Placenta (Ancient Roman Honey Cheese Cake)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cheesecakes Medium

Placenta (Ancient Roman Honey Cheese Cake)

Thin dried sheets of dough layered with honey-sweetened cheese inside a folded crust, baked slowly on bay leaves and finished with honey. A scaled-down home adaptation. Makes 12 slices in about 12 hr 50 min.

Prep 90 min

Cook 80 min

Cooling 10 hr

Total 12 hr 50 min

Yield 12 slices

Ingredients

Adjust yield

slices

1 cup (120 g)semolina or coarse spelt flour
2 cups (240 g)all-purpose flour, for the sheets
¾ cup (180 ml)water, for the sheets
1 tbspolive oil
1 cup (120 g)all-purpose flour, for the crust
¼ cup (60 ml)water, for the crust
1 ¾ lb (790 g)ricotta or crumbly sheep's cheese, rinsed and drained dry
¾ cup (255 g)honey, plus 3 tbsp to finish
12fresh bay leaves, to line the dish

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Instructions

Mix the semolina, flour, water and oil into a firm dough and knead 10 minutes. Divide into 4 balls and roll each into a thin disc the size of the baking dish. Dry them uncovered overnight on parchment.
Mix the crust flour and water into a dough and roll a large round about twice the width of the dish.
Rinse the cheese in cold water, drain very well in a sieve, then mash with 255 g honey until smooth.
Heat the oven to 300 F (150 C). Oil the bay leaves and line the bottom of an 8-inch (20 cm) dish, then lay the crust over them with edges overhanging.
Layer a brushed dried sheet, then a quarter of the filling, repeating; end with a sheet. Fold the crust over the top.
Cover and bake 70 minutes, then uncover and bake 10 more minutes to brown. Brush with the remaining honey and cool before slicing.

Tips

Drying the sheets overnight is essential.
Drain the cheese well to prevent a soggy cake.
This is an adaptation; the original recipe was enormous and vague.
Keep refrigerated after cooling because the cake is full of fresh cheese.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make placenta (ancient roman honey cheese cake)?

Plan on 90 minutes of prep and 1 hour 20 minutes of cooking, plus 10 hours to chill. The recipe makes 12 slices.

How should I store placenta (ancient roman honey cheese cake)?

Refrigerate, covered, up to 3 days; serve at room temperature.

Can I make placenta (ancient roman honey cheese cake) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

A layered honey and cheese cake from Cato's De Agri Cultura, c. 160 BC. Serve it with dessert wine.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

331 Calories / serving

9.7g Fat

49.5g Carbs

11.6g Protein

17.7g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~3972 cal · 116g fat · 594g carbs · 139g protein · 212g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.