Italian desserts offer a never-ending adventure filled with delightful surprises. Today, we present to you the top 20 Italian desserts and the best places to try them. It’s important to note that we’ve listed these sweets in increasing order, saving the most popular ones for the end!
Best Italian desserts
First on our list of Italian desserts is Pastiera Napoletana
First up is Pastiera Napoletana, a traditional Easter treat made with sand dough, candied fruit, and grains cooked in milk. The best place to savor this delicacy is Pasquale Marigliano’s in San Gennarello di Ottaviano, Naples.
Torta Pistocchi
Next on our list is the Pistocchi Cake, Italy’s beloved chocolate cake. With its indescribable consistency and layers of 65% dark chocolate, this cake is an invention of a talented but perhaps less sober Tuscan pastry chef. You can find this delectable treat at Via Ponte di Medzo, 20 in Florence.
Babà
No list of Italian desserts would be complete without mentioning Babà. This classic sweet is a yeast pastry baked in the oven and soaked in rum. Leone’s pastry shop in Naples is the perfect spot to try this delicacy, whether with cream or at Vittoria Aiello’s restaurant, Torre del Saracino. Or you could even make it at home!
Cioccolato di Modica
Moving on, we have Modica Chocolate, which Shasha was right about – it has an unbeatable flavor. The secret behind this chocolate’s taste lies in Franco Ruta’s method of working with the chocolate mass, along with its unique aroma of vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, and salt. For the best Modica Chocolate experience, head to Bonagiuto old pastry shop in Modica, Ragusa.
The most unusual of Italian desserts is Marron Glacé
Another iconic Italian sweet is Chestnut Glace, a typical treat that is often disputed in terms of origin with the French. These sugar syrup-soaked chestnuts can be hard to find, as many producers add them to other desserts like panettone. However, you can get your hands on them at Morandin Pastry Shop in St. Vincent’s.
Cantucci Di Prato
Cantucci Di Prato is a biscuit that originated in Prato and is made without fat or yeast. Mattei’s pastry shop, which has been open since 1858, bakes these delightful treats in an open oven. Packaged in a blue wrapper, they are perfect on their own or paired traditionally with wine.
Granita siciliana
If you’re looking for the best Sicilian granita is unique among Italian desserts. , head to Cafe Sicilia in Noto. Corrado Assenza’s creation there is simply unmatched, especially the almond flavor. Don’t miss out on trying a triptych of granita to fully indulge yourself.
Cannolo siciliano
Sicilian waffle tubes are an absolute must-try among Italian desserts. At Dattilo’s, they fill these crispy tubes right in front of you. The unsifted ricotta mixed with candied fruit and chocolate drops provides a perfect balance of flavors. Eurobar in Dattilo, Trapani is the place to experience these masterpieces.
Torta Caprese
When on the Amalfi Coast, don’t forget to taste the Torta Caprese. Made with fresh butter, eggs, roasted almonds, and melted chocolate, this cake is available in a lighter summer version with lemon. Sal De Rizo, one of the best local pastry chefs, offers this delightful treat. His book, I Dolci del Sole (Sweets of the Sun), will transport you to the world of Amalfi Coast desserts.
Sfogliatella Riccia
Sfogliatella Riccia is a famous sweet that has become a cult favorite in Naples. This oldest sweet in Naples is made with love, cooked in an oven, and reheated upon ordering. Antico Forno f.lli Attanasio is the place to go for this unique pastry, which is made of puff pastry with a pocket resembling a monk’s hood.
Focaccia dolce
Focaccia Dolce deserves a special mention. Different from panettone and pandoro, this Christmas candy is created by Claudio Gatti. The delicate, lighter-than-panettone dough is flavored with classic cherry liqueur and features large pieces of fruit like peaches, apricots, pineapples, and oranges. Indulge yourself at Tabiano’s Pastry Shop and enjoy this sweet delight.
Panettone
Panettone, the king of Italian yeast pastries, cannot be left off this list best Italian desserts. Iginio Massari is revered as the prophet of panettone, and his version is incredibly soft with a delicate orange flavor, candied fruit, and raisins. For the ultimate panettone experience, Veneto Confectionery in Brescia is the go-to destination.
Cassata Siciliana
Cassata Siciliana is a Sicilian delight made of a delicate biscuit filled with sheep ricotta, candied fruits, and chocolate drops. This sweetness encapsulates the distinct taste and essence of Sicily. Palazzolo Pastry Shop in Cinisi is the place to savor this delightful treat.
The most popular among Italian desserts is Tiramisu
Tiramisu Determining the exact creator of this dessert is more challenging than counting the number of lids in Carlo Cracco’s collection. According to one version, the recipe originated in Treviso at the Beccherie restaurant, where it remains one of the most enticing items on the menu. The historic Beccherie restaurant, located at 11 Via Giannino Ancillotto, Treviso.
Torrone
Torrone Pietro Scaldaferro presents the classic sweetness in a new and exciting way, incorporating unique ingredients like honey from the Venetian lagoon, a previously unexplored addition. From traditional almond torrone to flaky variations, it is incredibly delicious. Discover Torronificio Scaldaferro at 31 Ca Tron Lane, Dolo.
Crema spalmabile
Crema spalmabile A quintessential Italian confection born out of the Italians’ unparalleled ability to adapt during difficult times. Nutella emerged as a replacement for expensive chocolate in the post-war years, using a more economical nut paste readily available in Piedmont. For food enthusiasts like the Italians, it has become a paradise. Indulge in Guido Castagna Cioccolato at 27 Maria Vittoria Street, Turin.
Giandujotto
Giandujotto Giandujotti, which occasionally grace the table in my room, are boat-shaped candies created by pastry chefs in Turin as a response to Napoleon’s cocoa supply blockade. Instead of a chocolate filling, they cleverly placed a nut at the center (initially in secrecy, later labeling it “Janduja” chocolate). Pay attention to the way these candies are made: meticulously crafted by hand, molded and poured into molds, or produced on a conveyor belt. Explore Guido Gobino at Via Lagrange, 1, Turin.
Ice cream (Gelato is famous among Italian desserts)
Ice cream Ermanno Di Pomponio’s ice cream, originating from his first parlor in the 90s, has attained legendary status. Not even the offerings found in contemporary establishments can compare to its excellence. The Neve di latte (Milk Snow) presents flavors of Haitian-Jamaican coffee and Tuscan dark chocolate, triumphing over the other 49 variations. Savor the delights of Neve di latte at Via Luigi Poletti, 6, Rome.
Piccola pasticceria
Pastries (Piccola pasticceria) Indulging in the delectable small pastries at this Milanese sweet haven is a must: crostatini, crumiri, and creamy delights served in elegant glasses. David Comaschi, the young maestro of Italian pastry chefs and world champion of a esteemed French competition, rules this realm. Visit the Martezana Pasticceria at Via Cafiero, 14, Caliero, 4, Milan.
Last but not least among Italian desserts is Millefoglie
The talented De Belli brothers, esteemed pastry researchers in Europe, have taken Rome by storm with their delectable croissants, profiteroles, mousses, and bignets made from dry and dense pastry, always paired with the freshest cream. A crispy caramel crust lies beneath, making it a truly glorious treat. Dive into this divine creation at the Confectionery De Belli, located at Piazza Paradiso 56/57, Rome.
