This honey orange ricotta dip is simple, quick, and delicious. It works beautifully with fresh fruit, as a topping for French toast, crepes or waffles, and as a spread for sweet biscuits. Use it on strawberry shortcake, stirred into oatmeal, or as the base for a fruit pizza—the bright orange zest and a touch of honey make it versatile and delicious.
You may know ricotta from savory dishes like lasagna, manicotti, or herbed spreads, but it shines in sweet preparations as well. Its mild flavor and creamy texture make it an excellent partner for citrus and honey.
Because ricotta is the focus here, choose a high-quality product for the best texture and flavor. A thick, creamy ricotta without grit will give you the smoothest dip. Local or artisan ricotta varieties often have a richer mouthfeel that makes the simple combination of ricotta, honey and citrus truly sing.
Recipe for Honey Orange Ricotta
Print Recipe
Honey Orange Ricotta
Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1-2 Tbsp liquid honey
- 1 Tbsp orange zest
Instructions
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In a small bowl, whisk the ricotta, honey and orange zest until smooth and evenly combined. Taste and adjust honey or zest to your preference.
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Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve. Keeps well chilled for several days.
Notes
- Add a splash of vanilla extract.
- Stir in warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom.
- Toss in finely chopped fresh herbs like mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm or lemon thyme for a bright twist.
- Use lemon or lime zest instead of orange for a different citrus profile.
- Swap honey for maple syrup or a liquid stevia to suit your preference.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
What is Ricotta?
Ricotta is a fresh, unripened cheese with a creamy white color and a spreadable texture. It typically contains small curds, which are milk proteins that have clumped together and give traditional ricotta its characteristic texture.
Think of ricotta as falling between cream cheese and cottage cheese: not as dense or tangy as cream cheese, and creamier with finer curds than cottage cheese. Ricotta typically has more protein and calcium and less salt than cottage cheese, while cream cheese is higher in fat and calories.
Cream cheese – higher in calories, fat and sodium, with fewer vitamins and minerals compared to ricotta.
Ricotta cheese – generally higher in protein and calcium and lower in salt and sugar than cream cheese and cottage cheese.
Cottage cheese – usually lower in calories and fat, but often higher in salt and sugar and lower in some nutrients than ricotta.
Different ricottas have varying moisture and fat contents, so check labels to find the texture and richness you prefer. A quality ricotta with good moisture and creaminess will give the best results for this dip.
How Long Will Ricotta Keep?
Ricotta has a shorter shelf life than cheeses stored in brine. Follow these general guidelines:
Unopened: Use by the best-before date on the package. Unopened ricotta stored properly in the refrigerator can sometimes last 3–5 days past that date, but inspect it for off smells or mold before using.
Opened: Once opened, keep ricotta tightly covered and refrigerated. It will typically keep for 7–10 days.
Freezing: You can freeze ricotta to extend its life up to about 3 months. It may become slightly more crumbly and lose some flavor after thawing, but it still works well in cooked dishes like casseroles, sauces and baked pasta.
This recipe was developed in collaboration with an artisan ricotta producer. The opinions expressed are the author’s own and reflect experiences using high-quality ricotta at home.
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