4 Italian Desserts to Try — Plus My Favorite Tiramisu Recipe

When you think of Italian food, pizza and pasta probably come to mind first. But Italy has another delicious claim to fame: dessert! From creamy, coffee-infused treats to light pastries and gelato, Italian desserts are often simple, elegant, and simply delicious.

Here are four Italian favorites worth trying.

 Tiramisu 

My personal favorite! The name tiramisu roughly translates to “pick me up,” which seems appropriate for a dessert made with espresso. Layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and a rich mascarpone cream are finished with a dusting of cocoa powder. It’s creamy, slightly bitter from the coffee, and not overly sweet. This is truly on top of my dessert list and I will never forget a homemade version I had at a family party in Boston. It was absolutely to die for, that good!

Cannoli

A classic Sicilian dessert, cannoli are crispy pastry tubes filled with sweetened ricotta cream. You’ll often find them finished with chocolate chips, pistachios, or candied fruit. The contrast between the crunchy shell and creamy filling is what makes them so irresistible.

Panna Cotta

The name means “cooked cream,” and that’s essentially what this elegant dessert is. Cream, sugar, and gelatin create a silky, delicate pudding that’s often served with fresh berries, fruit sauce, or caramel. It’s wonderfully simple but feels fancy enough for a dinner party.

Italian Gelato 

What’s a trip to Italy without gelato? Although gelato is technically different from American-style ice cream, both are deliciously creamy frozen treats. Gelato generally contains less air and is served slightly warmer, giving it a wonderfully smooth and dense texture. Popular flavors include pistachio, hazelnut, chocolate, and stracciatella, little pieces of chocolate scattered throughout the gelato. A fun bit of history: stracciatella gelato originated in Bergamo, Italy, in 1961, when gelato maker Enrico Panattoni created it at his restaurant, La Marianna.

My Favorite: Classic Tiramisu 

Tiramisu is one of my favorite Italian desserts, and it’s surprisingly easy to make at home. This version uses a gently cooked egg-yolk mixture for a rich, creamy mascarpone filling.

Serves: 6–8
Prep time: 30 minutes
Chill time: At least 6 hours, preferably overnight

Ingredients

• 6 large egg yolks
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
• 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
• 1½ cups strong espresso or coffee, cooled
• 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur, optional
• 24–30 ladyfinger cookies
• Unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting

Instructions

1. Prepare the coffee.
   Brew the espresso or strong coffee and let it cool completely. Stir in the coffee liqueur, if using.
2. Cook the egg yolks.
   Place the egg yolks and sugar in a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan containing a small amount of gently simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.

Whisk constantly until the mixture becomes pale, thick and creamy and reaches 160°F (71°C). Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.

3. Make the mascarpone cream.
   Whisk the mascarpone into the warm egg mixture until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until it forms stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until smooth and fluffy.

4. Assemble the tiramisu.
   Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the cooled coffee mixture. Don’t leave them in the coffee too long—they should be lightly moistened but still hold their shape.

Arrange a layer of ladyfingers in an 8-inch square baking dish.

Spread half of the mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers.

Add another layer of coffee-dipped ladyfingers, followed by the remaining mascarpone cream.

5. Chill.
   Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. This gives the ladyfingers time to soften and allows the flavors to come together.
6. Finish and serve.
   Just before serving, dust the top generously with unsweetened cocoa powder.

A Little Tiramisu Trivia

The name tiramisu is often translated as “pick me up,” a fitting name for a dessert made with espresso and cocoa!

Buon appetito! 

A little taste of Italy is always a good idea—especially when chocolate, coffee, and mascarpone are involved!