Ricotta Pie (Italian Sweet Easter Pie Recipe) (2024)

Ricotta Pie is the classic Italian Sweet Ricotta Pie recipe that's traditionally served at Easter. This recipe is the perfect treat to have on hand as an Italian Easter dessert but would great year round!

Ricotta Pie is a simple and sweet dessert that has the most amazing texture and flavor. You'll love how subtly sweet and rich tasting this classic Italian dessert is.

For more traditional Italian Easter recipes, don't miss my Italian Easter Pie (Pizza Rustica), Italian Rice Pie, or the classic Pane di Pasqua. If you love ricotta desserts, be sure to try this Almond Ricotta Cake, No-Bake Ricotta Cheesecake, or Limoncello Ricotta Cookies.

You'll Love Ricotta Pie!

Ricotta Pie is a delicious and simple dessert that is like a cross between a cheesecake and pie. The creamy ricotta filling is perfectly flavored with a bit of lemon to make the most amazing traditional Easter dessert.

This recipe is a classic dish that's commonly served for special occasions, most traditionally at Easter time. It's a great dessert to make ahead of time and seems to taste better the longer it sits.

You'll love how easy the ricotta cheese filling comes together. Plus, you can make the entire pie crust, known as "pasta frolla" in the food processor.

I like to top this pie with a simple lattice top using the sweet crust of the dough. You could also just top the pie with a layer of dough for a more traditional finish.

Ricotta Pie comes together fast and you can even make the pie crust days ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to use. You'll love that there's no need to pre-bake the crust and no pie weights needed.

So, if you are looking for a creamy and delicious treat to serve for Easter Sunday, be sure to give this recipe for Italian Ricotta Pie a try!

​Ingredients

Ricotta: you will need a 15 ounce container of ricotta cheese for this recipe. Be sure to drain the ricotta ahead of time over a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth before using.

Eggs: you will need a total of six large eggs (two for the crust and four for the filling) in this recipe.

Sugar: granulated sugar is best for sweetening both the pasta frolla (crust) and the ricotta filling.

Vanilla: a bit of vanilla extract adds great flavor to the ricotta filling. You could also add a bit of almond extract to change up the flavor.

Lemon: it is traditional to add a bit of lemon juice and lemon zest to flavor the ricotta filling. You could use orange zest as well here.

Flour: use regular all purpose flour for the crust of the pie.

Baking powder: make sure you are using baking powder and not baking soda here.

Butter: use cold butter for the pie dough. Cut into cubes before adding to the sweet pie dough.

Salt: I like to use kosher salt for baking.

How to Make Ricotta Pie

Ricotta Pie is the classic Italian Easter Pie and it's great to make ahead of time. This recipe comes together fast and features a simple filling and sweet pie shell.

You can make this either in a 9-inch tart pan, springform pan,or a classic pie dish. The dough will need to chill for an hour before using so be sure to plan accordingly.

​Step 1: make the pasta frolla (sweet pie crust)

In a large food processor, combine the dry ingredients for the crust, including the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pulse to combine.

Then, add in the eggs and cold cubed butter. Continue to process until the dough is well combined. Note that the dough will be slightly crumbly but should hold together if squeezed. Add in a splash of ice water if needed.

Step 2: refrigerate the dough

Pour the pie crust dough on to a piece of plastic wrap. Form the dough into a disk shape and wrap tightly in plastic.

Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour or up to two days.

Step 3: prepare the filling and assemble the ricotta pie

​Once the dough has chilled, you can prepare the filling. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

Use an electric mixer to mix together the filling until it is smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.

Cut off about two-thirds of the pasta frolla dough and place on a lightly floured surface or piece of parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to roll into a 12-inch circular shape. Move the dough to the pie plate and press in using your hands. Use excess dough to fill in any holes in the crust.

Pour the ricotta mixture into the pan and top with a lattice of the remaining dough.

Step 4: bake

Place the ricotta cheese pie on a baking sheet on the center rack in preheated oven. Bake until the filling is set and the lattice is golden brown. The pie should reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Let the pie cool on a wire rack completely. Refrigerate until ready to serve and dust with powdered sugar before serving. Use a sharp knife to cut into pieces.

​Helpful Recipe Tips

• The sweet dough for this recipe, also known as "pasta frolla," can be made up to two days in advance. Just cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a pinch, you can substitute store-bought pie crust.
• ​You can top this pie with a large piece of rolled out pie dough or do a more intricate lattice design. Note that the lattice make sink slightly when placed on the filling but tends to puff back up when baked.
• ​Ricotta Pie tastes best served at room temperature or chilled. You can make this pie up to two days in advance, just cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• ​Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar and some fresh fruit on the side.

Frequently Asked Questions

​What is Pasta Frolla?

Pasta frolla is a sweet Italian dough that is used to make pie crusts for desserts like Ricotta Pie. The dough is made with flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, and butter, and can be prepared and refrigerated up to two days in advance of using.

Is Ricotta Pie Easy to Make?

Ricotta Pie is easy to make and consists of two components: the crust and the filling. You can make this recipe even easier by substituting a good quality store-bought pie crust instead of making homemade.

What is in Ricotta Pie Filling?

Ricotta Pie, which is traditionally served at Easter time, is made with whole milk ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice and zest. You can also add in a bit of mini chocolate chips or orange zest depending on your preferences.

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