Chocolate Italian Love Cake with Ricotta Filling
Italian Love Cake is a rich, layered dessert made with chocolate cake, creamy ricotta filling, and a whipped chocolate pudding topping — the perfect make-ahead treat for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 15 servings 1x
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Layer:
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1 box chocolate cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water per box instructions)
Ricotta Layer:
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32 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
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3/4 cup granulated sugar
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3 large eggs
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1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping:
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1 (3.9 oz) box instant chocolate pudding
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1 1/2 cups cold milk
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8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip or homemade)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
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Prepare cake mix per box instructions and pour into pan.
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In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Spoon evenly over cake batter — do not mix.
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Bake for 55–60 minutes until set. Cool completely.
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Whisk pudding mix and milk until thickened. Fold in whipped topping.
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Spread pudding topping over cooled cake.
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Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with chocolate shavings or berries before serving.
Notes
Best made a day ahead. Store chilled. Add lemon zest or raspberry preserves for variation.