This is a list of Italian desserts and pastries . Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian desserts have been heavily influenced by cuisine from surrounding countries and those that have invaded Italy, such as Greece , Spain , Austria , and France . Italian cuisine is also influenced by the Mediterranean climate and agriculture.
Characteristics [ edit ] Italy has an extremely diverse range of cuisines, due to the large amount of influences throughout its history. Peaches, lemons, and pears are popular fruits for recipes, as well as sweet cheeses, such as ricotta and mascarpone.[1] Coffee, especially espresso, are integral to Italian culture and cuisine, and is featured frequently in dessert recipes, such as tiramisu . The usage of a cold dairy dessert, such as ice cream or gelato , was introduced to the Western world through Italy.[2]
Italian desserts [ edit ] Name Image Description Affogato Espresso served with a scoop of ice cream Angel wings Fried dough shaped into ribbons and coated in powdered sugar
Name Image Description Barbajada Drink made from whipped chocolate, milk, and coffee Baxin Sweet from Liguira, Italy utilizing anise seeds and flour Biscotti Italian biscuit, typically filled with nuts or dried fruit, or dipped in chocolate Biscuit Tortoni Ice cream made from eggs and heavy cream, sometimes containing chopped cherries or topped with minced almonds or crumbled macaroons Bombolone Italian doughnut, filled with typically chocolate, cream, or jam Bruttiboni Biscuit made from almonds or hazelnuts Budino Pudding made from milk and egg custard, typically topped with a crust or whipped-cream topping
Name Image Description Camporelli Ladyfinger-like biscuits made from sugar, flour, and eggs Cannoli Rolled, crispy dough filled with ricotta cream Cartocci Filled fried dough pastry Cassata Round sponge cake moistened with fruit juice Cavallucci Pastry made with anise, walnuts, candied fruits, coriander, and flour Ciambella Ring-shaped cake made using flour, milk, sugar, and vanilla flavoring Colomba di Pasqua Confetti Almonds covered in dyed, sugar coating Crocetta of Caltanissetta Sweet pastry made from almonds, sugar, sweet lemon purée, oranges or other fruit, pistachio and icing sugar Crostata Baked tart or pie, hailing from Naples Cucidati Fig cookie with vanilla icing Cupeta Dessert made from honey, dissolved sugar and diced almonds
Name Image Description Gelato Italian dessert similar to ice cream, thicker in consistency Genoise Sponge cake made with melted butter whipped into the dough Gianduja (chocolate) Chocolate made from hazelnut cream Gianduiotto Chocolate made from sugar, cocoa, and hazelnuts Granita Italian ice dessert made from sugar, water and various flavorings
Name Image Description Marron glacé Chestnuts candied in sugar syrup Marzipan Confection consisting primarily of sugar, honey, and almond meal Mimosa cake Moist champagne sponge cake with a buttercream frosting Mustacciuoli Pastry with a spiced, cake-like interior, covered in chocolate
Name Image Description Pandoro Traditional Italian sweet bread in a star-like formation Panettone Sweet bread featuring dried fruits and chocolate Panforte Chewy Italian dessert containing fruits and nuts Panna cotta Italian dessert of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin and molded Panpepato Round sweet bread with nuts and dried fruit Pasticciotto Italian pastry filled with ricotta cheese and egg custard Pastiera Neapolitan tart made with cooked wheat, eggs, ricotta cheese, and flavoured with orange flower water Penuche Fudge-like candy made from brown sugar, butter, and milk Pignolata Soft pastry, covered in chocolate and lemon-flavoured syrup or icing Pinza Traditional dessert flan with pine nuts, dried figs, raisins, fennel seeds and grappa Pinza bolognese Jam-filled pastry
Name Image Description Rainbow cookie Three-layered almond-flavored Italian cookie Ricciarelli Traditional Italian biscuits – specifically, a type of macaroon
Name Image Description Sanguinaccio dolce Italian pudding made from pig's blood which is made creamy and sweetened with ingredients such as chocolate, milk, pine nuts, and raisins Semifreddo Frozen dessert similar to ice cream, with the main ingredients being egg yolks, sugar, and cream. Sfinge Doughnut sprinkled with powdered sugar Sfogliatella Shell-shaped cream-filled Italian pastry originating from Campania Spumoni Molded gelato made with layers of different colors and flavors, usually containing candied fruits and nuts Struffoli Neapolitan dish made of deep fried balls of sweet dough Sugoli Dessert pudding prepared with the must of red grapes, flour and sugar, cooked slowly and then left to cool
Name Image Description Taralli Cracker similar to a breadstick--can be sweet or savory Tartufo Gelato covered and filled with melted chocolate Tiramisu Dessert made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, flavoured with cocoa Torrone Nougat made with honey, sugar, and whipped egg whites, then filled with roasted pistachios and almonds Torta Barozzi Thin, crispy cake made from chocolate and coffee Torta caprese Italian cake made with chocolate and either almonds or hazelnuts Torta della nonna Italian sweet pastry cake filled with vanilla-flavored custard and covered with pine nuts and confectioner's sugar. Torta alla Monferrina Cake made from pumpkin, or apples and sugar, with amaretti, chocolate, eggs, and rum Torta delle rose Cake made with leavened dough rich in butter and sugar, which is rolled up and placed in the baking tin, taking the characteristic shape of a basket of rosebuds Torta setteveli Chocolate cake with seven layers of hazelnut cream, hazelnut crunch, chocolate mousse, and a glaze Torta Tre Monti Dessert consisting of thin waffle slices with interwoven layers of cream, then covered in chocolate
Name Image Description Uovo sbattuto Beverage that consists of egg yolk and sugar
Name Image Description Zabaione Dessert beverage made with egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine Zeppole Fried dough dessert with powdered sugar Zuccotto Semi-frozen, chilled dessert made with alchermes liqueur, cake and ice cream Zuppa Inglese Italian dessert layering custard and sponge cake Zelten Traditional Italian fruitcake served during Christmas
Italian pastries [ edit ] Chocolate and pistachio biscotti See also [ edit ] References [ edit ] External links [ edit ]
History Regional cuisines Pasta and sauces Soups Other dishes (List ) Pizza and street food Cheeses and charcuterie Pastry and desserts (List ) Breads Wines Alcoholic beverages Coffee Related
Dishes by origin
Africa North America South America Asia Europe Oceania Caribbean Misc./Other
By type and origin
By type