Sicilian Cassata / Marzipan Covered Ricotta Cheese Cake



Cassata Siciliana / Sicilian Cassata
   Sicilian cassata or Cassata Siciliana is a popular traditional  celebration dessert from Sicily, Italy. This yummy dessert is made of vanilla sponge cake with layered ricotta, candied peel and chocolate filling and then covered with green colored marzipan and finally topped with sugar icing and candied fruits. This is a bit time consuming but worth the effort.


Things you need

  • Sponge cake, chocolate or vanilla Cake
  • Ricotta cheese for filling
  • Marzipan
  • Candied fruits and cherries
  • Hot white icing



For  Ricotta cheese filling
  • 1 lb Ricotta cheese
  • 3 oz semi sweet chocolate bar, grated
  • 1/2 cup white superfine sugar
  • 3 tbs Marsala wine(optional)
  • 1/3 cup chopped candied peel
For Hot Sugar Icing
  • 1 egg white, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 powdered sugar
  • 1 tbs fresh lemon juice
Directions

Making the ricotta filling
   To make the filling, rub the ricotta through a strainer into a bowl remove excess water to . Add the grated chocolate, sugar and Marsala wine and beat together until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in the hopped candied peel.

Making the Hot White Icing
  In a bowl combine egg white and sugar and beat at low speed until blended. Add the lemon juice and beat at high speed until creamy and shiny.


Assembling the Cassata    First make the 8 inch round vanilla sponge cake and cut in half horizontally. Mix green color in Marzipan and cover the sides of the pan with a thin layer. Place the cake slice on  the prepared pan cut side down. Spread the sweetened ricotta filling on the sides of marzipan and place small rectangle shaped cake slices on the marzipan(this will form the side structure when you flip the cake). Now cover with ricotta cheese filling. Crumble the rest of the cake slices and sprinkle over the filling. Press down lightly, cover with a plate and a weight, and let chill in the refrigerator for  8 hours or overnight. Turn the cake out onto a serving plate. Pour white icing over the Cassata and decorate with candied fruits and fresh cherries. Enjoy....
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Comments

  1. wow..what a lovely cake..looks delicious..

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  2. That is so colourful and lovely, what is the green one round the cake, is that also candied peel?

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  3. Hi Vrinda
    this is simply superb.Looks so colorful and lovely!!

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  4. Very colorful cake looks too gud

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  5. Colourful and yummy looking cake

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  6. colorful and lovely...looks delicious!!!

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  7. It looks so pretty!! What a great job decorating! My kids would love it for sure, thanks!

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  8. WOW..cake looks delectable..very beautifully done..

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  9. EEshwara, enikithu epol venam..Adipoli, love all the colors...

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  10. Umm Mymoonah : The Green one is Marzipan...

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  11. Looks delicious, cute one too. I love your decorations Vrinda.

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  12. That's so attractive ...looks too gud

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  13. oh! it looks yummy n colourful,

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  14. Omg, wat a awesome, colourful, catchy and beautiful cake, lovely decoration dear..

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  15. Very great one and colourful cassata!

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  16. That is one GORGEOUS looking cake..good one!!

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  17. What a colorful and fabulous cake!! Great job!!

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  18. Wow never seen such a lovely colourful cake....The recipe also sounds new to me....grt job dear...

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  19. Such a colorful and festive dessert!

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  20. wow what beautiful cake and colorful

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  21. Colourful & beautiful cake...never seen such before...

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  22. goodness....enthuva ithu!!!looks like an eye candy!...adipoliyaayittundu.....have u got a sliced picture...please do post it too...i would love to see the heaven inside and out:)

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  23. The name itself transports me to Italy!! Had seen this first on Rachel Allen's show and it was fascinating to watch. Would sometime try this without the marsala of course(don't be shocked!!),am sure its a dessert worth the time and effort..

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  24. Wow!beautiful decoration.cake looks irresistible:)

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  25. Colourful and beautiful cassatta. Its so lovely recipe.

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  26. wow!!!wonderful and colourful cake...gud job!

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  27. What a pretty cake! And I bet it was delicious too.

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  28. pretty & colorful......totally new to me

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  29. Very very colorful..That looks like a master piece,...wish I could taste or atleast even see it directly

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  30. Delicious and mouth watering and soo very pretty !!
    www.happyhealthyfuncooking.blogspot.com

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  31. Very colorful and kid-pleasing..that looks so delectable dear.

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  32. This is one of my very favorites! You made it look so pretty!

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  33. Sicilian Casata Cake looks awesome. No wonder so many bloggers have testified so well.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  34. What a beautiful cake. Just looking at it, makes me happy! I have extended an award to you, please do drop by when you can. See you!

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  35. Looks amazing. I am sure that would have tasted wonderful.

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  36. What a colourful looking cheesecake! Yummy!

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  37. A colorful and a yummy casatta!!! love the name and nice pics!!!

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  38. A colourful cake! looks beautiful!

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  39. What a beautiful and colorful dessert. Love it!

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  40. Wow...it looks gorgeous!

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  41. ithu super ayittundu kto...adipoli...

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  42. Now this looks very delicious and so colorful. Love marzipan.

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  43. hatts off to u my dear.....such an amazing cassatta....i love it....muahhhhhh!!!

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