Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, combine the whole milk, melted unsalted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, lemon zest, and almond extract until smooth.
Pour half of the prepared cake batter into the greased baking dish. Spread it evenly.
Spoon the ricotta mixture over the batter, spreading it gently to cover the surface.
Pour the remaining cake batter over the ricotta layer, ensuring it’s evenly distributed. Optionally, sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.