Step 1

Prep equipment: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place a round of parchment paper on the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan or springform pan. Lightly grease the paper and sides of the pan with butter and set aside.

Step 2

Cream butter and sugar: Place the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. With an electric hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Beat in egg yolks: Add the egg yolks and beat on medium speed until combined.

Step 4

Add wet ingredients: Add ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract and almond extract, if using, and beat until combined.

Step 5

Add dry ingredients: Add almond flour and salt to the ricotta mixture. Fold together with a spatula until no pockets of almond flour remain and the batter is smooth. The batter will be slightly thick. Do not be alarmed if it looks a bit curdled.

Step 6

Beat egg whites: Thoroughly wash and dry the beaters. In a medium bowl (or the same bowl you used to separate the eggs), beat the egg whites on medium speed to soft peaks, about 3 minutes.

Step 7

Fold in egg whites: Stir ⅓ of the beaten egg whites into the batter to lighten it. Then, gently fold the remaining egg whites in with a spatula until just combined. The batter should be evenly moistened with no streak of egg whites remaining. Do not overmix.

Step 8

Pour into cake pan: Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan and sprinkle the top with sliced almonds, pressing them down slightly into the batter, so they stick.

Step 9

Bake: Bake for 50 minutes, or until the edges of the cake are golden brown and the top is a light golden brown. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool completely about 1 hour.

Step 10

Serve: To serve, run a knife around the cake to loosen it. If using a springform pan, release the sides of the pan. If using a cake pan, gently flip the cake onto a plate, peel away the parchment, then flip it back over onto a serving plate. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar, if preferred. Slice into wedges and enjoy!