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What Are the Different Types of Italian Desserts?

Eugene P.
Eugene P.

Some Italian desserts, such as tiramisu, are known worldwide for their decadence and sometimes elaborate plating. Other desserts, such as zabaione custard, are known for their elegant simplicity. Italian desserts may be layered with fruits or filled with chocolate pudding. Savory rice pies and pasta desserts also are made. The amount of variation by region and taste is nearly endless.

The variety of baked cookies in Italy can be taken as an indication that they are among the favorite desserts there. One of the most popular examples of this is biscotti, a twice-baked almond cookie shaped like a long bar and dipped in coffee. Savoiardi are a thick lady finger cookie often used in tiramisu. Pizzelle are light, crisp cookies made on a special iron with a design in the surface and served with powdered sugar on top.

Italian desserts may be filled with chocolate pudding.
Italian desserts may be filled with chocolate pudding.

Many Italian desserts incorporate or feature fruit. Everything from apple tarts to simply serving sliced fruit with a plate of cheese and bread can be found on a menu of Italian desserts. One simple dish is to poach a peeled pear and then drizzle a red wine and cinnamon reduction over top of it. When berries are in season, a sweet, mixed-berry pudding can be made by baking the berries in a Bundt pan with flour, sugar, egg and vanilla until it just barely sets.

Gelato is a form of Italian ice cream, and is a delicious frozen dessert that comes in many flavors.
Gelato is a form of Italian ice cream, and is a delicious frozen dessert that comes in many flavors.

There are many famous Italian cakes and pies, as well. Tiramisu is a layer cake of ladyfingers — or savoiardi — dipped in liqueur and mascarpone cream and topped with cocoa. A flourless chocolate torte is a cake that is nearly pure chocolate and lightened only by whipped egg whites. One of the most luscious cakes for chocolate lovers, though, may be the chocolate budino cake that looks like a chocolate muffin but contains a pool of rich, warm chocolate pudding in the center.

Many Italian desserts have chocolate shavinges for extra flavor and appearance.
Many Italian desserts have chocolate shavinges for extra flavor and appearance.

A confectionary invention that is unique to Italian cuisine is the cannoli. A cannoli is a cylinder of thin dough that is deep fried or baked until it is crispy. Once the shell is complete, cream and other flavorings are piped inside the shell. The ends are traditionally dipped into chocolate shavings, chopped nuts or other small delicacies. The filling for a cannoli also can be flavored with nuts, chocolate, fruits or liqueur.

Many Italian desserts use anise extract for flavoring.
Many Italian desserts use anise extract for flavoring.

A special area of Italian desserts is the one encompassing puddings and frozen desserts. One of these is panna cotta, a baked cream dessert of sugar, cream and eggs topped with a layer of chocolate or caramel. Budino di riso is an Italian rice pudding with rum and orange. Finally, many people enjoy gelato, the sweet Italian ice cream. While gelato appears similar to ice cream, it has a sweeter, richer texture and slightly softer consistency.

Discussion Comments

discographer

@ddljohn-- Have you ever had cannolis? I think if you like eclairs, you will also like cannolis. They're also very good.

My favorite Italian dessert is profiterole. It's a thick and rich dark chocolate souffle with a few cream puffs hidden inside. For those who love chocolate, this is the ultimate Italian dessert. If I'm having a bad day, a cup of profiterole is enough to lift my spirits. I think of it as an antidepressant!

I've tried desserts from various European countries. After French desserts, Italian desserts are the best. Italians make use of all my favorite desserts. There is a lot of pastry, a lot of cream and a lot of chocolate involved.

ddljohn

My favorite Italian dessert is eclair. I love everything about eclairs. I love the pastry and the custard. I also had a very similar dessert but it had fruit instead of chocolate. I think that was also Italian. Italians seem to have the best custard. It's not too sweet like frosting, it's lighter in terms of sugar and fat, but it's still rich and very satisfying. I'd actually prefer custard over icing or cream any day.

candyquilt

I've been wanting to try panna cotta for the longest time. I've never had the opportunity. Italian desserts are actually attempted by many restaurants and even grocery bakeries in the US. But from my experience, they're either very good or very bad.

Many Italian desserts require very specific ingredients and a process of multiple steps. Substituting ingredients or changing the process even a little bit can impact the results significantly. I'm sure that simply because of the ingredients, the best Italian desserts are found in their homeland and nowhere else.

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    • Italian desserts may be filled with chocolate pudding.
      By: gdvcom
      Italian desserts may be filled with chocolate pudding.
    • Gelato is a form of Italian ice cream, and is a delicious frozen dessert that comes in many flavors.
      By: unpict
      Gelato is a form of Italian ice cream, and is a delicious frozen dessert that comes in many flavors.
    • Many Italian desserts have chocolate shavinges for extra flavor and appearance.
      By: Okea
      Many Italian desserts have chocolate shavinges for extra flavor and appearance.
    • Many Italian desserts use anise extract for flavoring.
      By: Bert Folsom
      Many Italian desserts use anise extract for flavoring.
    • Italian budino cake has a center filled with rich chocolate pudding.
      By: razmarinka
      Italian budino cake has a center filled with rich chocolate pudding.
    • Tiramisu traditionally includes ladyfingers, custard, and cocoa powder.
      By: claudio
      Tiramisu traditionally includes ladyfingers, custard, and cocoa powder.