce container whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 4 Tablespoons powdered sugar

Garnish:

  • Chocolate Shavings
  • Mint Sprigs

Instructions

  • Purée ricotta, cocoa powder and coffee in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl; set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cream until thick. Add the powdered sugar and continue to beat until the cream holds stiff peaks.
  • Fold in cream into the ricotta mixture in 3 stages. Spoon the mousse into serving bowls and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Garnish with chocolate shavings and mint and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 78mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 875IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
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5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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2 responses

  1. Kimberly
    December 26, 2023

    5 stars
    Great collections. Will definitely try some of them.

    Reply
  2. Loryduck22
    October 14, 2024

    definitely trying this https://www.platingsandpairings.com/ricotta-desserts/ its perfect

    Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

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