Italian Easter Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8-inch springform pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together ricotta cheese, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and salt until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract and melted butter.
3. Fold in flour and chopped almonds. Pour into prepared springform pan and sprinkle top with chopped walnuts.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes before releasing sides of pan and transferring to a cooling rack.
6. Serve warm with a dusting of powdered sugar (optional).

Interesting Facts

• This Italian Easter Cheesecake is a traditional Italian dessert that is served during the Easter holiday.
• It is believed that the addition of the spices to this recipe is to represent the spices used to anoint Jesus during his burial.
• The cheesecake is usually decorated with a cross or other religious symbols.