This decadent Italian Love Cake is a rich, layered dessert that delivers the perfect balance of chocolatey indulgence and creamy sweetness.
As it bakes, the layers magically switch places—creating a dense chocolate cake base topped with a luscious ricotta layer that feels almost like cheesecake.
It’s a dessert that looks impressive but comes together with surprisingly simple ingredients.
Finished with a silky chocolate pudding and whipped topping frosting, this cake is chilled to perfection for a refreshing, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Whether you’re making it for a holiday, potluck, or just because, this crowd-pleasing dessert is guaranteed to win hearts with every bite.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Servings: 18
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 7 large eggs, divided
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 pints part-skim ricotta cheese
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup milk
- 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, water, 3 eggs, and vegetable oil. Beat with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes, or until smooth. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, and remaining 4 eggs until smooth and creamy. Carefully spread this mixture over the cake batter—do not stir.
- Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (allow up to 1 1/2 hours if using a metal pan). Remove from the oven and let the cake cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant chocolate pudding mix and milk until thickened. Fold in the whipped topping until smooth and fluffy.
- Spread the pudding topping evenly over the cooled cake. Cover loosely and refrigerate until fully chilled and set before serving.
Chefs Notes
- This cake forms its signature layers during baking—avoid mixing the ricotta layer into the batter.
- Chilling the cake for several hours (or overnight) enhances both texture and flavor.
- For a richer taste, try using whole milk ricotta instead of part-skim.
- Dust with cocoa powder or chocolate shavings before serving for an extra touch.