If you want to make box brownies taste even better, incorporating ricotta cheese can add moisture and deepen the layers of flavor while adding a classy Italian touch.

The simplest way to incorporate ricotta cheese is to add it to your brownie mix. This will make your brownies extra moist and fudgy with a hint of that sponge-like ricotta texture.

Another approach is to make a cheesecake brownie. To use ricotta as a cheesecake layer, create a separate cheese mixture with the ricotta, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.

For a "marbled" effect, layer the cheese mixture on the brownie batter and drop more spoonfuls of brownie batter on top. Then use a knife to swirl the cheese and batter together.

You can also use ricotta to make a cannoli topping for your brownies. Mix the ricotta with mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and chocolate chips.

Ricotta is good for desserts because it has a light, creamy texture that adds extra moisture. The not-too-sweet nutty flavor highlights bold, rich ingredients like chocolate.

While ricotta adds natural moisture, you don't want to overdo it or create a watery texture. To control the moisture, strain the cheese before adding it to your dessert.

You can use a cheesecloth or a thin kitchen towel to squeeze or press out some of the extra liquid. Also, go for whole milk ricotta cheese, as the fat provides the best results.