20+ Italian Ricotta Easter Bread Recipe Experience Culinary Bliss Now!
Published on: Mar 10, 2024
Easter is a time of celebration and indulgence, and what better way to celebrate than with a delicious Italian ricotta Easter bread? This traditional recipe has been passed down through generations and is a staple in many Italian households during the Easter season. The sweet and slightly tangy flavor of the ricotta cheese, combined with the warmth of the spices and the richness of the eggs, makes for a truly irresistible treat. Whether you are looking to impress your family and friends or simply want to try your hand at a new and delicious recipe, this Italian ricotta Easter bread is sure to be a hit. Let's dive into the recipe and see how you can recreate this classic dish in your own kitchen.
Main Ingredients: Unsalted Butter, Marinara Sauce, Manicotti Shells
If you're a fan of Italian cuisine, then you'll love our first recipe on the list – Baked Manicotti. This classic dish is made with tender pasta tubes filled with a delicious mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. The manicotti is then baked in a rich tomato sauce until it's hot, bubbly, and oh-so-satisfying. It's the perfect comfort food for any occasion, and it's sure to become a family favorite.
Next up, we have a recipe for Italian Ricotta Cookies – a sweet treat that's perfect for any time of the year. These soft, cake-like cookies are made with creamy ricotta cheese and flavored with lemon and vanilla. They're topped with a delicious glaze and colorful sprinkles, making them a festive addition to any cookie platter.
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Pizza Chena (Italian Easter Pie)
Main Ingredients: Ap Flour, Lard, Salt, Ice Water, Egg, Eggs, Ricotta
If you're looking for a show-stopping dish to impress your family and friends, then look no further than Pizza Chena – a traditional Italian Easter pie. This savory pie is filled with deli meats, cheeses, and eggs, all encased in a flaky crust. It's a hearty and delicious meal that's perfect for celebrating special occasions.
Sfogliatelle is a delicious Italian pastry that's crispy on the outside and filled with a creamy, sweet filling on the inside. This recipe is for the authentic version, made with layers of flaky pastry and a rich and delicious ricotta and semolina filling. It's a labor of love to make, but the end result is worth every bite.
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Italian Easter Pie (Pizza Giana)
Main Ingredients: All Purpose Flour, Butter, Salt, Pepper, Yeast, Water
Another Easter tradition in Italian households is Pizza Giana – a savory pie made with a variety of meats, cheeses, and eggs. This hearty pie is perfect for feeding a crowd, and it's a delicious way to celebrate the holiday. Serve it warm or at room temperature for a delicious and satisfying meal.
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Pizza Rustica (Italian Easter Pie)
Main Ingredients: Unsalted Butter, Italian 00 Flour, Beaten Egg, Large
Our list wouldn't be complete without another version of the classic Italian Easter pie – Pizza Rustica. This version is made with a buttery crust and filled with a mixture of meats, cheeses, and eggs. It's a delicious and indulgent dish that's perfect for a special occasion.
This Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake is a light and refreshing dessert that's perfect for the warmer months. The cake is made with ricotta cheese, giving it a tender and moist texture, and it's flavored with fresh lemon juice and zest. It's a simple and delicious dessert that's sure to impress.
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Lasagna
Main Ingredients: Lasagna Noodles, Meat Sauce, Ricotta, Shredded
No list of Italian recipes would be complete without the classic dish of lasagna. This hearty and comforting meal is made with layers of pasta, meat sauce, and a creamy cheese filling. It's a labor of love to assemble, but the end result is a delicious and satisfying meal that's perfect for any occasion.
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Easy Italian Pizza Rustica aka Savory Easter Pie
Main Ingredients: All Purpose Flour, Salt, Butter, Egg, Ice Cold Water
If you love the idea of an Italian Easter pie but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, then this Easy Pizza Rustica recipe is for you. It's a simplified version of the traditional dish, made with store-bought pie crust and a filling of deli meats, cheeses, and eggs. It's just as delicious and impressive as the original, but with a fraction of the work.
Ricotta cheese is a staple in Italian desserts, and this Italian Ricotta Cheesecake is no exception. This light and creamy cheesecake is made with a combination of ricotta and cream cheese, giving it a unique and delicious flavor. It's the perfect dessert for any occasion, and it's sure to become a new family favorite.
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Today’s Cake – Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake
Main Ingredients: Unsalted Butter, Caster Sugar, Ricotta, Eggs, Plain
Here's another recipe for Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake, this time with a twist – it's made in a bundt pan. This version is just as delicious as the traditional round cake, but it has a beautiful presentation that's perfect for special occasions. The lemon glaze adds a tangy and sweet finish to this already delicious cake.
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Italian Easter Pie (Pizza Rustica, Pizza Gaina, Pizza...
Main Ingredients: Ground Sausage, Bread Dough, Ricotta, Large Eggs, Fresh
This final recipe on our list is for another version of the savory Italian Easter pie – Pizza Gaina. This pie is made with a buttery crust and filled with a mixture of meats, cheeses, and eggs. It's a delicious and hearty dish that's perfect for celebrating the holiday with friends and family.
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Baked Gnocchi
Main Ingredients: Ground Italian Sausage, Gnocchi, Ricotta, Salt, Fennel
Gnocchi is a classic Italian pasta made with potato dough and served with a variety of sauces. In this recipe, the gnocchi is baked in a creamy tomato sauce and topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It's a simple and delicious meal that's perfect for a weeknight dinner.
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Easy Baked Ziti
Main Ingredients: Ziti, Olive Oil, Garlic, Onion, Ground Beef, Marinara
Baked ziti is a staple in Italian-American cuisine, and for good reason. This easy and delicious dish is made with ziti pasta, a hearty meat sauce, and a creamy cheese filling. It's then baked until hot and bubbly, making it a comforting and satisfying meal that everyone will love.
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Italian Eggplant Ricotta Bake
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, Small Onion, Garlic, Eggplant, Large Tomato
This Italian Eggplant Ricotta Bake is a simple and delicious vegetarian dish that's perfect for a meatless dinner. The eggplant is sliced and roasted until tender, then layered with a mixture of ricotta cheese, marinara sauce, and mozzarella. It's a flavorful and satisfying meal that's sure to become a favorite.
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Organic Italian Frittata with Asparagus
Main Ingredients: Yellow Onion, Garlic Cloves, Red Capsicum, Asparagus
Frittatas are a classic Italian dish that's perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In this recipe, we use fresh asparagus to create a delicious and nutritious frittata that's packed with flavor. It's a great way to use up any leftover veggies and makes for a quick and easy meal.
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Italian Stuffed Shells Freezer Meal
Main Ingredients: Ricotta, Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Italian
If you're in need of a quick and easy meal, then this recipe for Italian Stuffed Shells is perfect for you. The shells are filled with a mixture of ricotta, spinach, and parmesan cheese, then topped with a hearty meat sauce and baked until bubbly. It's a delicious and convenient meal that can be made ahead and frozen for later.
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Stuffed Peppers with Ricotta and Italian Sausage
Main Ingredients: Red Bell Peppers, Ricotta, Egg, Romano, Italian
This recipe for Stuffed Peppers takes a traditional Italian dish to a whole new level. The peppers are filled with a mixture of spicy Italian sausage, creamy ricotta cheese, and hearty marinara sauce. It's a delicious and satisfying meal that's perfect for a weeknight dinner.
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Manicotti
Main Ingredients: Fresh Spinach, Ricotta, Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan
Our final manicotti recipe on the list is a classic version made with a homemade tomato sauce and a delicious cheese filling. The manicotti is then baked until hot and bubbly, creating a delicious and comforting meal that's perfect for any occasion.
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Italian Easter Bread
Main Ingredients: All Purpose Flour, Whole Milk, Granulated Sugar
Last but certainly not least, we have a recipe for Italian Easter Bread – a sweet and festive bread that's perfect for the holiday. This bread is filled with colorful Easter eggs and flavored with anise and citrus zest. It's a beautiful addition to any Easter brunch or dinner table.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- Flour: The foundation of any good bread recipe, flour provides the structure and texture of the bread.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness and balances out the tanginess of the ricotta cheese.
- Ricotta cheese: The star ingredient of this bread, ricotta cheese adds richness and flavor to the dough.
- Eggs: Adds moisture and richness to the bread.
- Cinnamon and nutmeg: These warm spices add depth and warmth to the flavor of the bread.
- Raisins: Optional, but adds a delicious burst of sweetness to the bread.
- Candied citrus peel: Another optional ingredient that adds a touch of citrusy sweetness to the bread.
For the glaze:
- Powdered sugar: Gives the glaze its sweetness and smooth texture.
- Milk: Helps to thin out the glaze and make it easier to drizzle over the bread.
- Vanilla extract: Adds flavor and aroma to the glaze.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the dough
To make the dough, start by mixing together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ricotta cheese and eggs until well combined. Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms. If adding raisins and/or candied citrus peel, now is the time to mix them in.
Step 2: Knead the dough
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-10 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
Step 3: Shape and bake the bread
Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into two equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope and then twist them together, forming a braided loaf. Place the loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let it rise for another 30 minutes. Bake the bread in a preheated oven at 375°F for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Step 4: Make the glaze
While the bread is baking, mix together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl to make the glaze. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Step 5: Finish and serve
Once the bread is done baking, let it cool for a few minutes before drizzling the glaze over the top. Serve warm or at room temperature, and enjoy the delicious combination of flavors in this Italian ricotta Easter bread.
In conclusion, this Italian ricotta Easter bread recipe is a must-try for any food lover. The combination of sweet and tangy flavors, warm spices, and rich ingredients make it the perfect treat to enjoy during the Easter season. Impress your friends and family with this traditional Italian dish, or simply treat yourself to a delicious homemade bread. Happy Easter!