Ricotta di Bufala Cheesecakes from Puglia. mmmmmm.

One of my favorite holiday desserts is back in stores -- Donvito Buffalo milk ricotta cheesecakes flavored with lemon. Isola Imports in Chicago is bringing them in, and I recommend one (or many) if you spot them on your shopping forays. They come in a number of flavors but the most common is lemon.

The cake comes in two sizes, but I recommend the smaller size (380g) as they are individually wrapped and have less chance of spoilage than pieces cut off larger cakes (approximately 2.2 lbs, if you buy the whole wheel).

The cakes are made from ricotta, lemon, sugar, and "modified starch" -- no eggs. They have a nice slightly granular texture and a really fresh lemon flavor. The outside edges are golden brown.

I used to raid our stash at the warehouse and eat as much as I could stuff into my mouth when no one was watching.

They are selling for $9.99/lb at Whole Foods on North Ave but I'm sure other outlets have them - probably for less. Maybe one of the Italian groceries?

Update: I broke open my cake to sample it and was VERY disappointed to find that the importer likely kept it in the freezer, as the product is weepier than it should be. While the flavor is still very good, the texture is slightly compromised. Caveat Emptor!

The shelf life on this things is ordinarily very short -- freezer would be a way to extend the life. But since this cheesecake is not really a cheesecake, it is hurt by the freezing and defrosting process.