Ingredients
1½cupscake flour,not all-purpose
3tspbaking powder
1tspsalt
¾cupbutter,(1½ sticks), room temperature
1½cupsricotta cheese,whole milk or low fat
1½cupssugar,plus 1 tablespoon
3large eggs
1tspvanilla extract,store-bought or homemade
1orange,zested
2tbspAmaretto,or 1 tsp almond extract
Powdered sugar,for dusting, optional
1pintstrawberries,hulled and quartered or 3 oranges, cut into supremes
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 9 by 5 by 3″ loaf pan with butter.
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, ricotta, and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
With the machine running, add the eggs one at a time.
Add the vanilla, orange zest, and Amaretto (or almond extract) until combined.
Add the dry ingredients, a small amount at a time, until just incorporated.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake until a toothpick comes out clean and the cake is beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 45 to 50 minutes.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Using a mesh sieve, dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar.
Meanwhile, place the strawberries in a small bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.
Let sit until the juices have pooled around the strawberries.
To serve, slice the cake and serve with a spoonful of strawberries and their juices over the top of the cake.