20 Irresistible Italian Dessert Recipes That Go Beyond Gelato

Italy is famous for its delicious food, and desserts are no exception! While gelato is a popular choice, there's a whole world of Italian sweets to explore. From creamy cakes and crumbly cookies to rich puddings and fluffy pastries, Italian dessert recipes offer something for everyone.

In this post, we'll share 20 delectable Italian dessert recipes that go beyond gelato. We'll cover classic favorites like Tiramisu and Cannoli, as well as lesser-known gems you'll love to discover.

Tiramisu

Treat yourself to our amazing Italian Tiramisu recipe that's easy to make and tastes fantastic! This dessert has layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, smooth mascarpone cream, and a touch of liqueur. Get the recipe.

Soffioni Abruzzesi (Sweet Ricotta Pastries)

Soffioni Abruzzesi are cute little Italian cupcakes or muffins filled with fluffy Ricotta cream. They are easy to make and are an excellent addition to any occasion. Get the recipe.

Affogato

Enjoy a traditional Italian affogato made with hot, rich espresso poured over top of creamy, ice-cold gelato. It's a flavorful dessert or afternoon treat that has incredible contrasting temperatures just the right amount of sweetness. Get the recipe.

Homemade Torrone

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.

Italian Ricotta Pie

This Italian ricotta pie recipe has a delicately flavored creamy ricotta filling beautifully encased in a sweet pie dough that's buttery, light and flaky. It's a classic dessert in Italian households, especially during Easter and the holiday season. The best part? You can easily make it at home with just a few simple ingredients. Get the recipe.

Moscato Zabaglione

Zabaglione is a frothy light Italian custard whisked with sugar and wine. It's perfect for when you want to impress some guests plus it's ready in less than 15 minutes. Get the recipe.

Tiramisu Cheesecake Mini Trifles

A delicious dessert for chocolate lovers, these individual tiramisu cheesecake mini trifles are indulgent and yummy. They’re not hard to prepare and you don’t need many different ingredients either. Get the Recipe.

Cranberry Biscotti

If you’re looking for the best Biscotti recipe, then you’ve come to the right place! These biscotti are vegan and flavored with pumpkin for a delicious fall treat! They’re topped off with some lemon glaze that makes them the ultimate cookie for fall! They go perfectly with coffee or tea. Get the recipe.

Raspberry Coconut Panna Cotta

This 15-minute easy vegan Raspberry Panna Cotta is creamy, rich and literally foolproof. With no gelatin, it is so easy, you can make it every day. Perfect for any occasion. Get the recipe.

Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

This delicious, easy Italian Lemon ricotta cake is by far one of the best lemon desserts you will ever try. Made with fresh lemons, creamy ricotta cheese, and a hint of vanilla extract, it has a gently sweet, citrusy flavor and an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth texture that resembles a moist sponge cake. Get the recipe.

Peach and Blueberry Crostata

This easy dessert recipe combines peaches and blueberries in a simple Italian style free-form tart, like a galette! It's an easier alternative to pie and perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Get the recipe.

Amaretti Cookies

All Italian cookies are wonderful, but gluten free amaretti cookies just have to be one of the best ever! They go amazingly with coffee or another drink, and are the perfect snack at the end of a long day. This is the first of many Christmas baking ideas for this year. Get the recipe.

Strawberry Tiramisu

Strawberry Tiramisu has layers of fresh, juicy strawberries, rich, delicious cream filling, and orange liqueur-infused ladyfinger cookies. Get the recipe.

Anise Almond Biscotti 

These dry and crispy biscotti have the classic addition of almonds and optional anise seed. Dunk in your favorite hot beverage! Get the recipe.

Lavender Chocolate Panna Cotta

Indulge in an earthy silkiness of aromatic lavender, comforting chocolate, and zingy blueberries in this sophisticated and creamy Lavender Chocolate Panna Cotta dessert. Get the recipe.

Panforte

This easy Panforte is a festive and delicious Christmas recipe that you can make ahead of time and then serve for Christmas dessert or at cookie exchange. Get the recipe.

Italian Chocolate Salami – Salame di Cioccolato

A famous no bake treat all over Italy, Italian chocolate salami is a delicious combination of shortbread cookies, Amaretto liqueur and chocolate. It’s a delicious dessert which makes a nice edible Christmas gift. This chocolate log is made to resemble salami and it is known as salame di cioccolato in Italy. Get the recipe.

Nutellotti – Italian Nutella Cookies

Do you love Nutella? I can’t get enough of it and have been known to enjoy it straight from the jar! These tasty chocolate and vanilla flavored cookies is topped with a sweet and creamy Nutella topping. Nutella thumbprint cookies like these are perfect for the Nutella lover in the family. Get the recipe.

Sicilian Ricotta Cannoli Filling

Traditional Cannoli are a staple of Sicilian cuisine and have been enjoyed for generations. The crispy shell holds a creamy ricotta cheese filling that makes cannoli special. With this recipe, you can make the best Sicilian ricotta cannoli filling and create this delicious and authentic Italian dessert at home.

Italian Ricotta Cookies

Italian Ricotta Cookies are always popular!  Our recipe for Italian Ricotta Cookies. Soft, tender and fluffy sprinkle cookies with a cake-like texture that melts in your mouth will have them asking which bakery they came from! Get the recipe.

More Recipes from Lavender & Macarons

Looking for the ultimate comfort food that's easy to whip up? Look no further than dinner bakes! From gooey cheese to tender meats and hearty veggies, dinner bakes have it all. With just a few staple ingredients and a baking dish, you can create a satisfying meal that will warm both body and soul. We Found the Ultimate Comfort Food: 17 Easy Dinner Bakes