The Most Loved Cake in Italy

SAVE THIS!

You’ll Make It Every Week — Incredibly Delicious! 🇮🇹

If there’s one cake Italians bake again and again, it’s Torta Paradiso. Light as a cloud, buttery, delicately sweet, and fragrant with lemon and vanilla, this classic cake is a staple in Italian homes. Simple ingredients, flawless texture, and guaranteed success — once you try it, it becomes a weekly tradition.

🍰 Torta Paradiso (Italian Paradise Cake)

Why Italians Love It

• Soft, melt-in-your-mouth crumb
• Not overly sweet — perfect with coffee or tea
• No frosting needed
• Keeps moist for days
• Loved by kids and adults alike

Ingredients (8–10 servings)

• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, very soft
• 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (60 g) cornstarch
• 2 tsp baking powder
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven
   Preheat to 170°C (340°F). Grease and flour an 8–9 inch round pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar
   Beat until pale, fluffy, and airy — this step is key to the texture.
3. Add eggs slowly
   Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Mix in vanilla and lemon zest.
4. Combine dry ingredients
   Sift flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt together.
5. Fold gently
   Fold dry ingredients into the batter just until smooth. Do not overmix.
6. Bake
   Pour into the pan and bake 40–45 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool & finish
   Cool completely, then dust generously with powdered sugar.

Chef’s Tips for Perfection

• Butter must be very soft, not melted
• Use cornstarch — it’s the secret to the cloud-like crumb
• Eggs at room temperature prevent curdling
• Let the cake rest 1 hour before slicing

Optional Variations (Italian Favorites)

• Fill with lemon cream or vanilla custard
• Add a thin layer of apricot jam in the center
• Replace lemon zest with orange zest
• Serve with fresh berries and whipped cream

Storage

• Room temperature (covered): 3–4 days
• Refrigerator: up to 6 days
• Freezer: up to 2 months

Nutritional Snapshot (per slice, approx.)

• Calories: 310
• Fat: 18 g
• Carbs: 32 g
• Protein: 5 g

Final Thought

Torta Paradiso proves that the simplest cakes are often the most loved. Soft, elegant, and endlessly comforting, this is the cake Italians truly bake every week — and once you try it, you will too.