Sicilian Ricotta Cheesecake

By LoriCaputo

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. ricotta cheese
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 6 eggs
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. orange zest
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 tsp. salt

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Set rack in the middle of the oven. Butter and flour a 9 ½ inch spring form pan, and tap out excess flour.

Place the ricotta in a large mixing bowl, and stir until smooth with a rubber spatula. Stir in the sugar and flour together thoroughly. Stir in the eggs one at a time. Blend in the vanilla, cinnamon, zest, and salt. Pour batter into pan.

Bake in the centre of the oven for 1 ¼ - 1 ½ hours; until the cake becomes a light golden color. Make sure the center is fairly firm and the point of a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack-the cake will sink slightly as it cools.