List of Italian desserts and pastries

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This is a list of Italian desserts and pastries. Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian desserts have been heavily influenced by cuisine from surrounding countries and those that have invaded Italy, such as Greece, Spain, Austria, and France. Italian cuisine is also influenced by the Mediterranean climate and agriculture.

Characteristics[edit]

Italy has an extremely diverse range of cuisines, due to the large amount of influences throughout its history. Peaches, lemons, and pears are popular fruits for recipes, as well as sweet cheeses, such as ricotta and mascarpone.[1] Coffee, especially espresso, are integral to Italian culture and cuisine, and is featured frequently in dessert recipes, such as tiramisù. The usage of a cold dairy dessert, such as ice cream or gelato, was introduced to the Western world through Italy.[2]

Italian desserts[edit]

A[edit]

Name Image Description
Affogato Espresso served with a scoop of ice cream
Africanetti Emilian sweet made with egg yolks, sugar and butter
Africani [it] Biscuits made with egg yolks and sugar, originally from Galatina, Apulia
Amaretti [it] Biscuits made with almonds, egg whites and sugar
Amaretti di Saronno Biscuits from Saronno, Lombardy, made with apricot kernels, almonds, egg whites and sugar
Angel wings Fried dough shaped into ribbons and coated in powdered sugar

B[edit]

Name Image Description
Baci di dama Sandwich cookie made with hazelnuts and chocolate, originally from Tortona, Piedmont
Baicoli Venetian biscuits made with butter, sugar, eggs, flour and yeast
Barbajada Milanese drink made from whipped chocolate, milk, and coffee
Baxin Ligurian sweet made with anise seeds and flour
Befanini [it] Tuscan Epiphany biscuits
Bensone Emilian oval-shaped cake
Bicciolano [it] Biscuits from Vercelli, Piedmont, made with flour, butter, eggs and spices
Biscione reggiano Snake-shaped Christmas cake from Reggio Emilia
Biscotti del Lagaccio [it] Genoese biscuits made with flour, butter, sugar and aniseed
Biscotti regina Sicilian biscuits coated with sesame seeds
Biscottini di Prosto [it] Biscuits from Piuro, Lombardy
Biscotto di Castellammare [it] Biscuit created in 1848 in Castellammare di Stabia, Campania
Bocconotto Abruzzese Christmas pastry filled with almonds and chocolate
Bombolone Italian doughnut, filled with typically custard, chocolate, cream, or jam
Bracciatello [it] Romagnol sweet made with flour, eggs and sugar
Bracciatello cesenate [it] Soft biscuit from Cesena, Emilia-Romagna
Brigidino di Lamporecchio [it] Aniseed biscuits from Lamporecchio, Tuscany
Bruttiboni Biscuit made from almonds or hazelnuts
Budino Pudding made from milk and egg custard, typically topped with a crust or whipped-cream topping
Bussilan Emilian ring-shaped cake

C[edit]

Name Image Description
Camporelli Ladyfinger-like biscuits made from sugar, flour, and eggs
Canestrelli Biscuits made with semolina and confectioner's sugar
Canestrelli novesi [it] Piedmontese biscuits made with flour, white wine, olive oil, sugar and salt
Cannarìculi Lucan and Calabrian fried pastries made with flour, olive oil, cooked wine and must
Cannolo siciliano Sicilian rolled, crispy dough filled with ricotta
Cannolo [it] Puff pastry filled with custard or zabajone
Cantucci Almond biscuits from Prato, Tuscany
Cartellate Apulian and Lucan Christmas fried sweets
Cartoccio di ricotta [it] Sicilian fried dough pastry filled with ricotta
Cassata Sicilian round sponge cake made with ricotta, marzipan and candied fruit
Castagnaccio Chestnut flour cake
Castagne del prete Campanian oven-baked chestnuts with wine
Castagnole Carnival pastries
Caterine [it] Doll or hen-shaped chocolate biscuits from Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna
Cavallucci Tuscan pastry made with anise, walnuts, candied fruits, coriander, and flour
Caviadini [it] Lombard biscuits
Celli ripieni Abruzzese pastry filled with grape jam, walnuts, almonds and orange zest
Ciambella Ring-shaped cake made using flour, milk, sugar, and vanilla flavoring
Cicerata Lucan Christmas sweet
Cicerchiata Fried balls of dough covered in honey
Colomba di Pasqua Easter cake made with candied orange and almonds, originally from Milan, Lombardy
Confetti Almonds covered in dyed, sugar coating
Confetti di Sulmona Sugar-coated almonds from Sulmona, Abruzzo
Crema reggina Spoon sweet from Reggio Calabria made with zabajone, rum, cherries and cinnamon
Croccante Almond brittle
Crocetta di Caltanissetta Sweet pastry from Caltanissetta, Sicily, made from almonds, sugar, sweet lemon purée, oranges or other fruit, pistachio and icing sugar
Crostata Baked tart or pie
Crustuli Calabrian Christmas pastry made with must, red wine, vermouth, olive oil, honey and flour
Cuccidati Sicilian fig cookies
Cudduraci Calabrian Easter pastry
Cullurelli Calabrian Christmas fried pastry
Cuore d'Abruzzo Abruzzese cake made with almonds, candied fruit and chocolate
Cupeta Dessert made from honey, dissolved sugar and diced almonds
Cuzzupa Calabrian Easter cake

F[edit]

Name Image Description
Ferratella Anise-flavoured waffle cookies
Fiadone Cheese-filled pastry
Fichi impaccati Dried figs filled with almonds and fennel seeds
Finocchini [it] Piedmontese biscuits made with fennel seeds, aniseed, flour, eggs and honey
Frutta di Martorana Sicilian imitation fruits made from marzipan

G[edit]

Name Image Description
Gelato Italian dessert similar to ice cream, thicker in consistency
Genoise Sponge cake made with melted butter whipped into the dough
Gianduja Chocolate made from hazelnut cream, originally from Piedmont
Gianduiotto Piedmontese chocolate made from sugar, cocoa, and hazelnuts
Giurgiulena Sicilian Christmas sweet made with almonds, sesame seeds, honey and sugar
Graffe Neapolitan sugar-coated fried doughnuts
Granita Sicilian ice dessert made from sugar, water and various flavorings

L[edit]

Name Image Description
Ladyfinger Long biscuit, typically used in tiramisù
Lattacciolo Abruzzese spoon sweet made with milk, eggs and sugar

M[edit]

Name Image Description
Margheritine di Stresa [it] Biscuits created in 1857 in Stresa, Piedmont
Maritozzo Enriched bun filled with whipped cream
Marron glacé Chestnuts candied in sugar syrup
Marzipan Confection consisting primarily of sugar, honey, and almond meal
Migliaccio campano Campanian Carnival cake made with millet, semolina, ricotta, orange zest, eggs and sugar
Ministeriale Medallion-shaped chocolate created in Naples in 1905
Mistocchina Chestnut-flour pastry from Emilia-Romagna
'Mpanatigghi Sicilian pastries filled with almonds, walnuts, sugar, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves and minced meat
Muccellato Calabrian Easter cake
Mustacciuoli Pastry with a spiced, cake-like interior, covered in chocolate
Mustazzoli Pastries made with flour, sugar, almonds, lemon and cinnamon

N[edit]

Name Image Description
Nacatole Calabrian anise-flavoured doughnuts
Neapolitan ice cream Ice cream featuring three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry
Nevola Abruzzese pastry made with grape must, cinnamon and orange zest
Nocciolini di Canzo Sweet crumbly small cookies from Canzo, Lombardy
Nucàtuli [it] Sicilian biscuits filled with figs, raisins, almonds, walnuts, orange and lemon zest.
Nutella Sweetened hazelnut spread
'Nzuddha Human or animal-shaped pastry from Soriano Calabro

P[edit]

Name Image Description
Pan dell'orso Abruzzese cake made with almond flour, bitter almonds, eggs, butter and honey
Pan minisc' Lucan dessert made with grape must, flour and sugar
Pandoro Traditional Veronese sweet bread in a star-like formation
Panettone Milanese sweet bread featuring dried fruits
Panforte Chewy Tuscan Christmas dessert containing fruits and nuts
Panna cotta Dessert of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin and molded
Panpepato Round sweet bread with nuts and dried fruit
Papassinu [it] Sardinian pastry filled with grape must, almonds, raisins and walnuts
Parrozzo Abruzzese Christmas cake
Pasta di mandorle Almond paste
Paste di meliga [it] Piedmontese biscuits made with flour, maize flour, eggs, sugar, honey, butter and lemon zest
Pasticciotto Pastry filled with ricotta cheese and egg custard, originally from Lecce, Apulia
Pastiera Neapolitan tart made with cooked wheat, eggs, ricotta cheese, and flavoured with orange flower water
Pepatelli Abruzzese biscuits made with flour, honey, almonds, orange zest and pepper
Petrali Christmas pastry from Calabria made with coffee, vino cotto, figs, walnuts, almonds, raisins, orange and mandarine zest
Pignolata al miele Balls of dough fried and covered in honey
Pignolata glassata Soft pastry, covered in chocolate and lemon-flavoured syrup or icing, originally from Messina, Sicily
Pinza Traditional dessert flan with pine nuts, dried figs, raisins, fennel seeds and grappa
Pinza bolognese Jam-filled pastry
Piparella [it] Sicilian and Calabrian biscuit made with flour, honey and almonds
Puoti Biscuits from the province of Verona, Veneto
Purceddhruzzi Christmas dessert
Pitta 'mpigliata Christmas cake from Calabria filled with dried fruits, honey and spices
Pitta di San Martino Christmas pastry from Calabria

R[edit]

Name Image Description
Raffiolini [it] Biscuits from Caltanissetta, Sicily
Raffiuoli Neapolitan sugar-coated sponge cake
Ricciarelli Traditional biscuits from Siena, Tuscany – specifically, a type of macaroon
Roccocò Neapolitan pastry made with spices, almonds, flour and sugar
Rosacatarre Molisan and Lucan rose-shaped fried sweets

S[edit]

Name Image Description
Sanguinaccio dolce Pudding made from pig's blood which is made creamy and sweetened with ingredients such as chocolate, milk, pine nuts, and raisins
Sannacchiudere Lucan Christmas sweets with orange blossom water and honey
Scarpedd Lucan Christmas fried dough
Semifreddo Frozen dessert similar to ice cream, with the main ingredients being egg yolks, sugar, and cream
Serpentone Snake-shaped cake made with almond paste, almonds and candied cherries
Sfinge Sicilian doughnut sprinkled with powdered sugar
Sfogliatella Neapolitan shell-shaped cream-filled Italian pastry
Sgaiozzi Abruzzese fried pastries made with flour, potatoes, raisins and sugar
Sguta Easter cake from Calabria
Sise delle monache Abruzzese pastries filled with custard
Spongata Christmas cake made with almonds, white wine, butter, honey, walnuts, hazelnut, pine nuts, raisins, candied orange and spices
Spumone Neapolitan molded gelato made with layers of different colors and flavors, usually containing candied fruits and nuts
Stomatico [it] Biscuit from Reggio Calabria made with flour, honey, cinnamon, cloves, almonds, olive oil and sugar
Struffoli Neapolitan dish made of deep fried balls of sweet dough and honey
Sugolo Dessert pudding prepared with the must of red grapes, flour and sugar, cooked slowly and then left to cool
Susamielli S-shaped Christmas pastries from Naples

T[edit]

Name Image Description
Taralli Cracker similar to a breadstick--can be sweet or savory
Taralli di Sant'Antonio Biscuits from Giuliano Teatino, Abruzzo
Tartufo di Pizzo Gelato covered and filled with melted chocolate, originally from Pizzo, Calabria
Tegola dolce [it] Aostan biscuit made with flour, almonds, hazelnuts, butter, eggs and sugar
Testa di moro Neapolitan sponge cake with custard and cocoa
Tiramisù Dessert made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone, flavoured with cocoa
Torcetti [it] Piedmontese biscuits
Torrone Nougat made with honey, sugar, and whipped egg whites, then filled with roasted pistachios and almonds
Torrone di Guardiagrele Nougat from Guardiagrele, Abruzzo, made with toasted almonds, candied fruit and cinnamon
Torrone gelato Calabrian soft nougat made with almonds, candied fruit, citrus and dark chocolate
Torrone Nurzia Abruzzese nougat made with cocoa, vanilla and almonds
Torta Barozzi Thin, crispy cake made from chocolate and coffee, originally from Vignola, Emilia-Romagna
Torta caprese Cake from Capri, Campania, made with chocolate and either almonds or hazelnuts
Torta della nonna
Cake filled with custard and covered with pine nuts and confectioner's sugar
Torta delle rose Mantuan cake made with leavened dough rich in butter and sugar, which is rolled up and placed in the baking tin, taking the characteristic shape of a basket of rosebuds
Torta Elvezia Mantuan cake made with almond flour, eggs, butter and sugar
Torta monferrina Piedmontese cake made from pumpkin, or apples and sugar, with amaretti, chocolate, eggs, and rum
Torta setteveli Chocolate cake with seven layers of hazelnut cream, hazelnut crunch, chocolate mousse, and a glaze
Torta Tre Monti Sammarinese dessert consisting of thin waffle slices with interwoven layers of cream, then covered in chocolate
Tricotto [it] Sicilian thrice-cooked biscuit

U[edit]

Name Image Description
Uovo sbattuto Beverage that consists of egg yolk and sugar

Z[edit]

Name Image Description
Zabaione Piedmontese dessert beverage made with egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine
Zeppole Fried dough dessert with powdered sugar
Zirotto [it] Biscuit from the province of Padua made with maize flour, fig syrup and must
Zuccherini bolognesi [it] Bolognese biscuits
Zuccherini montanari [it] Emilian and Tuscan biscuits
Zuccotto Tuscan semi-frozen, chilled dessert made with alchermes liqueur, cake and ice cream
Zuppa Inglese Dessert layering custard, alchermes and sponge cake
Zelten Traditional Tyrolean fruitcake served during Christmas

Italian pastries[edit]

Chocolate and pistachio biscotti

See also[edit]

Media related to Sweet food of Italy at Wikimedia Commons

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sert, Ayşe Nevi̇N (30 November 2017). "Italian Cuisine: Characteristics and Effects". Journal of Business Management and Economic Research. 1 (1): 49–57. doi:10.29226/jobmer.2017.4.
  2. ^ "Italians, Chinese, Arabs – who invented ice cream?". South China Morning Post. 18 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Definition of biscotti in English". Oxforddictionaries.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
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