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Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping

Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping

$8.99 700 cal Desserts

Ricotta cheesecake with a shortbread cookie crust, topped with strawberry sauce.
Olive Garden Menu View on OliveGarden.com

About This Dish

Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping at Olive Garden is a traditional Italian-style cheesecake priced at $8.99 and totaling 700 calories per serving. The dessert uses a ricotta-based filling on a shortbread cookie crust, topped with strawberry sauce. At 42 grams of fat and 440 milligrams of sodium, it occupies the middle ground of the dessert menu in terms of richness. The key differentiator from a standard American cheesecake is the ricotta base — where American cheesecakes use cream cheese for a dense, creamy filling, the Sicilian style uses ricotta for a lighter, slightly grainy texture that is more delicate and less sweet.

The shortbread cookie crust is less common than the graham cracker crust standard in American cheesecake, providing a buttery, lightly sweet base that holds together well when sliced without dominating the filling flavor. The strawberry topping adds freshness and acidity that balances the mild sweetness of the ricotta layer. At $8.99, it is among the most affordable cheesecake preparations available at any casual dining restaurant and offers a genuinely different cheesecake experience from the cream cheese-heavy versions found throughout American dining.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving

700 Calories
42g Total Fat
440mg Sodium

* Nutritional values are approximate and may vary. Last updated March 2026.

How to Copycat Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping at Home?

Prep: 20 min Cook: 60 min Total: 80 min Medium

The Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake is a genuinely different product from the cream cheese-dominated American cheesecake category. Ricotta filling is naturally airier and slightly grainy, with a clean mild flavor that lets the strawberry topping and shortbread crust come through rather than being masked by the aggressive richness of cream cheese. The challenge for home bakers is that ricotta-only fillings can be too loose — a small amount of cream cheese adds structural support without changing the Italian character of the dessert.

The water bath is not optional for this recipe. Ricotta cheesecake without a water bath cracks across the top as the exterior sets too quickly while the center is still liquid. The steam environment of a water bath regulates the rate of heat transfer and produces the clean, crack-free surface the restaurant version presents.

Ingredients

8 servings

Shortbread Crust

Ricotta Filling

Strawberry Topping

Instructions

0 / 5

  1. Mix crushed shortbread with melted butter and sugar. Press firmly into the base of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325F for 8 minutes. Cool.

    15 min

  2. Blend ricotta in a food processor for 1 minute until completely smooth. This step eliminates the grainy texture.

    3 min

    Processing the ricotta until smooth is the single most differentiating technical step. Unprocessed ricotta produces a lumpy, visually unappealing filling.

  3. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add blended ricotta, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt. Beat on medium until fully combined.

    5 min

  4. Pour filling over the crust. Place the springform in a roasting pan and add hot water to reach 1 inch up the sides. Bake at 325F for 55 to 65 minutes until the edges are set and the center jiggles slightly.

    65 min

    The water bath keeps the oven temperature uniform and produces the even, crack-free surface. Without it, the cheesecake will crack across the middle as it cools.

  5. Cool at room temperature 1 hour, then refrigerate overnight. Make strawberry topping by tossing berries with sugar and lemon juice, resting 30 minutes until syrupy. Spoon over cheesecake before serving.

    35 min

Pro Tips

  • Drain ricotta in a cheesecloth-lined strainer overnight if it seems very wet. Excess moisture produces a filling that does not set cleanly.
  • Run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake before releasing the springform to prevent the sides from tearing.
  • Refrigerate overnight before serving. Ricotta cheesecake needs the full chill time to develop its structure — same-day slicing produces a filling that is still too soft.

Variations

Cannoli-Style Filling

Add 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to the ricotta filling for a cannoli-inspired cheesecake.

Orange and Honey

Replace the lemon zest with orange zest and the strawberry topping with a drizzle of warm orange blossom honey for a classic Sicilian finish.

Serving Ideas

  • Serve with the strawberry topping spooned over each slice at the table
  • A dusting of powdered sugar before plating adds visual elegance
  • A small glass of Limoncello or Moscato alongside is the traditional Sicilian pairing
  • Pairs well served slightly below room temperature, not ice cold

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Find Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping Near You

Visit one of Olive Garden's 900+ locations to enjoy the Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping at $8.99.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping is priced at $8.99 per serving at all Olive Garden locations. It is one of the more affordable dessert options on the current menu.
A single serving contains 700 calories with 42 grams of fat and 440 milligrams of sodium. It is lighter in calories than the Chocolate Lasagna and Black Tie Mousse Cake but richer than the Tiramisu.
The Sicilian designation refers to the use of ricotta cheese in the filling instead of cream cheese. Traditional Sicilian cheesecake (cassata-style) uses ricotta as the base, producing a lighter, more delicate filling compared to the dense, ultra-creamy American cream cheese cheesecake. The shortbread crust is also a traditional Italian choice over the graham cracker standard.
Press crushed shortbread cookies mixed with butter into the base of a springform pan. For the filling, beat whole-milk ricotta until smooth, then mix in cream cheese (for structure), sugar, eggs, vanilla, and a touch of lemon zest. Pour over the crust and bake at 325F in a water bath for 55 to 65 minutes until just set with a slight jiggle. Top with strawberry sauce after cooling.
Individual desserts including the Sicilian Cheesecake are primarily available for dine-in orders. For catering events, some locations can accommodate special dessert requests. Contact your specific Olive Garden location directly to discuss catering dessert options for larger events.