Greek Honey Pie (Melopita)
Melopita is a classic Greek honey pie with a creamy, custard-like filling, delicately flavored with honey, lemon zest, and cinnamon. This easy, crustless dessert is light, fragrant, and perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups ricotta cheese (500g/17.5 oz; or anthotyro, myzithra, or farmer’s cheese)
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey (120g)
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for dusting
- Pinch of salt
- Extra honey, for drizzling
- Additional cinnamon, for dusting
- Chopped pistachios or almonds (optional), for topping
- Fresh berries (optional), for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch pie dish or line with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat ricotta cheese with a hand mixer or whisk until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add honey, lemon zest, vanilla extract (if using), 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix until well combined and glossy.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pie dish and level the top with a spatula. Tap gently to release air bubbles.
- Bake in the center of the oven for 35-40 minutes, until edges are set and golden and the center still jiggles slightly. Tent with foil if browning too quickly.
- Remove from oven and cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- For best results, refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving, or serve slightly warm if desired.
- Before serving, drizzle with extra honey, dust with cinnamon, and sprinkle with chopped pistachios or almonds and fresh berries if using.
Notes
For best texture, use room temperature eggs and cheese. Don’t overbake—the center should jiggle slightly. Chill for cleaner slices and deeper flavor. Use quality honey for best results. Melopita is naturally gluten-free and can be adapted to be dairy-free with coconut yogurt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of pie)
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 100
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Protein: 7
Keywords: Greek honey pie, Melopita, ricotta dessert, easy Greek dessert, gluten-free pie, Mediterranean dessert, honey pie, crustless cheesecake