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Home » Recipes » Desserts - Dolci

Italian Love Cake

Published: Aug 27, 2022 · Modified: Apr 21, 2023 by Marisa Franca · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe
Italian Love Cake tastes just like a chocolate eclair! It’s an irresistible dessert made with cake mix, pudding mix, and a fluffy whipped topping. This is the ideal dessert to make ahead. Chill the cake before serving and plate it as is or with a scoop of ice cream. Italian Love Cake tastes just like a chocolate eclair! It’s an irresistible dessert made with cake mix, pudding mix, and a fluffy whipped topping. This is the ideal dessert to make ahead. Chill the cake before serving and plate it as is or with a scoop of ice cream. 

If you love the taste of a classic chocolate eclair, this Italian Love Cake is soon to become a favorite choice of cake! It’s an irresistible mix of marble and cheesecake, topped with a pudding mix and whipped topping frosting, garnished with chocolate sprinkles, and chilled in the refrigerator before being served! 

A chocolate Italian Love Cake that is three layered on a white plate with the rest of the cake in a rectangular baking pan.
Our family loves this Italian Love Cake Recipe that features a luscious combination of cake, cheese cake, and creamy topping.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🛒 Ingredients
  • 🗒 Instructions
  • 🔪 Equipment
  • 🤔 FAQs
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Tips
  • 📚 Variations
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📗 Related Recipes
  • 🍽 Serve with
  • 📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
  • 📝 Recipe Card
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • This Italian Love Cake is a stunning dessert with a marble cake base and fluffy topping. 
  • This cake is moist and not overly sweet - ideal for those who don’t enjoy very sweet desserts. 
  • There are so many variations you can make to this Italian Love Cake recipe!

This luscious marble cake with creamy and fluffy topping is perfect for special occasions like birthdays and holidays. And it tastes just like a chocolate eclair!

🛒 Ingredients

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Image of the ingredients necessary to make the three layer Chocolate Italian Love Cake recipe.

Note: The full list of this recipe ingredients with their amounts and options are listed in the recipe card below.

  • Be sure to follow your cake instructions for the necessary ingredients.

🗒 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

First set of four steps on making the three layer Italian Chocolate Dessert.
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix with water and oil.
  2. Add in eggs and mix well.
  3. Pour the cake batter into a prepared baking dish.
  4. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, vanilla extract, sugar, and eggs.
Second set of four steps on mixing and baking the recipe for the Italian Chocolate Cake recipe.
  1. Mix well until the filling is completely smooth and free of any lumps. 
  2. Carefully pour the cheese mixture over the cake batter to spread evenly without mixing the layers.
  3. Bake the cake for an hour at 350F. Remove to cool completely.
  4. While the cake cools, combine the pudding mix with milk.
The third and final set of steps to making and decorating the Chocolate Italian Love Cake recipe.
  1. Carefully fold the whipped topping into the chocolate pudding.
  2. Spread the frosting over the cake evenly.
  3. Sprinkle chocolate sprinkles over the freshly frosted cake and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
  4. Slice the cake and enjoy! 

🔪 Equipment

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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric hand mixer
  • Baking dish 9 X13 inch
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Dry measuring cups
  • Spatula
  • Whisk

🤔 FAQs

These are the questions we are most frequently asked about making this Italian chocolate dessert.

What is love cake made of?

Traditional love cake consists of semolina, nuts, pumpkin preserve, butter, eggs, sugar, honey, rose water, and various spices. It’s a lightly spiced cake that’s moist and chewy inside while crunchy on the outside.

What is Italian cake made of?

Italian cake typically consists of basic ingredients such as all-purpose flour, eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract. 

What is Italian chocolate cake made of?

Italian chocolate cake includes the usual cake ingredients as well as dark chocolate, liqueur, amaretti biscuits, lemon zest, and a dusting of icing sugar.

What are Italian pastries called?

Italian pastries come in various shapes, sizes, and fillings. Some popular Italian pastries include cannoli, sfogliatella, maritozzo, bomboloni, chiacchiere, struffoli, babà al Rum, and panettone.

A side view of the three layer Chocolate Italian Love Cake with a section removed.
A moist three layer Italian chocolate cake that's not too sweet make ahead dessert.

👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

  • If you plan to store leftover Italian love cake in the freezer, a helpful trick is to cut individual slices and wrap those in plastic wrap to be stored in an airtight container. That way, you can remove the amount needed instead of defrosting more. 
  • This cake can be made ahead of time by wrapping it with plastic wrap (once fully cooled and without the frosting) and storing it in an airtight container at room temperature or the fridge for 1-2 days. You can add the frosting on the day of serving, allowing it to chill for an additional 6 hours in the fridge.
  • Always check the package directions of the cake mix used for your cake as some cake mixes call for different ingredient add-ins.
  • Ensure that you gently fold the whipped topping into the pudding mix to preserve as much of the air in the topping as possible for it to be light and fluffy.
  • If you want a more pronounced marble effect in your cake base, use a butter knife and gently run it through the cake batter and ricotta cheese layer before baking the cake.
  • While the cake bakes, the chocolate cake mix switches with the ricotta cheese layer so the chocolate layer ends up at the top. This is normal, so don’t assume that you did anything wrong. 
  • Don’t skip the chilling time before serving this cake. Chilling the cake helps settle the flavors and also adds to the moisture in the cake.

📚 Variations

  • I’ve made this Italian love cake with a chocolate cake mix and chocolate pudding, but you could use a vanilla cake mix and vanilla pudding instead if you like. 
  • For a lemon Italian love cake, use a lemon cake mix, vanilla or lemon pudding mix, and fresh lemon zest as a topping. 
  • For a strawberry Italian love cake, use a strawberry cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, and freshly sliced strawberries as garnish. 
  • This cake is decadent and rich and can be topped with chocolate sprinkled, chopped candy bars, chocolate savings, maraschino cherries, or chopped nuts. 
  • Make a boozy Italian Love Cake by adding some liqueur into the frosting or the cake. You could even poke some holes into the baked cake base and pour the alcohol of your choice over the cake to infuse throughout it!

🥫 Storage

Store the Italian Love Cake in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Leftovers will last for up to 3-5 days. You can also store this Italian dessert in the freezer for 1-2 months.

A fork holding a bite of the three layer chocolate Italian cake.
Each yummy bite of this Italian chocolate dessert recipe will have family and friends thanking you in appreciation.

📗 Related Recipes

For more decadent Italian-inspired cakes, try my Cannoli Cake With Whipped Cream And Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Italian Cream Cake, and Tiramisu Cake Topped With Zabaglione Cream. 

🍽 Serve with

Enjoy this Italian Love Cake can as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or custard. A delicious cup of espresso coffee along with the dessert is ideal.

📞 Chiacchierata (chat)

Italian Love Cake is close to heart! It’s a decadent cake that’s beautiful to look at with a marble cake effect and fluffy whipped topping. The cheese mixture in the cake helps to cut through the rich chocolate flavor and sweetness. 

Although many serve this cake at weddings (hence the name Italian ‘Love’ Cake), you don’t need any excuse to enjoy a slice or two of this scrumptious dessert any time!

This cake is my go-to recipe for special occasions such as birthdays, Valentine’s day, and holiday celebrations with the family. I know you’re going to love it as much as I do!

Next time you have extra bananas and you're craving chocolate, try our fabulous Double Chocolate Banana Cake with Chocolate Chips recipe. This recipe will definitely be one you'll want to make often.

Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!

Overhead view of two plates with servings of Chocolate Italian Cream Cheese Cake  with the baking dish in background.
This chocolate refrigerator cake is a great dessert to make for a next day function.

What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.

📝 Recipe Card

Italian Love Cake tastes just like a chocolate eclair! It’s an irresistible dessert we make with cake mix, pudding mix, and a fluffy whipped topping. Chill the cake before serving and plate as is or with a scoop of ice cream. 

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

📖 Recipe

Three layer Italian Love Cake Recipe featuring a ricotta bottom layer, a chocolate cake middle layer, and a creamy fluffy whipped chocolate topping.

Lush and Creamy Chocolate Italian Love Cake

Italian Love Cake is a decadent combination of marble and cheesecake, topped with fluffy whipped topping and enjoyed chilled.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: cake, Special Occasion dessert
Cuisine: American-Italian
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Chill in the Refrigerator: 8 hours hours
Total Time: 9 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 469kcal
Author: Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Electric Hand Mixer
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Mixing bowls
  • Silicone spatula
  • Baking dish 13X9-inch

Ingredients

For the chocolate cake layer:

  • 1 Box chocolate Cake Mix Plus all ingredients necessary for making the cake. (these are the ingredients required for THIS cake mix - yours might be different).
  • 1½ cups water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs

For the cheese layer:

  • 2 pounds ricotta cheese
  • 4 eggs
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure not artificial

For the Chocolate topping:

  • 1 instant chocolate pudding mix (3.9 oz.) package
  • 1 cup milk cold
  • 16 oz. frozen whipped topping thawed (like Cool Whip)

Instructions

Prepare the chocolate cake layer:

  • Preheat oven to 350℉ and spray a glass 9X13-inch pan with nonstick spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake batter according to the package instructions.
  • Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread to fill the dish evenly and set aside. (DO NOT bake yet.)

Prepare the cheese layer:

  • In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, and the pure vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
  • Gently pour the cheese mixture evenly over the cake batter layer. Spread the cheese layer to cover as well as you can.
  • Bake the cake for 1 hour.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before adding the top layer. (About 2 hours).

Prepare the whipped frosting layer:

  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and cold milk until combined and slightly thickened. (About 1-2 minutes).
  • Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping into the pudding until combined.
  • Spread the whipped chocolate frosting on top of the cooled two cake layers. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.
  • Garnish with chocolate sprinkles or colored if desired.

Notes

  • If you plan to store leftover Italian love cake in the freezer, a helpful trick is to cut individual slices and wrap those in plastic wrap to be stored in an airtight container. That way, you can remove the amount needed instead of defrosting more. 
  • This cake can be made ahead of time by wrapping it with plastic wrap (once fully cooled and without the frosting) and storing it in an airtight container at room temperature or the fridge for 1-2 days. You can add the frosting on the day of serving, allowing it to chill for an additional 6 hours in the fridge.
  • Always check the package directions of the cake mix used for your cake as some cake mixes call for different ingredient add-ins.
  • Ensure that you gently fold the whipped topping into the pudding mix to preserve as much of the air in the topping as possible for it to be light and fluffy.
  • If you want a more pronounced marble effect in your cake base, use a butter knife and gently run it through the cake batter and ricotta cheese layer before baking the cake.
  • While the cake bakes, the chocolate cake mix switches with the ricotta cheese layer so the chocolate layer ends up at the top. This is normal, so don’t assume that you did anything wrong. 
  • Don’t skip the chilling time before serving this cake. Chilling the cake helps settle the flavors and also adds to the moisture in the cake.

Nutrition

Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 437mg | Potassium: 303mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 537IU | Calcium: 278mg | Iron: 2mg

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    Italian Love Cake tastes just like a chocolate eclair! It’s an irresistible dessert made with cake mix, pudding mix, and a fluffy whipped topping. This is the ideal dessert to make ahead. Chill the cake before serving and plate it as is or with a scoop of ice cream. Italian Love Cake tastes just like a chocolate eclair! It’s an irresistible dessert made with cake mix, pudding mix, and a fluffy whipped topping. This is the ideal dessert to make ahead. Chill the cake before serving and plate it as is or with a scoop of ice cream. 

    I’m Marisa Franca, a home chef, food writer, and photographer who believes that you can make gourmet quality food at home with simple seasonal ingredients. I’m passionate about family, food, friends, everything Italian, and happy endings.

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    Italian Love Cake tastes just like a chocolate eclair! It’s an irresistible dessert made with cake mix, pudding mix, and a fluffy whipped topping. This is the ideal dessert to make ahead. Chill the cake before serving and plate it as is or with a scoop of ice cream. Italian Love Cake tastes just like a chocolate eclair! It’s an irresistible dessert made with cake mix, pudding mix, and a fluffy whipped topping. This is the ideal dessert to make ahead. Chill the cake before serving and plate it as is or with a scoop of ice cream. 

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