I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription…is Italian desserts!
Okay, maybe not, but the way Italians create stunning sweets with simple flavors has always impressed me.
Get ready for a whirlwind trip through Italy’s best bakeries with these 21 dessert recipes that I adore.
1. Northern Italian Apple Strudel
It seems as though every nation has its famous variant of strudel, and Italy brings forth a very memorable version! Apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, and luscious puff pastry make this apple strudel sing.
Of course, you can’t forget the customary raisins, nuts, and Calvados liquor for the full experience. Serve this sophisticated delicacy with a dessert wine to take it to the next level, I recommend.
2. 5-Ingredient Cannolis
Cannolis represent so much that I adore within the realm of sweet delicacies. That creamy filling is so lovely, and the shells have such a satisfying crispness.
Want to know the shortcut I take when creating cannolis at home? I just procure the shells already prepared.
Typically, you can find them in Italian bakeries; just include the creamy filling, and you will have a wonderful treat!
3. Strawberry Gelato
There is no need for an ice cream machine to prepare this strawberry gelato! With this uncomplicated recipe, you are able to prepare your very own gelato at home with little effort.
Have you ever given thought to the difference in gelato and ice cream? Well, both are made with sugar, milk, cream, and eggs; however, traditional ice cream contains more cream than milk, and gelato calls for more milk than cream.
Also, it’s churned at a slower speed than traditional ice cream, which integrates less air.
4. Italian Christmas Cookies
These delectable little cookies resemble cake clouds coated in a delectable glaze. Their edges have a cookie-like quality, but their middles retain a wonderful fluffiness when you leave them in rounded shapes.
Naturally, you are able to shape them however you prefer, and they will be equally tasty!
I am aware that anise may be overwhelming to some; if that’s the case, feel free to skip it. You can simply use cinnamon and/or nutmeg for warmth.
5. Easy Tiramisu Cake
To prepare this delight, you can use whichever vanilla cake you want, including cake mix from a box. Actually, I would recommend it to conserve time!
Do not hesitate to use lots of coffee syrup, making sure the surface of the cake is well soaked. In case you have espresso powder, that will be even better.
Still, you can prepare this just as well with instant coffee. I’ve been preparing my modified rendition of this for a number of years using rum and coffee cake.
6. Almond Biscotti Recipe with Cranberries
These special biscotti are baked twice, and they are allowed to dry during the second round spent in the oven. Yes, a dry cookie might not sound appealing, but trust me that it’s worth your time!
These biscotti are crisp, crunchy, and bursting with flavor. To make them extra special, test the waters by dipping one end in rich dark chocolate!
7. Canestrelli (Italian Egg Yolk Cookies)
This recipe is more like your customary Italian sugar cookie. It boasts a delicate lemony flavor and a wonderful crunch, all while being tender and melting in your mouth.
So, what exactly sets these apart? The recipe requires a boiled egg yolk!
You’ll need to prepare some hard-boiled egg yolks and grate them well before mixing them into the batter. This will help to prevent too much gluten from developing, which has the potential to make them tough.
8. Lemon Ricotta Cake with Almonds
In the realm of cake, lemon and ricotta are a total match made in heaven; they’re zesty, creamy, tangy, and taste incredible with some toasted almonds.
Ricotta provides the same excellent moisture to this cake that you’d expect with sour cream. What’s more, it provides a dash of extra sweetness.
Sour cream gives cakes a specific tang that I usually adore. However, because this cake bursts with vivid lemon, using ricotta balances it so nicely.
9. Chocolate-Vanilla Tartufo
Tartufo is a traditional Italian dessert consisting of layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream kept inside a tough chocolate shell. They are fairly popular in Italian restaurants on the east coast of the United States.
Though the recipe is a little involved, I would say it is not overly complicated. Prepare this for your dinner guests, and they’re sure to be wowed!
10. Torta Barozzi
Since its genesis in 1886, the original recipe for this renowned Italian dessert has been shrouded in secrecy. However, many famous chefs have tried to recreate it, and this recipe is merely one interpretation.
Coffee, dark chocolate, almonds, and peanuts constitute this wonderful, decadent cake. As a result, it’s both wonderful and decadent.
11. Italian Butter Cookies
You’ll likely recognize these delightful cookies as the sort that springs up all over the place during the holidays. They are an ideal treat for all occasions, existing somewhere between shortbread and sugar cookies.
The flavor is the star; the name is quite fitting: butter cookies. These have an incredibly rich profile, and I would encourage you to skip adding a glaze or frosting so the buttery flavor can truly shine.
12. Italian Pear Almond Cake
This recipe calls for brown butter along with the sweet flavor of pear. Have you ever prepared or used brown butter before? If not, you’re in for a real treat.
To prepare brown butter, you just slowly heat regular butter until it becomes brown and fragrant. It calls for patience, so keep a close eye on it!
Once you have it, you will not want to use anything else. It is especially incredible with chocolate chip cookies.
13. Zeppole
These are Italian donut holes, and they are light, fluffy, and melt in your mouth. After you’ve fried these donuts, they’re glazed in powdered sugar to prepare the ideal bite-sized treat.
It is a classic that stands the test of time. If you’re seeking a twist, you can use sugar with cinnamon for an incredible spin.
Incredibly, you can prepare this recipe in just a half hour. But beware, they vanish quickly!
14. Thick Italian Hot Chocolate
I can say I’ve been absolutely ruined when it comes to hot chocolate after spending a couple of winters in Italy and France. I am unable to look at a package of Swiss Miss in the same light!
What makes it so very good? They are sure to use real chocolate. And so much of it!
Essentially, they concoct a thin chocolate ganache. Imagine how drool-worthy that is!
15. Traditional Italian Breakfast Cookies
I’ll happily eat cookies for breakfast going forward; believe me, I mean it! You will see that these cookies resemble the traditional Lady Finger after you bake them.
The shell is incredibly crisp, and the middle is soft and fluffy. To get that airy texture that is so desirable, be sure to beat the eggs and sugar together until the mixture is light and frothy!
16. Chocolate Gelato
Though relatively similar, gelato and ice cream are two unique sweets. Gelato tends to be especially smooth and comes bursting with flavor, although ice cream does tend to be lighter on the tongue.
The only method to know the true differences is to sample and compare them yourself. It is a difficult undertaking, but I am sure that you are up to the task!
Ice creams use a base of cream and egg custard; gelato utilizes milk and sugar, which creates a lower overall fat content. To enjoy the best flavor possible, this recipe makes use of real chocolate and cocoa.
17. Italian-Style Candied Chestnuts
It’s shocking to think that I had never tasted candied chestnuts! Sure, I have had them roasted, but this is a completely new experience.
With this recipe, you will peel and boil the chestnuts before carefully taking off the skins. The chestnuts take a second bath when naked, but this time they are immersed in a sugar and vanilla syrup.
After cooking, the chestnuts boast a texture similar to a dried apricot. As a result, they will be delightfully chewy, moist, and soft.
18. Italian Berry Mascarpone Cake
This show-stopping dessert consists of a pistachio spongecake base, a berry filling, a mascarpone layer, and fresh whipped cream.
Though the juicy berries are worth recognition, the mascarpone cheese is clearly the star. It is a light delicacy, and I would recommend it following a heavy Italian meal.
19. Chocolate Vanilla Berry Panna Cotta Tart
Prepared with gelatin and sweetened cream, panna cotta is a silky, creamy dessert. As is, it has an air of uncomplicated elegance.
This tart has a dreamy profile and bursts with such rich flavors. The pie crust is wonderful, and I am a big fan of the chocolate flavoring here.
The usual tart shells are so predictable, and this chocolate addition makes such a pleasant change with a wonderful color contrast.
20. Easy Classic Pizzelle Recipe (Italian Waffle Cookies)
Though they taste fantastic, you will need a pizzelle iron in order to achieve the proper pattern and wonderful shape. They are more than worth it, in my opinion; when you begin preparing these, you won’t have the ability to quit!
I love their crispness and lightness, and I truly adore the simple vanilla flavor. Of course, you are able to prepare these using almond, chocolate, anise, and lemon, too.