Vanilla Olive Oil Ricotta Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cake ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cup of white sugar

• 1 16 oz. container of whole milk ricotta

• 1 cup + 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tbsp vanilla bean paste

• ¼ tsp almond extract

• 4 eggs + 1 egg yolk

• ¾ tsp baking soda

• ¾ tsp of kosher salt

• 2 ¼ cup of AP flour

Cream cheese frosting ingredients:

• 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter; room temperature

• 8 oz. cream cheese; room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla paste

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 4 cups of powdered sugar

Preheat your oven to 325°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with olive oil. Set it aside while you prepare the batter.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer), combine the granulated sugar, ricotta cheese, and olive oil. Beat until smooth and creamy, then mix in the vanilla bean paste and almond extract.

Add the eggs and egg yolk one at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated. Add the baking soda, salt, and flour, then mix just until no dry streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.

While the cake bakes, prepare the frosting. Clean the mixing bowl and switch to the whisk attachment. Beat the butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla bean paste and almond extract, mixing until combined. Gradually add the powdered sugar with the mixer on low speed to prevent it from flying everywhere. Once all of the sugar has been added, increase the speed and whip until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. Leave the frosting at room temperature until you're ready to use it.

Once the cake has cooled completely, spread the frosting evenly over the top. Decorate however you'd like! I made this cake for the Fourth of July, so I took inspiration from Ina Garten's iconic flag cake and decorated it with fresh blueberries and sliced strawberries to create an American flag.