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Moist and Delicious Apple Ricotta Cake with Maple Whipped Cream
The most delicious fall-inspired cake for any level baker – my new Apple Ricotta Cake with Maple Whipped Cream is so decadent, you’ll be shocked at how easy it is to make! This one has a single layer of ricotta cake, topped with apple pie filling, caramel and maple whipped cream.
Apple Ricotta Cake with Maple Whipped Cream
Need a decadent and drool-worthy dessert that doesn’t take hours to make and tastes like it belongs in a 5-star restaurant? This Apple Ricotta Cake with apple pie filling, homemade salted caramel and maple whipped cream is it!
And that may sound like a lot, but these four simple elements are actually really easy to make. Plus, there’s no decorating needed for this one. In fact, the messier the better!
How to Make Ricotta Cake
If you haven’t made my Olive Oil Ricotta Cake yet, I hope this cake will convince you to try it.
The texture of this cake is incredible. It’s slightly more dense, but not quite like a pound cake, and it’s super moist. There’s definitely not a strong olive oil taste, just a hint. If you don’t want to use olive oil, grapeseed oil is another great option.
For the ricotta, you can use store bought. Just make sure to use whole milk ricotta if you can. Remember, fat creates and retains moisture in our cakes. We love whole fat products whenever we can use them!
I like to warm up the apple compote and caramel just a bit. When I’m ready to serve this cake, I add the toppings. Whipped topping should be cold. For a finishing touch, I dusted the top of the cake with cinnamon.
How to Make Apple Pie Filling
- To make the apple pie filling, start by peeling the skin off the apples.
- Dice them and toss them in lemon juice.
- You’ll then combine the apples over the stove with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook until just softened. Drain the extra juices. Refrigerate to cool.
How to Make Homemade Caramel
To make homemade salted caramel, you actually don’t have to be too hands-on. In fact, I want you to keep your hands off for the majority of the time!
- You’ll start by combining the sugar, water, and corn syrup (or honey) over the stove on medium heat.
- Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves and then step back!
- Allow the mixture to boil and cook. Stirring the sugar mixture at this point will encourage crystallization and we don’t want that!
- It will take a few minutes for the mixture to change color, but once it does, stay close by.
- You’re looking for the mixture to turn a dark golden brown, amber color. Check the pictures HERE for guidance.
- Once you’ve reached the right color, you’re ready to start SLOWLY adding warm heavy whipping cream.
- Using warm heavy whipping cream will decrease the chance the mixture hardens.
- Once you’ve added all the cream, you can stir in the vanilla and salt.
- Allow the mixture to cool completely before using in your buttercreams and cakes.
Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat without stirring. Remove from heat and add warm cream, followed by vanilla and salt. Allow mixture to boil and turn amber in color. Once the caramel has cooled slightly, pour it into a heat save container. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Maple Whipped Cream
This might just be the most exciting part of the cake – maple whipped cream! For this maple whipped cream recipe, you’ll use maple extract, heavy whipping cream, and powdered sugar.
Twp notes about the whipped cream:
- The recipe below creates medium-stiff peaks.
- Plan to make the cream when you’re ready to serve the cake.
Assembly
Assembly for this Apple Ricotta Cake is as easy as it gets. You’ll literally slather one thing on top of the other. Start with the apple pie filling, then drizzle the caramel on top, and finish with the whipped cream.
Serve immediately.
FAQs
Can the cake be made ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can make the cake layer days or even weeks in advance. When the cake has cooled to room temperature, wrap it well with plastic wrap and then freeze the cake. If you’re storing the cake for more than a few days, I also recommend wrapping it a second time in plastic wrap and then one time in foil. Allow the layer a few hours to thaw before serving.
Can the apple pie filling be made ahead of time?
Yes. Once the apple filling cools a bit, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You’ll want to heat it up a bit before topping the cake.
Do I have to use maple extract or can I use maple syrup?
I recommend using extract. I did a round of the whipped cream with maple syrup and it did not provide the same flavor as the extract unfortunately. To get the flavor, you would have to use quite a bit of the syrup and that will ruin the texture of the whipped cream.
Apple Ricotta Cake with Maple Whipped Cream
Tender ricotta cake with apple pie filling, salted caramel and maple whipped cream.
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE
- 1 1/2 cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (6 g) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) salt
- 1/2 cup (109 g) olive oil
- 1 cups (200 g) sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup (250 g) ricotta cheese, room temperature
FOR THE APPLE PIE FILLING
- 3 cups (450 g) Granny Smith, apples peeled and diced
- juice of half a lemon
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons (37.5 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon (2.1 g) cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.1 g) nutmeg
For the Caramel
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (60 g) water
- 1 teaspoon (7 g) light corn syrup or honey
- 1/3 cup (80 g) heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.1 g) vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) salt
For the Maple Whipped Cream
- 1 cup (240 g) heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup (31.25 g) powdered sugar
- 4 ounces mascarpone
- 1-2 teaspoons (4.2 g) maple extract
Instructions
FOR THE CAKE
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare one 8-inch cake pan with spray, parchment paper and spray again. Set aside.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside
- Beat the olive oil and the sugar on medium speed in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for one minute.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- With the mixer on low, alternately add the flour mixture and the ricotta, starting and finishing with the flour. Combine until incorporated.
- Pour cake batter into pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Let cool in pan for about 5-10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, you can cover with plastic wrap and store in your refrigerator overnight or freezer for longer.
FOR THE APPLE PIE FILLING
- Combine the apples and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Toss to coat the apples.
- In a large saute pan, combine the apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg over medium heat.
- Cook the apples, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Drain the excess juice and refrigerate apples in an airtight container to cool and store.
FOR THE CARAMEL
- Combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves and then STOP stirring. Stirring creates crystallization.
- Allow the mixture to boil on its own.
- Once the mixture turns amber in color, remove from heat and slowly add warm cream while stirring (heating the cream first ensures you don’t get clumps of caramel).
- Add the vanilla and salt. Stir to combine.
- Cool to room temperature before using.
- Caramel can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You’ll need to heat it up slightly to thin it out and make it pourable.
For the Maple Whipped Cream
- This is best made shortly before you're ready to serve the cake. In a stainless steel bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until medium-stiff peaks form.
- Fold in the mascarpone and 1 teaspoon maple extract.
- Be sure to taste test, you may want an extra teaspoon of maple extract.
Assembly
- Top the cake with the apples, followed by the caramel and the whipped cream. This will look messy and that's exactly how it should be!
I made this today and it was fantastic in every way, except for the last step. How do you fold the mascarpone into the whipped cream? I ended up with little lumps of mascarpone. Is there a trick I missed? The maple whipped cream was so good otherwise.
Glad you enjoyed it! I find that if I use mascarpone that’s not too cold, it’s easier to mix without lumps.
Hey Courtney, this looks great! I wanted to try to turn this into a layer cake, with the maple whipped cream as a filling and a buttercream frosting. What kind of frosting would you recommend? Also, would the maple whipped cream hold up as a filling?
I would probably do vanilla!