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Top 10 Recipes for Traditional Italian Desserts

For Italians, the meal isn’t over without dessert. If you are having pasta for lunch then a delicious dessert from Italian cuisine with a cup of espresso is just what you need after it. Discover the sweeter side of Italian cuisine with our list of top 10 Traditional Italian desserts.

Here you’ll find everything you need! Once you have had an Italian Tiramisu, Torta Della Nonna, or Zuccotto you are scarred for life!

1. Coconut Rose Semifreddo

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Recipe via kitchenvignettes.blogspot.ca

Semifreddo literally translates to semi-frozen. You’ll notice this with a lot of Italian desserts. Simple in its name, simple to execute as long as the ingredients are all top-notch. Delicious! In this instant, we have a rose-infused, and coconut dessert that is perfect during spring when the first flowers come to bloom. The color combination of the heavy cream and the roses alongside the coconut makes this dish a delight alongside an amaretto liqueur, outside, preferably in Tuscany somewhere!

2. Italian Zuccotto

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Recipe via christinascucina.com

Italian Zuccotto originates from Florence, one of the most beautiful regions on the planet. This pumpkin-shaped dessert has the flexibility of which ingredients to add but on this occasion, it is simple yet delightful with a dash of Brandy within the pastry cream. Sponge cake with Itan pasty cream is perfect for Halloween and for any festive days throughout the year.

3. Italian Tiramisu with Roast Coffee

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Recipe via cooking.nytimes.com

Tiramisu, who has never been to an Italian restaurant without ever ordering it? It is one if not the must-have at the end of a meal. Again, requiring good quality ingredients and the main one being mascarpone. Now as a cheeky secret, try using instant coffee unless you have a terrific Italian coffee maker. Don’t drink it, but the tiramisu is unprecedentedly good! Make it and leave it overnight for the coffee and to be properly absorbed by the ladyfingers. Mouthwatering!

4. Gluten Free Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

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Recipe via simplygluten-free.com

Ever wondered in the streets of Italy and enjoyed a coffee on a sunny terrace with a biscotti? You’ll never drink coffee the same ever again. Instead of adding sugar to their coffees, the Italians would often enjoy a little something sweet on the side to counteract the bitterness of the coffee. It’s a balancing act. One never goes without the other. In this case, we have a gluten-free version alongside cranberries and pistachios.

5. Amaretto Brownies

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Recipe via howsweeteats.com

Ever wondered in the streets of Italy and enjoyed a coffee on a sunny terrace with a biscotti? You’ll never drink coffee the same ever again. Instead of adding sugar to their coffees, the Italians would often enjoy a little something sweet on the side to counteract the bitterness of the coffee. It’s a balancing act. One never goes without the other. In this case, we have a gluten-free version alongside cranberries and pistachios.

6. Raspberry Panna Cotta

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Recipe via yourhomestyle.uk

Pana-Cotta literally means cooked cream. In Italy, there are little secrets to good things – the only one being, love. Putting passion and love in desserts or in cooking a full stop is an art that gets your taste buds to explode with flavors. This delicate dessert fit for Royalty on this occasion is made with raspberries; perfect with a glass of Prosecco. It is vital not to put too much gelatin or agar-agar. It has to set just right. You might want to experiment a little but once you get it right. Three harmonious ingredients and balancing perfectly well with a raspberry coulis.

 7. Italian Pound Cake with Limoncello Glaze

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Recipe via thebrooklynragazza.blogspot.com

Limoncello in Italy is like us “mortals” drinking water. It’s indispensable. So, no wonder why this pound cake is within the top 10. Juicy lemons, ricotta, and olive oil are some of the most important ingredients so, make it certain to have these products to hand while making this dessert. It’ll reward you! Add a little limoncello glaze prior to serving – perfect. 

8. Torta Della Nonna

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Recipe via mammapapera.it

La Torta Della Nonna or in good old English, Grandma’s cake. How many times did you pronounce its name with the famous Italian accent and hand gesture? This Tuscan-born dessert (or you might hear born from a random grandma in the foothills of Chianti!) is a simple vanilla-scented custard cream delight with roasted pine nuts. The sort of thing that you eat with all the family around the table. Wherever this truly comes from in Italy, it is without a doubt one of the most famous things one can put in their mouth if in Italy. Give this family inspired tart a try!

9. Chocolate Amaretto Cake

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Recipe via eatlittlebird.com

More Amaretto but who can complain about a little indulgence? This cake is for chocolate lovers from all over the world whose ambition it is to put liquor in everything sweet. Really works a treat! I would recommend using between 60% and 70% chocolate chips semi-sweet for the perfect turn out. And, of course, don’t forget if you prefer enjoying it warm, reheat 5 minutes before serving with a dollop of Amaretto cream or ice-cream.

10. Cannoli Shells

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Recipe via shugarysweets.com

One can argue the best till last? The infamous Cannoli. Eating them, you will imagine yourself in the streets of Italy. Literally hundredths of ways to make this ricotta filling. Most importantly, the ricotta and the mascarpone itself. So rewarding! As with most desserts from Italy alcohol is included, then again so is sugar and butter. Add a little sprinkle of cinnamon powdered sugar, chocolate chips, chopped pistachios, or indeed candied orange peel. Buon appetito! 

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