Ricotta And Vanilla Bean Puddings Recipes

RICOTTA AND VANILLA BEAN PUDDINGS

Steps:

• For the puddings: Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter 10 nonstick muffin cups and line the bottom of each cup with a disk of parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a blender, combine the ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, eggs, heavy cream, maple syrup, sugar, and salt. Using a paring knife, split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the blender. (Reserve the seeded vanilla pod for the sauce.) Blend the mixture until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until puffed and lightly browned. Remove the muffin cups from the oven to a wire rack and cool for 30 minutes (puddings will deflate during cooling). Refrigerate the puddings, in the muffin cups, for 2 hours. Using a thin, flexible spatula, carefully remove the puddings from the muffin cups and discard the parchment paper from the bottom of the puddings.
• For the sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the reserved vanilla pod, cranberries, water, orange juice, orange zest and 1/2 cup sugar over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat and gently simmer until the mixture has thickened and the liquid has reduced by half, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes. Remove the vanilla pod and sweeten with extra sugar, to taste, if necessary.
• To serve: Arrange the puddings on small dessert plates and spoon the sauce over the top.

RICOTTA POUND CAKE WITH VANILLA BEAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
• Cream together ricotta, butter, and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 7 minutes. Mixture will look somewhat grainy and curdled--this is normal. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Beat batter an additional 2 to 3 minutes on medium-high speed after adding the last egg. Mix in almond extract.
• Use a small paring knife to slice vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Scrape the seeds out of each half and add to the batter. Mix on low speed until vanilla seeds are evenly dispersed.
• Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter, mixing until only just combined. Mix in remaining dry ingredients until just combined. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Tap pan lightly on the counter a few times to remove air bubbles.
• Place pan into preheated oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 70 to 75 minutes. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Gently run a knife around the edges of the cake to loosen, the remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

RICOTTA VANILLA BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Coat a 1 1/2-quart souffle dish with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Add bread and raisins to dish. Pour milk over top; stir to combine. Set aside.
• Mix together the ricotta, sugar, eggs, sour cream, lemon zest and vanilla. Pour ricotta mixture over bread; mix lightly. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoons butter over bread and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover dish with aluminum foil; place in slow cooker bowl. Fill bowl with boiling water to reach 1-inch up the side of dish.
• Cover top of slow cooker with a dish towel; top with lid. Cook for 2 1/2 hours on high or until internal temperature registers 140 on an instant read thermometer. Cool at least 20 minutes.