Luscious Baked Ricotta Delights with Sweet Lemon Filling and Sultanas

Delve into the delightful world of baked ricotta treats! These soft, baked morsels combine the smooth texture of ricotta cheese with a zesty lemon filling, sweetened with brown sugar and dotted with plump sultanas for an extra burst of flavor. The dough is enriched with milk, butter, and a hint of lemon zest, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and citrus.

Why You’ll Love This: These baked ricotta delights are perfect for those who appreciate a dessert that’s not overly sweet yet immensely satisfying. The combination of fluffy dough with creamy, citrus-infused ricotta offers a texture that melts in your mouth, while the sultanas add a lovely chewiness.

Perfect Occasion: These treats are ideal for teatime gatherings, brunches, or as a sophisticated dessert at dinner parties. They can also serve as delightful holiday treats or a special weekend baking project with the family.

Decoration Tips: Once baked and slightly cooled, dust these delights with powdered sugar for a touch of elegance. Garnish with thin lemon zest strips or a few fresh sultana berries on the side to enhance their visual appeal and hint at the flavors inside.

• Ingredients for the Dough:
  • 400g all-purpose flour
  • 100ml milk
  • 7g dry yeast
  • 1 egg
  • 100g butter, melted
  • 100g granulated sugar
  • Zest of one lemon, finely grated
  • A pinch of salt
• Filling:
  • 400g ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • Zest of one lemon
  • Sultanas, as desired (optional)
• Instructions:
  1. Dissolve the yeast in warm milk with a bit of the sugar. Let it activate until frothy.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together melted butter, the rest of the sugar, lemon zest, and salt. Beat in the egg.
  3. Gradually mix in the flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
  4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
  5. For the filling, mix ricotta with egg, cornstarch, brown sugar, lemon zest, and sultanas. Chill until needed.
  6. Roll out the dough and cut into squares. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each square. Pinch the edges to seal and form into balls.
  7. Place the filled dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover, and let rise again for about 30 minutes.
  8. Brush with a milk and egg yolk mixture and bake at 190°C for 25-30 minutes or until golden.
  9. Let cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar.

Enjoy these delightful baked ricotta treats that offer a wonderful blend of flavors and textures!