Name: Melopita (Greek Honey Cheesecake)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 17.5 ounces ricotta (strained); 3 eggs (at room temperature); 1/3 cup honey (runny; plus extra for drizzling); 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest (optional); 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; olive oil (alternatively parchment paper)

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A Simple Melopita Recipe For A Delicious, Cheesy Cake!

If you’re looking for yet another Greek dessert recipe that involves sweet and delicious honey, Melopita needs to be on your “to try” list.

Also known in English as Greek honey cake (and sometimes Greek honey pie), this cake is made with ricotta cheese or anthotyro cheese and has no crust (similar to Basque cheesecake).

It’s made with just a handful of other ingredients, such as eggs, cornstarch, and cinnamon. And of course, the recipe wouldn’t be complete without lots of honey in the batter and drizzled on top after baking.

triangle slice of greek honey pie on plate with honey drizzle and cinnamon on top. — A slice of Melopita drizzled with honey!

Melopita comes from the Greek island of Sifnos, where it is a traditional specialty. That’s why it is sometimes referred to as “melopita sifnos”!

The name melopita (μηλόπιτα) translates to “honey” and “pie” – similar to how tiropita is “cheese pie”.

It’s a versatile and easy cake that will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ingredients

If you want to tackle this recipe, here are the melopita ingredients you will need. It’s really just cheese, eggs, honey, and a few other additions:

Ricotta – Use high-quality, creamy ricotta for the best results.
Eggs – Helps the cake set during baking; ensure the eggs are at room temperature.
Honey – Adds sweetness to the cake. The honey should be runny.
Cornstarch – Helps thicken and stabilize the cake.
Lemon zest – Optional for extra flavor. If possible, use zest from an organic lemon.
Vanilla extract – Adds extra flavor to the cake. Use a good quality vanilla extract.
Ground cinnamon – Adds extra flavor.
Olive oil – To grease the pan; alternatively, you can use parchment paper.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

Before you make this Greek honey pie, have a good read through these recipe tips so that you know just what to expect!

Make sure to drain the excess water from the ricotta. This is very important or the cake might not turn out well.
For a truly authentic taste, you can use Greek honey and anthotyro cheese (instead of ricotta) if you can find them.
The eggs should be at room temperature. This makes it easier to incorporate them into the batter – otherwise it can get lumpy.
Adding lemon zest is optional, but it adds a lot of flavor. If you’re not a big fan of lemon, you can reduce the amount of skip it altogether.
Allow the cake to cool for a bit before removing the ring from the pan.

How to Make Melopita – Step by Step Instructions

In this section, we’ll show you exactly how we make this Greek honey cake recipe. All of the recipe process photos have been included so that you can easily follow along at home.

The recipe card – with all the relevant details – can be found at the bottom of this post!

silver whisk mixing cheese in white mixing bowl on counter. — Add the strained ricotta cheese to a bowl.

First, preheat your oven to 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9-inch round springform pan with olive oil or line it with parchment paper and set it aside.

Drain any excess water from the ricotta cheese. You can do this by wrapping the ricotta in a cheesecloth and squeezing out the excess water.

In a large bowl, add the ricotta and whisk until smooth.

raw eggs in white mixing bowl full of ricotta cheese sitting on counter. — Add the eggs.

Next, whisk in the eggs and honey.

vanilla extract mixed into cheesy blend in white mixing bowl on counter. — Add the rest of the ingredients.

Then also add the cornstarch, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.

creamy cheese blend in white mixing bowl with silver whisk sticking out. — Whisk well.

Whisk well so that there are no lumps in the batter.

round cake pan filled with cheesy batter sitting on grey counter top. — Pour the cake batter into the pan.

Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

baked cheesecake in round springform pan sitting on counter. — The top should be lightly golden.

Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake at 320 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 to 60 minutes, or until the cake is set in the middle and lightly golden on top.

Since every oven cooks slightly differently, the exact baking time may vary.

large greek cheesecake with honey and cinnamon on top on large platter. — Drizzle the cake with honey and ground cinnamon.

Once the cake is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the springform pan for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove the ring and transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once the cake has cooled, sprinkle it with cinnamon and drizzle some extra runny honey on top for extra sweetness and flavor. Enjoy!

Storage Tips

This Greek honey cake can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Related Recipes

If you liked this honey cheesecake recipe, here are some other sweet Greek recipes that you might also enjoy!