The Italian food adventure is an endless journey, and one of the best parts of this journey definitely includes Italian dessert recipes!
Italian cuisine is distinguished throughout the world for the recipes that our grandmothers and mothers have handed down from generation to generation for decades.
And some of the best parts of these recipes that have been handed down are definitely the sweeter recipes!
So if you are looking for a few ideas to make an actual authentic Italian dessert, then the recipes below are exactly what you need.
There are so many unique recipes from every different region in Italy when it comes to desserts.
Obviously it is not possible to draw up an exhaustive list of Italian desserts.
This would take forever, and the list would be extremely long!
The recipes collected below, however, can be a worthy source from which to draw some inspiration.
I have included ones that I, as an Italian, feel are worthy to be called the best Italian desserts!
Tiramisu, apple pie, cannoli with ricotta cheese and more!
Just a few which are included!
28 Of Best Italian Dessert Recipes
See also:
- 15 Of The Best Italian Breakfast Recipes You Need To Try
- Authentic Italian Pasta Recipes: 25 Delicious Recipes
- Pasta With Potatoes & Bacon: Quick Italian Recipe
- Italian Pear And Almond Chocolate Cake – from theworldisanoyster.com
So, below are the 28 best Italian dessert recipes that I personally love!
#1 Chocolate Caramel Affogato
The easiest 2 ingredient Chocolate Caramel Affogato recipe that’s gluten-free and vegan!
A decadent buzz-worthy treat to prepare on a date night or girl’s night! This twist on the classic Italian dessert will be your new favorite coffee and ice cream treat!
#2 Zuccotto: A Creamy Italian Dessert Cake
Zuccotto is a traditional cream filled Italian dessert. It is extremely impressive yet surprisingly easy to make!
#3 Cherry Panna Cotta
This creamy dessert features classic Italian vanilla panna cotta topped with a rich homemade cherry syrup.
This Cherry Panna Cotta can be made ahead and is ideal for entertaining guests during summer months!
#4 Classic Italian Cream Custard (Zabaglione)
This classic Italian cream custard, a.k.a Zabaglione is quick and easy to put together, and it’s best when served right away.
#5 Chocolate Genoise Sponge Cake Recipe
This light and airy Italian (Genoise) Chocolate Sponge Cake is light and airy and filled with a quick, easy and delicious chocolate mousse, loads of summer fruit like raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries, with a scrumptious stabilized whipped cream icing.
This is the perfect adult birthday cake idea!
#6 Ricotta Cake
The fine crumble and the creamy, lemon ricotta filling make this amazing ricotta cake to die for.
It’s also very easy to make, it requires only 6 ingredients, minimal preparation, and it’s guaranteed to impress!
#7 Lemon Ricotta Cake
This Lemon Ricotta Cake is exceptionally moist, light and sweet!
Delicious ricotta cheese adds a creamy richness which pairs perfectly with the brightness of fresh lemon.
You’ll want to make this unforgettable, rustic, Italian lemon cake!
#8 Cannoli Cream Cake
My Cannoli Cream Cake is heaven on a plate! Three layers of moist, tender yellow cake stuffed with delicious homemade cannoli cream.
Not too sweet and perfect any time of the year, and especially the holiday season!
#9 Ricotta Pie
This easy Sicilian Ricotta pie with a hint of lemon is one of the creamiest, most delicious Pie you will ever make!
Classic Italian Ricotta Pie is traditionally associated with Easter, but it might just be your favourite Pie all your around!
#10 Cannoli Recipe
Photo: Pies And Tacos
The cannolo is a typical Sicilian sweet, and one dessert which I eat almost every Sunday afternoon. It is usually seasoned with ricotta, a cheese that can be salty OR sweet.
#11 Italian Cream Puffs With Custard Filling
Found at Eats Well With Others
Typical dessert for the feast of Saint Joseph. It’s so good, you’ll eat more than one, for sure.
#12 Tiramisu
This dessert has been made by me plenty of times. Who doesn’t love tiramisu? It’s enriched with dark chocolate! Creamy and crunchy with every bite!
#13 Sicilian Almond Cookie
These cookies remind me of my childhood. So many times my dad would come home after work with these delicious biscuits.
#14 Raspberry Tiramisu
Here is another version of this delicious Italian dessert.
#16 Amaretti Cookies
A biscuit with an undesirable taste.
#17 Pastiera Napoletana Recipe
Photo: Nonna Box
Typical Neapolitan traditional cake, a real treat.
#18 Tuscan Apple Cake
Photo: Food And Journeys
#19 Classic Italian Crostata (Italian Pie)
Photo: An Italian In My Kitchen
#20 Babá
Photo: Mangia Magna
A rum cake that those who have visited Napoli must have tasted.
#22 Italian Mimosa Cake
Photo: An Italian In My Kitchen
It is associated with Women’s Day, but the mimosa cake recipe can really be enjoyed all year round. It’s sweet and delicious filling make it ideal to serve as a dessert.
#23 Torrone
Photo: Nonna Box
This is among the oldest Italian sweets in all it’s pleasant and delicious regional variations. You will be spoilt for choice between the soft or crunchy version, with chocolate, almonds, pistachios or candied fruit.
#24 Italian Apple Strudel with Puff Pastry
Photo: Zozo Baking
A typical Italian dessert of Trentino Alto Adige, it combines fresh and dried fruit and spices in a delightful treasure chest of fragrant puff pastry. Excellent served with cream or vanilla ice cream.
#25 Profitterol
Photo: Mangia Magna
#27 Dark Chocolate, Pistacchio And Cointreau Truffel
Found at Toast Mug
#28 Chocolate Salami
Photo: Eazy Peazy Desserts
What’s your favorite Italian dessert?
Enjoy!
Such yummy desserts! I can’t wait to try some of them!!
What a great round-up! I love cannoli and tiramisu, and I’m excited to try some of the other desserts on this list.
These remind me so much of the time I spent in Italy in high school! I have lots of memories eating torrone, and the amaretti cookies are begging to be made!
Now those amaretti cookies! they look so sweet and soft to just melt in my mouth. I’ve learned that mimosa is edible. How does it taste?
Thank you for this collection of sweetness, it’s really a voyage.
You out did yourself; wow, what a great round-up! Love these recipes… yummo!
These almond cookies are the best!
Oh, my world! I’m craving so badly right now, and I would give anything to have at least a few cannoli ready for my cappuccino! Thank you for including the link to my Pear And Almond Chocolate Cake which I often bake because I can never have enough. Now I have to work through the rest of your goodies list!
Hi Mihaela, your recipe is fantastic, I tried it and couldn’t not include it in the list 🙂