Italian Ricotta Cheesecake with Pineapple

One of my favorite cheesecakes. This Italian pineapple cheesecake is made with whole milk ricotta and crushed pineapple for a unique twist and added flavor. It has a creamy texture and is oh soooo good!

There are several traditional Italian Easter recipes that are very near and dear to my heart. These include Italian Easter bread, Italian rice pie (which can also be made with pastina), and Pizza Rustica (which is a meat and cheese pie). I love them all!

This year I wanted to add something new, and because we all love cheesecake, I baked this Italian pineapple cheesecake. I love pineapple or strawberry with my cheesecake, so this recipe was perfect.

The results were fabulous!

Overview of Process

1. Line a baking pan or pie plate/pan with the pie dough and form a decorative edge around the top if desired (see Quick Tips section below). Refrigerate for an hour or so.
2. To make filling, add eggs, ricotta, sugar, and cream to medium sized bowl and mix until incorporated. I mix until nice and smooth.
3. Add vanilla and cornstarch and mix again.
4. Add the drained crushed pineapple and then mix again gently OR you can add pineapple on the bottom of the pie and layer the cheese mixture on top. I’ve done both.
5. Cover edges of pie with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
6. When ready to bake, preheat oven, pour filling into prepared pie shell and bake!
7. Sprinkle cinnamon powder or cinnamon sugar on cooled pie (optional).

Tips for Success

• Make your pie crust ahead of time and refrigerate it.
• Read tips for rolling out pie crusts.
• Watch how to master decorative edges on your pies (I need practice here)!
• Make sure to strain your ricotta cheese if necessary (some brands are thicker than others) and also strain the liquid from your crushed pineapple. I use either a colander with small holes or a fine mesh strainer.
• Do not overfill your pie shell. Make sure the filling is at least 1/4 inch below/lower than the top of your crust.
• Use aluminum foil to cover your crust or it might brown/burn (for “how to”, see photo in blog post).
• Keep an eye on the pie toward the end of the bake time. Check every 5 minutes during the last 10 minutes of baking and extend bake time if needed. The pie is done when it has puffed up slightly but is still a little bit jiggly.

More Easter Recipes

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Italian Sesame Cookies

Italian Rice Pie (Pastiera di Riso)

The Best Classic Carrot Cake and Frosting (Moist and Easy!)

Italian Panettone (Giorilli panettone)

Neapolitan Sfogliatelle

The Best Italian Cream Puffs

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Recipe Card

📖 Recipe

Pineapple Ricotta Cheesecake

Authentic and delicious Italian cheesecake made with crushed pineapple and ricotta cheese. Recipe can be doubled to make two pies.

5 from 15 votes

Author: Marie

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Prep Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 1 minute min

Total Time 2 hours hrs 1 minute min

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Servings 12

Calories 318 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  8-inch cake pan or 9-inch pie pan

Ingredients

 

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For the Pineapple Ricotta Filling

• ▢ 3 large (3 large) eggs
• ▢ 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• ▢ 1 tbsp (1 tbsp) corn starch
• ▢ 1 pound (453.59 g) ricotta cheese drained well, using fine mesh strainer
• ▢ 1 cup (238 g) heavy cream or half and half
• ▢ 1 tbsp (1 tbsp) vanilla extract
• ▢ 16 ounces (453.59 g) crushed pineapple drained well, using fine mesh strainer (press with large spoon to facilitate drainage)

For the Pie Crust

• ▢ 1 1/4 cup (244 g) all purpose flour
• ▢ 1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 teaspoon) salt
• ▢ 5 tbsp (73.93 g) unsalted butter cut into cubes
• ▢ 1 large (1 large) egg , can use another egg if dough seems too dry
• ▢ 1 tbsp (1 tbsp) grated lemon Optional; from one small lemon
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 teaspoon) baking powder

For Decorating the Pie (optional)

• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon sugar

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Instructions

 

To Make the Pie Crust

• In a large bowl, add the sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, and cubed butter (and lemon zest if using). Using your hands, incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like coarse sand. May also use a food processor.
• In another bowl, lightly whisk the egg(s) and then pour into the dry sandlike mixture and stir until all of the egg has been incorporated.
• Press down and form a dough, knead a few times until there are no dry bits remaining. Form a flat disk shape, wrap in plastic wrap or place into an air tight plastic bag and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. I like to roll out the dough a little after it is in the bag to facilitate the rolling after it has been chilled.

To Make the Pie Filling

• Combine cornstarch and sugar in a medium sized bowl and whisk (or use a standing mixer).
• Add eggs and mix/beat until combined.
• Add ricotta and vanilla and blend very well.
• Add the heavy cream and mix well.
• Fold in the well drained pineapple and slowly mix until incorporated. Or alternatively, add pineapple to the bottom of the pan as a first layer.

To Build the Pie

• Grease an 8-inch cake pan or 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray or butter.
• Remove the pie crust from the refrigerator and roll out into a circle that is about 12 inches in width, using plenty of flour to coat the countertop and top of the pie crust. Add more flour and flip the crust at least one or twice as you are rolling it out. I find a bench knife or scraper helps me to lift the crust when I want to flip it. See link in notes section for more tips.
• You may want to trim the outer edges to make a neat circle using a pizza cutter or knife. It may help to drape the pie crust over the rolling pin when you are transferring it to your baking pan.
• Line the baking pan with the pie crust and form a decorate edge if desired. See notes for link on decorative edges. Place crust into the refrigerator while you warm up the oven.

To Fill and Bake the Pie

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees (you will later reduce temperature to finalize baking). Place one rack on second to lowest position and another in middle of oven.
• Remove pie crust from refrigerator and pour in the prepared filling.
• Filling should be at least 1/4 inch or so below the top of the pie crust.
• I used tin foil to protect the edges of the pie from burning.
• Bake the pie at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees and bake for an additional 60 to 80 minutes. (For the first 30 minutes of baking, bake on lower rack and then move to middle rack for remaining back time.) Total baking time is approximately 95 minutes.
• The pie will puff up a bit but still be a little jiggly but not overly so.
• I let the pie cool in the oven with the door ajar for about 20 minutes (oven is turned OFF).
• After the pie has slightly cooled, mix the cinnamon with the sugar and sprinkle top if desired.
• Store pie in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

Note: I used “Truvia for Baking”, which I estimated to lower sugar to 9 grams per slice. 

Tips: 

• Make your pie crust ahead of time and refrigerate it.
• Read tips for rolling out pie crusts.
• Watch how to master decorative edges on your pies (I need practice here)!
• Make sure to strain your ricotta cheese if necessary (some brands are thicker than others) and also strain the liquid from your crushed pineapple. I use either a colander with small holes or a fine mesh strainer.
• Do not overfill your pie shell. Make sure the filling is at least 1/4 inch lower than the top of your crust.
• Use aluminum foil to cover your crust or it can overbake (see photo in blog post).
• Keep an eye on the pie toward the end of the bake time. Check every 5 minutes during the last 10 minutes of baking and extend bake time if needed. The pie is done when it has puffed up slightly but is still a little bit jiggly.

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 9gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 166mgPotassium: 171mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 495IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 127mgIron: 1mg

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Adapted from Susan Russo, NPR “Nan’s Way, The Only Way to Make Easter Pies”