14/05/2025
🇮🇹 **Cassata Siciliana Recipe**
📝 **Ingredients**
🍰 *For the Sponge Cake (Pan di Spagna):*
* 5 large eggs
* 150g (¾ cup) granulated sugar
* 150g (1¼ cups) all-purpose flour, sifted
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* A pinch of salt
🧁 *For the Ricotta Filling:*
* 500g (2 cups) fresh ricotta cheese (preferably sheep's milk)
* 150g (¾ cup) powdered sugar (adjust to taste)
* 100g (½ cup) mini dark chocolate chips
* 80g (½ cup) candied orange peel or mixed candied fruits, chopped
🍶 *For the Syrup:*
* 100ml (⅓ cup) water
* 50g (¼ cup) sugar
* 1–2 tbsp orange liqueur or rum (optional)
🍬 *For the Marzipan (Green outer layer):*
* 200g (1⅓ cups) almond flour
* 200g (1¾ cups) powdered sugar
* 2–3 tbsp water
* A few drops of green food colouring
🍭 *For the Glaze & Decoration:*
* 200g (1¾ cups) powdered sugar
* 2–3 tbsp hot water
* Assorted candied fruits for decoration (e.g. cherries, citrus peel, pumpkin)
👨🍳 **Instructions**
**Make the Sponge Cake:**
1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla until thick and pale (about 10 minutes).
3. Gently fold in sifted flour and salt.
4. Pour into a greased and lined rectangular or round pan and bake for 25–30 minutes.
5. Let it cool completely, then cut into thin slices.
**Prepare the Ricotta Filling:**
1. Press ricotta through a fine sieve to remove lumps.
2. Mix with powdered sugar until smooth.
3. Fold in chocolate chips and candied fruit.
4. Chill in the fridge.
**Make the Marzipan:**
1. Mix almond flour, powdered sugar, and water until a dough forms.
2. Add green food colouring and knead until evenly colored.
3. Roll into a thin sheet to line the sides of your cassata mould.
**Assemble the Cassata:**
1. Line a dome-shaped bowl or cassata mould with plastic wrap.
2. Line the base and sides with marzipan and sponge cake slices.
3. Brush with the syrup (water, sugar, liqueur).
4. Fill with ricotta mixture and smooth the surface.
5. Cover the top with more sponge slices.
6. Chill for **at least 4 hours**, preferably overnight.
**Glaze and Decorate:**
1. Unmold the cassata onto a serving plate.
2. Mix powdered sugar with hot water to make a pourable glaze.
3. Pour over the cassata and let it set.
4. Decorate with candied fruits in traditional patterns.
🎉 **Serve chilled and enjoy!**