A Tad Sweet Ricotta-Yogurt Cheesecake Muffins with Mango

A Tad Sweet Ricotta-Yogurt Cheesecake Muffins with Mango

Did you know that fresh ricotta cheese is the main ingredient in southern Italian sweet delicacies like Italian cheesecake and cannolis? It’s much healthier than the artery clogging processed cream cheese that is typically used in American desserts. Fresh ricotta cheese (mixed with sugar and lemon zest) is also a treat served straight up with fresh fruit. Besides being delicious, this recipe is full of nutrients including calcium, vitamin C and protein! 

Choose organic ingredients when available: 

  • 3 large eggs
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 (15-ounce) container whole or part-skim ricotta cheese (avoid brands with gum additives)
  • 1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 2 small mangoes peeled and diced
  • nonstick cooking spray

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Place muffin liners into a standard 12-cavity muffin pan. Spray liners with nonstick cooking spray. You can opt to prepare muffin pan without liners and directly spray each cavity with nonstick cooking spray. Liners create a nicer aesthetic.
  • Place ingredients in a food processor, and process until light and foamy, about 1 minute, stopping once to scrape sides with a spatula.
  • Evenly distribute batter into prepared pan. Bake until muffins are golden and set, 45–60 minutes. If muffins brown before 45 minutes, loosely cover pan with foil to prevent overbrowning.
  • Cool muffins for an hour; then remove from pan. If you are not using liners, place muffins on a paper towel to absorb extra moisture.
  • When ready to serve, top each muffin with 1½ tablespoons of mango. Muffins can be stored in a sealed container in refrigerator 3–4 days.

NUTRITION

Calories: 123 calories | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g