36 Top Rated Italian Desserts for Your Next Celebration

Italian desserts are simply divine. From iconic treats like tiramisu and cannoli to lesser-known regional specialties. You’ll want to save room after your pasta course because these sweets are worth every calorie! Some are holiday traditions, while others make a perfect everyday indulgence. These homemade Italian dessert recipes let you bring a taste of the sweet life home.

Easy Italian Christmas Zuccotto Cake

Traditional Italian desserts like this easy Italian Christmas zuccotto cake are the perfect treat for after dinner. This beautiful Italian dessert is made with pound loaf (pound cake), mascarpone cheese, chocolate, and more. There are only nine ingredients in this simple Italian liqueur cake and the multicolour sprinkles give it a fun look.
Get the Recipe: Easy Italian Christmas Zuccotto Cake

Limoncello Panna Cotta

A truly delicious classic Italian dessert, limoncello panna cotta with fresh berries is definitely something you should try. It’s straightforward to make, even if you don’t often make desserts, and the combination of fresh berries, limoncello liqueur, lemon zest, and cream is just mouthwatering. Words can’t do this amazing Italian dessert enough justice – you’ll just have to make lemon panna cotta yourself and then you’ll see!
Get the Recipe: Limoncello Panna Cotta

Festive Gingerbread Pizzelle Recipe

This gingerbread pizzelle recipe makes authentic Italian Christmas pizzelles. These holiday cookies have a crisp texture and delicious ginger snaps flavour. Aromatic cinnamon, ginger and cloves add a spicy touch to the pizzelle cookies, while molasses gives them a rich sweetness. This Christmas cookie is a holiday tradition.
Get the Recipe: Festive Gingerbread Pizzelle Recipe

Super Easy No Bake Cannoli Cones

Looking for an easy way to make cannoli? These no bake cannoli cones are fun to make. You don’t need to use the oven or stove and there is no deep-frying or dough-making involved here. So if you want to keep cool while the weather is warming up, this is a nice dessert recipe.
Get the Recipe: Super Easy No Bake Cannoli Cones

Lemon Ricotta Amaretti Budino Cake

The bundt pan is essential for creating the classic shape of this Italian dessert, which is a delightful combination of sweet and tangy flavors. Whether you enjoy it for a holiday celebration or a casual gathering, this lemon ricotta amaretti budino cake will surely please.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Amaretti Budino Cake

Torta Di Ricotta {Italian Ricotta Cheesecake}

This dessert is a simple ricotta cheesecake that was saved for special occasions and holidays. This double-crusted ricotta cheesecake is loaded with chocolate chips, rum-soaked raisins, and pine nut brittle, making it the highlight of holiday festivities.
Get the Recipe: Torta Di Ricotta {Italian Ricotta Cheesecake}

Authentic Italian Tiramisu

This Authentic Italian Tiramisu features homemade airy ladyfingers that are layered in between light mascarpone cream, rich espresso, and a touch of cocoa finish. Dolce vita! You have to make this recipe, no excuse!
Get the Recipe: Authentic Italian Tiramisu

Ferrero Rocher Cake

This Ferrero Rocher cake is the ultimate celebration cake with moist chocolate hazelnut sponges, silky Nutella mousseline cream (cooked chocolate pastry cream enriched with Nutella and butter), lots of crunchy hazelnuts, and crushed Ferrero Rocher chocolates.
Get the Recipe: Ferrero Rocher Cake

Italian Cannoli Pound Cake

My Italian Cannoli Pound Cake topped with a creamy white chocolate ganache, is the perfect dessert for the winter season. But I love the rich, tender crumb of this moist pound cake all year long. Loaded with chocolate chips with a delightful cinnamon flavor, this cake is sure to be a hit with your whole family.
Get the Recipe: Italian Cannoli Pound Cake

Italian Almond Cake

This Italian almond cake has a moist, dense almond cake with citrus undertones, topped with toasted almonds. This recipe is fast and easy and is ready start to finish in less than 45 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Italian Almond Cake

The Best Italian Lemon Pizzelle Cookie Recipe

We love to serve this traditional recipe with powdered sugar and a little bit of lemon curd drizzled on top.
Get the Recipe: The Best Italian Lemon Pizzelle Cookie Recipe

Limoncello Tiramisu

Bright, sunny days call for bright, sunny desserts and nothing brightens the end of a meal quite like a lemon dessert. Limoncello tiramisu is a citrusy take on an Italian classic, with limoncello soaked ladyfingers layered between clouds of an ethereal limoncello cream. Limoncello Tiramisu is a delicious no-bake dessert that’s both easy and elegant.
Get the Recipe: Limoncello Tiramisu

Strawberry Balsamic Delight

When you taste how refreshing and delightful this recipe is, you will want to make it often. Only three ingredients for a most delicious strawberry balsamic delight. Enjoy!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Balsamic Delight

Italian Castagnole Recipe

Those Italian castagnole are fried dough balls with a tender texture inside and slightly crispy on the outside. They are sweet, aromatic, and the perfect treat to celebrate the Carnival season!
Get the Recipe: Italian Castagnole Recipe

Sweet Ricotta and Pear Crostata

This Sweet Ricotta and Pear Crostata is an amazing italian dessert that can be made for special occasions. A delicious recipe that it looks so pretty on the tables.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Ricotta and Pear Crostata

Italian Ricotta Pie

Italian ricotta pie, also known as ricotta crostata is a classic Italian dessert very popular all over the country. The recipe consists of a pie filled with creamy ricotta cheese and chocolate chips, and the pie crust is made with a traditional Italian dough called pasta frolla.
Get the Recipe: Italian Ricotta Pie

Italian Macarons Recipe

Learn how to make the most delicious Italian macaron recipe, which is made with meringue powder. This easy and quick dessert recipe will be a hit at your next party!
Get the Recipe: Italian Macarons Recipe

Cannoli Recipe

Prepare this Cannoli Recipe to recreate the sweet Italian treat. These homemade cannolis have the perfect crisp shell with a sweet and soft center.
Get the Recipe: Cannoli Recipe

Cannoli Dip

Cannoli Dip is light and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness – the perfect party pleaser! This easy Cannoli Dip recipe has just 5 ingredients and takes just minutes to make. Perfect with all your favorite dippers.
Get the Recipe: Cannoli Dip

Italian Cream Cake Recipe

This made-from-scratch Italian cream cake is all kinds of indulgent! Simple to make, this sheet cake is perfectly moist and sweet and every bite is truly delicious!
Get the Recipe: Italian Cream Cake Recipe

White Chocolate Limoncello Truffles

If you love lemon, White Chocolate Limoncello Truffles will make you a very happy person! Prepared with white chocolate, lemon zest, and limoncello liqueur, these truffles are perfectly sweet and sour. These pale yellow delights will melt in your mouth!
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Limoncello Truffles

The Best Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake Recipe

This Italian lemon olive oil cake uses everyday ingredients but is packed full of delicious fruity flavors. Made with fresh lemon juice and zest, this cake is both light and tender.
Get the Recipe: The Best Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake Recipe

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!
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Caramel Affogato

Hazelnut Panna Cotta With Caramel Sauce

Imagine taking a bite out of a velvety smooth cloud infused with the rich and nutty essence of hazelnuts. Each spoonful is a symphony of delicate sweetness with subtle hints of caramel. Truly a decadent dessert.
Get the Recipe: Hazelnut Panna Cotta With Caramel Sauce

Ricciarelli

Ricciarelli are chewy Italian almond cookies that originated from Siena. They’re easy to make, gluten free and perfect for Christmas!
Get the Recipe: Ricciarelli

Overnight Oats Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert that we all know and love. It boasts a harmonious blend of coffee-soaked savoiardi biscuits, creamy mascarpone, and a hint of cocoa
Get the Recipe: Overnight Oats Tiramisu

Best-Ever Walnut Vegan Biscotti Recipe

If you are looking for vegan biscotti, chances are you are looking to elevate your teatime and may or may not have already tried it!
Get the Recipe: Best-Ever Walnut Vegan Biscotti Recipe

Italian Cream Cheesecake

Two layers of classic Italian Cream Cake and a complementary layer of coconut pecan cheesecake sandwiched in the middle make for one amazing dessert!
Get the Recipe: Italian Cream Cheesecake

Italian Almond Cookies

These Italian almond cookies are surprisingly quick and easy to make with five ingredients and they taste incredible! They make for especially great Christmas cookies and are naturally grain-free, gluten-free and dairy-free.
Get the Recipe: Italian Almond Cookies

Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake

A beautiful Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake made with Pistachios and White Chocolate. This festive Christmas tree-shaped cake is a super fun and impressive Italian dessert, yet it won’t take you longer than 15 minutes to make! Spend less time in the kitchen and more time celebrating the festive season!
Get the Recipe: Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake

Decadent Chocolate Italian Love Cake

Decadent and rich cake with a silky smooth topping, Chocolate Italian Love Cake is the perfect end to any meal. A chocolate lovers dream dessert.
Get the Recipe: Decadent Chocolate Italian Love Cake

Homemade Torrone Italian Nut Nougat

Homemade sweet treats are always good, especially homemade torrone! This Italian Christmas candy with roasted nuts is sweet, chewy and delicious. Italian nut nougat is also simple to prepare. Famous soft torrone comes from Alba, Siena, Cremona, and Benevento, but you can make your own white nougat which is just as tasty with almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, or pecans.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Torrone Italian Nut Nougat

Bomboloni – Italian Doughnuts

Make a batch (or two) of bomboloni, traditional Italian doughnuts filled with rich pastry cream. These are the perfect party treats that are insanely yummy and artisanal-looking.
Get the Recipe: Bomboloni – Italian Doughnuts