California ricotta cake

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
  
       Title: CALIFORNIA RICOTTA CAKE
  Categories: Cakes, Chocolate
       Yield: 12 Servings
  
       1 pk Devil's food cake mix
            -18.25-oz size
       1    Container ricotta cheese
            -15-16 oz size
     1/3 c  Powdered sugar
     1/3 c  Heavy cream
       2 ts Vanilla extract
       2 ts Grated orange zest
     1/3 c  Semisweet chocolate chips
            -miniature size
     2/3 c  Roasted almonds; diced
       2 tb Orange-flavored liqeur
  
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake
   pans.  Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Turn batter into
   prepared pans.
    Bake according to package directions (30-35 minutes).
    Let cake cool in pans 15 minutes, then unmold and let cool completely on
   wire racks.
   
    In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, cream, vanilla,
   and orange zest.  Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed untl light
   and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips and 1/3 cup almonds.
   
    Sprinkle 1 tablespoon orange liqueur over top of each cake layer. Stack
   cake layers together with cheese filling in between and on top and sides.
   Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup almonds around top edge of cake in a 1-inch-wide
   ring.  Refrigerate until serving time.
   
    Source:  365 Great Chocolate Desserts.
   
    Shared and MM by Judi M. Phelps (G.PHELPS1) GENIE, (JPHELPS) NVN
  
 -----