23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (2024)

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (1)

If the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Italian recipes is decadent plates of spaghetti and meatballs, thin-crust pizza, or heaping piles of caprese salad, you're probably not alone. Italian appetizers and entree recipes are some of the most beloved in the world. Just think: You can't really go anywhere in the world without there being a pizza and pasta shop around the corner. But Italian desserts deserve some love, too, because they're just as delicious. From classic recipes like coffee-filled tiramisu to slightly lesser-known delicacies like panna cotta and anise cookies, Italian desserts really offer something for everyone.

So next time you're planning a pasta night or a make-your-own-pizza evening, round out the night with one of the below Italian desserts, too. It'll help you explore complementary flavor profiles and give you the excuse to whip up a sweet treat in the kitchen just because. Worried the desserts will be too complicated? Don't be! Most Italian desserts are surprisingly simple to make, and some of these are simply Italian twists on more classic, basic recipes. In other words, no matter what your level of comfort is in the kitchen or baking aisle, these 24 recipes are ones that you can tackle confidently.

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1

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Roasted Rhubarb

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (3)

Panna cotta is a delicious, creamy dessert that is classically Italian. Combining it with toasty, sweet roasted rhubarb gives it a new, modern twist.

Get the Vanilla Panna Cotta with Roasted Rhubarb recipe.

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2

Italian Anise Cookies

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (4)

Put a spin on traditional butter cookies with this Italian favorite that's made with anise extract in the batter as well as in the powdered sugar-based glaze, and topped with crunchy nonpareils.

Get the Italian Anise Cookies recipe.

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3

Tiramisu

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (6)

Tiramisu, the darling of Italian desserts, is always a crowd pleaser. This version speeds things up by alternating layers of premade ladyfingers, coffee liqueur, and ready-made cheesecake filling, which is all finished off with a dusting of unsweetened cocoa powder.

Get the Tiramisu recipe.

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4

Almond-Anise Biscottini

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (8)

These are super simple to make and keep great in the freezer. They taste best dunked in coffee.

Get the Almond-Anise Biscottini recipe.

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5

Neapolitans

There's nothing boring about these brilliant-colored cookies, decked in red, green, and brown stripes (flavored with raspberry, almond, and chocolate-vanilla, respectively) and dipped in white chocolate.

Get the Neapolitans recipe.

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6

Cannoli Cake

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (12)

Hit the kitchen and make this gorgeous four-layer cake inspired by the traditional Italian dessert, cannoli.

Get the Cannoli Cake recipe.

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7

Neapolitan Honey Balls

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (14)

These deep-fried dough balls are drenched in honey and sprinkled with nonpareils and candied orange peel. The golden brown treats pack more flavor than expected, thanks to orange zest in the mix.

Get the Neapolitan Honey Balls recipe.

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8

Tiramisu Cheesecake

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (16)

Two irresistible desserts are combined for one ultimate indulgence.

Get the Tiramisu Cheesecake recipe.

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9

Strawberry Panna Cotta

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (18)

This strawberry and sugar panna cotta is a delicious gelatin-like treat. Top this dish off with strawberry sauce for extra flavor.

Get the Strawberry Panna Cotta recipe.

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10

Strawberry Cannoli

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (20)

Combine a classic dessert with a popular fruit to create this sweet treat. Just fold the berry and almond extract into the ricotta mixture and pipe the filling into the cones before garnishing.

Get the Strawberry Cannoli recipe.

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11

Ginger-Lemon Tiramisu

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (22)

Ginger and lemon are a match made in culinary heaven in this dessert. Garnish the treat with sugared lemon slices to heighten the presentation.

Get the Ginger-Lemon Tiramisu recipe.

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12

Pomegranate Panna Cotta

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (24)

Sprinkle this classic with a fruity favorite.

Get the Pomegranate Panna Cotta recipe.

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13

Raspberry Ricotta Fool

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (26)

Raspberry isn't the only fruity flavor you'll taste here—orange peel and orange juice complete this treat that's ready in just 20 minutes.

Get the Raspberry Ricotta Fool recipe.

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14

Matcha Panna Cotta

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (28)

You've never had a panna cotta quite like this. Combining maple syrup, matcha tea powder, and heavy cream, this dish is as tasty as it is beautiful.

Get the recipe at The Pioneer Woman.

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15

Mocha Cannoli

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (29)

This chocolate-dipped mocha cannoli will truly make you exclaim, "Holy Cannoli!" From presentation to flavor, this dessert would be a hit at any office party or potluck.

Get the recipe at The Pioneer Woman.

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16

Tiramisu

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (30)

Crunchy ladyfingers, rich espresso, and delicious mascarpone cheese comes together in this recipe in perfect harmony.

Get the recipe at The Pioneer Woman.

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17

Italian Cream Cake Balls

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (31)

Have some leftover cupcakes at home? "Cake Balls are kind of the perfect solution for extending the life of slightly dried out cupcakes," says blogger Butterlust. Talk about a dessert hack!

Get the recipe at Butterlust.

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18

Italian Ricotta Cookies

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (33)

If putting cheese in a cookie sounds a bit odd, don't let this cookie scare you. These treats taste more like sugar cookies, making them oh so yummy.

Get the recipe at Love Bakes Good Cakes.

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19

Cannoli Poke Cake

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (35)

Vanilla cake + cannoli cake = INCREDIBLE!

Get the recipe at Life, Love & Sugar.

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20

Limoncello No-Bake Cheesecake

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (37)

The classic Italian drink takes on a new (and extra tasty) life in this pastry. Even better, the recipe has just four steps!

Get the recipe at Bell'alimento.

23 Deliciously Easy Italian Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most eaten dessert in Italy? ›

Tiramisu

Perhaps the most iconic Italian dessert, tiramisu appears on menus at restaurants not only throughout Italy but also all over the world.

What is Gordon Ramsay's favorite dessert? ›

Gordon Ramsay's favorite dessert - Sticky toffee pudding.

What dessert is Tuscany known for? ›

While tiramisù may be the most well known of Italian desserts (a Florentine version is known as zuccotto), the most widely offered dessert in Florence is cantuccini with vin santo.

What are the top 5 Italian desserts? ›

What are the most popular Italian desserts?
  • Tiramisù Tiramisù: one of the best Italian Desserts! Credits: Flickr. ...
  • Cassata Siciliana. Cassata Siciliana: one of the best Italian Desserts! ...
  • Panna Cotta. Panna Cotta: one of the ebst Italian Desserts! ...
  • Babà Babà: one of the best Italian Desserts. ...
  • Tartufo di Pizzo.
Sep 9, 2010

What is the oldest Italian dessert? ›

Panforte

This is one of the oldest Italian desserts on the list, believed to date back to 13th century Tuscany. Panforte is a traditional Italian Christmas dessert made from wrapping fruit, nuts and spices in a gooey blend of sugar, honey and flour.

What is the king of Italian desserts? ›

Probably the most famous of all Italian desserts, Tiramisù is a powerful layering of coffee-soaked savoiardi (sponge finger biscuits) and a rich cream made with mascarpone cheese, eggs and sugar, sometimes spiced up with a drop of liqueur.

What do Italians drink for dessert? ›

Moscadello di Montalcino: the Tuscan dessert wine

Made with aromatic white muscat grapes, this DOC wine can be drunk still (“tranquillo”), sparkling (“frizzante”) or late-harvest (“vendemmia tardiva”). Dessert wines offer a perfect alternative to stronger spirits served neat as a digestivo.

What chef makes Gordon Ramsey cry? ›

White also once made a young Gordon Ramsay cry while Ramsay worked for him, and later said, "I don't recall what he'd done wrong but I yelled at him and he lost it. Gordon crouched down in the corner of the kitchen, buried his head in his hands and started sobbing."

What's Gordon Ramsay's favorite fast food? ›

Gordon Ramsay's go-to is In-N-Out's Double Double burger

Ramsay's favorite fast food order sustains him on the road when he can't whip up something drool-worthy in the comfort of his own kitchen. Ramsay can come across as a little bit, well ... harsh?

What dessert is Pisa famous for? ›

Chocoholics won't be disappointed by one of Pisa's most popular desserts: the Torta coi bischeri is a seductive combination of dark chocolate and pine nuts on a shortcrust pastry base. Another dessert where pine nuts feature is the Torta ai pinoli di San Rossore (pine nut tart).

What is the number 1 food in Italy? ›

Pizza. Besides pasta, pizza is perhaps the most popular and recognized Italian food. Pizza is considered a national symbol representing Italy to the rest of the world, so much so that UNESCO has acknowledged pizza as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

What are the 3 most popular foods in Italy? ›

When it comes to food and drink, few can top Italy's stellar reputation. Ask anyone to name their favourite dishes and you can guarantee things like pizza, pasta and gelato soon come tripping off the tongue.

What is the most popular dessert in Rome? ›

Tiramisu. Perhaps the most classic Italian dessert, you'll find tiramisu on the menu all over the country and in nearly every restaurant in Rome.

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