Italian Love Cake

Italian Love Cake is a beautifully layered dessert that combines moist chocolate cake, creamy ricotta cheesecake, and a silky chocolate pudding topping. It’s rich yet surprisingly light, making it perfect for holidays, potlucks, or any make-ahead celebration dessert. Each slice shows off its layers, giving it that wow-factor without any complicated steps.

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• Eggs, oil, and water (as called for on the cake mix box)
• 2 lbs ricotta cheese
• 4 eggs
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 box instant chocolate pudding mix (5.9 oz)
• 1½ cups cold milk
• 8 oz Cool Whip or whipped topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. Prepare the chocolate cake batter according to package instructions and pour it into the pan.
3. Beat ricotta, eggs, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Gently spoon the ricotta mixture over the cake batter without mixing.
5. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean, then cool completely.
6. Whisk pudding mix with cold milk until thickened.
7. Fold Cool Whip into the pudding mixture.
8. Spread the topping over the cooled cake.
9. Chill for at least 4 hours (overnight is best).

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 60 minutes | Total Time: 320 minutes
Kcal: 420 kcal | Servings: 12

Tips

• For a smoother ricotta layer, make sure the ricotta is well-drained and at room temperature before mixing.
• This cake tastes even better the next day, so make it ahead and store it covered in the refrigerator.

FAQ

Why does the ricotta layer sink while baking?
The batter and ricotta filling naturally swap places during baking, creating the signature layers.

Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip?
Yes, but stabilize it with a bit of powdered sugar so it holds up during chilling.

Can I use a different cake mix flavor?
Chocolate is classic, but vanilla or marble also work well.

How long does Italian Love Cake keep?
It stores well for up to 4–5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze this cake?
Yes—freeze without the pudding topping, then add the topping after thawing for best texture.