Learn to make a classic Sicilian cassata cake with rum-soaked sponge cake and a cannoli-like filling draped in colorful marzipan.

Cassata Cake Recipe: How to Make Sicilian Cassata Cake

Traditional Italian cassata Siciliana consists of rum-soaked sponge cakes layered with sweetened [ricotta](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-ricotta-cheese-tips-and-3-ingredient-recipe) and draped with decorative [marzipan](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/marzipan-recipe).The filling often features candied fruit, orange or lemon zest, dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips, and nuts. The filling is similar in flavor and texture to [cannoli cream](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cannoli-recipe).

Cassata is a traditional Sicilian dessert that has many variations of cake ingredients and fillings throughout Italy. Regional variations include: 

1. __Sicily__: The original cassata cake, the traditional Sicilian version, layers sponge cake soaked with liqueur, ricotta, and candied fruit or citrus peels. The whole cake is draped with a layer of decorative marzipan.
2. __Catania__: Cassata Catanese, from the Sicilian Catania province, is baked like a pie. With a bottom crust and a sweetened ricotta filling, the dessert is usually topped with a lattice crust.
3. __Messina__: In Messina, cassata is less sweet than the Sicilian variation and has layers of [gelato](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-authentic-italian-gelato) instead of sweetened ricotta.
4. __United States__: In Cleveland, Ohio, and the surrounding area, cassata cake is made up of layers of yellow [sponge cak](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sponge-cake-recipe)e soaked in rum, fresh strawberries, and custard. The cake is then iced with whipped cream frosting.
5. __India__: In India, cassata cake is made with three layers of different flavored ice creams (like a Neapolitan) on top of a sponge cake base. The whole cake is topped with chopped nuts.
Learn to make a classic Sicilian cassata cake with rum-soaked sponge cake and a cannoli-like filling draped in colorful marzipan.

Traditional Italian cassata Siciliana consists of rum-soaked sponge cakes layered with sweetened <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-ricotta-cheese-tips-and-3-ingredient-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-homemade-ricotta-cheese-tips-and-3-ingredient-recipe","linkCopy":"ricotta","category":null}'>ricotta</a> and draped with decorative <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/marzipan-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/marzipan-recipe","linkCopy":"marzipan","category":null}'>marzipan</a>.The filling often features candied fruit, orange or lemon zest, dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips, and nuts. The filling is similar in flavor and texture to <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cannoli-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cannoli-recipe","linkCopy":"cannoli cream","category":null}'>cannoli cream</a>.

What Is Cassata Cake? 

Cassata is a traditional Sicilian dessert that has many variations of cake ingredients and fillings throughout Italy. Regional variations include: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Sicily: The original cassata cake, the traditional Sicilian version, layers sponge cake soaked with liqueur, ricotta, and candied fruit or citrus peels. The whole cake is draped with a layer of decorative marzipan. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Catania: Cassata Catanese, from the Sicilian Catania province, is baked like a pie. With a bottom crust and a sweetened ricotta filling, the dessert is usually topped with a lattice crust. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Messina: In Messina, cassata is less sweet than the Sicilian variation and has layers of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-authentic-italian-gelato' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-authentic-italian-gelato","linkCopy":"gelato","category":null}'>gelato</a> instead of sweetened ricotta. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. United States: In Cleveland, Ohio, and the surrounding area, cassata cake is made up of layers of yellow <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sponge-cake-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sponge-cake-recipe","linkCopy":"sponge cak","category":null}'>sponge cak</a>e soaked in rum, fresh strawberries, and custard. The cake is then iced with whipped cream frosting. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. India: In India, cassata cake is made with three layers of different flavored ice creams (like a Neapolitan) on top of a sponge cake base. The whole cake is topped with chopped nuts. </li></ol>

5 Regional Cassata Variations 

Sicilian Cassata Cake Recipe 

Learn to make a classic Sicilian cassata cake with rum-soaked sponge cake and a cannoli-like filling draped in colorful marzipan.

Learn to make a classic Sicilian cassata cake with rum-soaked sponge cake and a cannoli-like filling draped in colorful marzipan.
