If there’s one thing that Italy is famous for, it’s its cuisine. Pizza, spaghetti, and a slew of other typical Italian dishes spring to mind right away. But we’d be negligent if we didn’t mention dessert, which is everyone’s favourite part of any dinner.
Dessert is essential to the Italians. So much so that you won’t have to worry about whether or not dessert will be served after dinner. A resounding S, s! is always the response!
There are so many sweet delicacies to choose from, but make sure to sample these 14 of Italy’s tastiest desserts. You may have to cover some area to locate these regional favourites while you’re there. The gastronomic conflict, on the other hand, is genuine. We’re always on the lookout for new places to visit for delights!
Italy’s dessert
Dessert in Italy is distinct from dessert in other countries. Dolci, or Italian sweets, are often significantly smaller. A few bites of sweetness are the ideal way to conclude any meal. After dinner, or even on a quiet Sunday afternoon, you’ll never witness an Italian devouring a banana split.
Their sweet pleasures are a tiny cone or cup of gelato or a small dessert to accompany a meal. The same may be said about Italian coffee beverages. The large Starbucks dessert beverages with sprinkles and caramel aren’t available (ugh). All you need is a fair shot of espresso or a well-crafted and attractive little coffee drink.
That’s one way to get a nutritional surprise. There’s more space for pizza!
Like all Italian cuisine, desserts vary significantly from season to season and area to region. The sweet delicacies provided in one part of the nation against another have significant regional characteristics. Each region has its distinct features.
One thing is guaranteed, regardless of your preferences. You will not be disappointed if you visit Italy. Some of the most incredible sweets in the world may be found here.
So please sit back, unwind, and bring your appetite (along with your stretchy pants) because we’re going to get our hands dirty. Here are 12 of Italy’s most traditional and delectable delicacies.
Where to Find the Best Desserts in Italy
1. APPLE STRUDEL
What is the most proper place to look for the best? Trentino-Alto Adige’s South Tyrol
Traditional apple strudel may not come to mind when thinking of Italian desserts, but in this vast northern region of Italy, where the craggy peaks of the Dolomites tower over green mountain meadows and hearty fare like dumplings reign supreme on every menu, apfelstrudel is one of South Tyrol’s most beloved foods and one of the most traditional Italian desserts you’ll find.
With so many apples available all year, it’s no surprise that strudel and other baked products like dumplings and tortes are famous. If you prefer apple pie, the strudel you’ll discover in Trentino-Alto Adige will be up there with the greatest you’ve ever tasted!
2. GELATO
What is the most proper place to look for the best? Everywhere!
When you think of Italy, you usually think of an Italian going around with a cup of gelato. Perhaps the most well-known Italian dessert is this tastier alternative to ice cream.
What’s more, you don’t need a reason to enjoy yourself. Gelaterias may be found in any area of Italy at any time of day, making it one of the country’s favourite street snacks or delicacies are eaten al passegio!
The options are endless, from classic favourites like pistachio and stracciatella (sweet cream with chocolate chips) to unusual flavours like ricotta and liquorice.
So, what distinguishes it from ice cream? We didn’t expect you to inquire. In various ways, the frozen dessert varies from traditional ice cream.
To begin with, gelato contains far less fat than ice cream in the United States since it is produced with more milk than cream. It’s also served at a little higher temperature, so it doesn’t freeze as hard.
Traditional ice cream is also beaten with air and water to give it more weight and volume, making it less thick and delicious. It also has a longer shelf life due to the increased fat.
Gelato is not designed to be kept in the refrigerator. It’s created in tiny quantities and frozen immediately to keep it fresh and tasty, and the best is eaten only days after it’s made. It also won’t be served with an ice cream scoop. The genuine article is filled with a flat spade.
While we’ve never had a horrible gelato experience, we advise avoiding gelaterias that serve garish neon flavours in every hue of the rainbow. The most significant goods are generally found in the more traditional-looking establishments.
3. TIRAMISU
What is the most proper place to look for the best? Veneto’s Treviso
This mood-lifting Italian dessert translates to “pick-me-up” since it’s made with coffee-soaked ladyfingers and layers of mascarpone cheese. Although it is not essential, the sweet dessert can be infused with liquor.
While this dessert originated in Italy, it was not until it became popular in the United States that it began to appear on menus in most restaurants.
Tiramisu is now one of the most famous Italian desserts in the United States. It’s always eaten with a spoon, whether it’s served in a single glass or sliced like a cake. Fruit, such as strawberries, or even Nutella, might be used as a variant.
4. CANNOLI
What is the most proper place to look for the best? Sicily
The famous Italian Dolci originate in Sicily and are perhaps the most representative of Sicilian cuisine. Don’t ask for “one cannoli” since the term cannoli is plural (cannolo is single).
The sweetened ricotta cheese is poured within the fried tube-shaped shells, occasionally coated in chocolate, candied fruit, or pistachios. Cannoli is a classic Sicilian delicacy that can be found all across the nation.
The creamy filling may also be blended with chocolate or chocolate chips, depending on where you are in Italy.
So, how can you know which ones are the best? Look for instances containing just shells. Filling the tubes as soon as needed protects them from becoming wet.
5. COTTA PANNA
What is the most proper place to look for the best? Piedmont
This traditional Italian dish, which means “baked cream,” comes from Piemonte, a region of Italy known for its dairy products. Fresh cream is thickened with gelatin and set in a dome-shaped mould until it is firm enough to stand alone.
Fresh fruit can be added to the custard-like delicacy, which can also be drizzled with chocolate or caramel sauce. Coffee, vanilla, and other flavourings may be added to the cream in different versions.
