List of Italian desserts and pastries

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 Italy has an extremely diverse range of cuisines, due to the many culinary influences throughout its history. Peaches, lemons, and pears are popular fruits for recipes, as well as sweet cheeses, such as ricotta and mascarpone. Coffee, especially espresso, are integral to Italian culture and cuisine, and is featured frequently in dessert recipes, such as tiramisù. Cold dairy desserts, such as ice cream and gelato, were introduced to the Western world through Italy.

List

A Name Image DescriptionAbbameleSardinian honey-based product Affogato Espresso served with a scoop of gelatoEmilian sweet made with egg yolks, sugar and butter Biscuits made with egg yolks and sugar, originally from Galatina, Apulia Lamb-shaped Easter sweet made of almond and pistachio paste, originally from Favara, Sicily Biscuits made with almonds, egg whites and sugarAmaretti di Saronno Biscuits from Saronno, Lombardy, made with apricot kernels, almonds, egg whites and sugar Tuscan and Emilian wafers filled with creamLombard maize-flour cake Angel wings Fried dough shaped into ribbons and coated in powdered sugar Mantuan ring-shaped cake of Swiss originsLombard almond cake Carnival sweets from Marche Orange zest candied in honey and almonds, originally from Sardinia

B Name Image Description Chocolate-covered hazelnuts from Cherasco, PiedmontLombard hazelnut sandwich cookies 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 Tuscan Epiphany biscuitsBensone Emilian oval-shaped cakeBerlingozzo Tuscan ring-shaped cakeBiancomangiare Sicilian and Sardinian almond spoon sweet Biscuits from Vercelli, Piedmont, made with flour, butter, eggs and spicesMantuan cake made up of beignets filled with zabajone, chocolate and whipped cream BisciolaLombard sweet bread made with buckwheat flour, figs, honey, raisins and walnutsSnake-shaped Christmas cake from Reggio EmiliaBoiled and oven-baked biscuits, originally from Ragusa, SicilySicilian sugar-coated biscuits prepared for the Day of the Dead Genoese biscuits made with flour, butter, sugar and aniseed Almond paste with cherry jam, originally from Ceglie Messapica, Apulia Tuscan cake flavoured with wine and aniseedBiscotti di San Martino Sicilian thrice-cooked biscuits flavoured with aniseedBiscotti regina Sicilian biscuits coated with sesame seeds Biscuits from Piuro, LombardyBiscuit created in 1848 in Castellammare di Stabia, Campania Rusk made with butter, eggs, flour and sugarBocconotto Abruzzese Christmas pastry filled with almonds and chocolate Bombolone Italian doughnut, filled with typically custard, chocolate, cream, or jamBonètPiedmontese custard dessert with amaretti and cocoaLombard sweet breadRomagnol sweet made with flour, eggs and sugar Soft biscuit from Cesena, Emilia-Romagna Ring-shaped cake from the province of Vicenza, Veneto Aniseed biscuits from Lamporecchio, Tuscany Sicilian brioche filled with gelato Sicilian brioche Brutti ma buoni Biscuit made from almonds or hazelnutsBuccellatiSicilian Christmas biscuits filled with honey, figs, oranges, spices, nuts and apricot jamBuccellato Sicilian cakeBuccellato di Lucca Sweet bread from Lucca, Tuscany Budino Pudding made from milk and egg custard, typically topped with a crust or whipped-cream toppingRice-based pastry, originally from Pistoia, TuscanyEmilian ring-shaped cakeMantuan cakeBustrèngRomagnol fruit cake

C Name Image DescriptionCoffee budino Easter cheese-filled sweets from MarcheMantuan pastries made with maize flour, raisins, pine nuts, cinnamon, vino cotto, cloves, butter, sugar and lemon zestGelato dessert from Trapani, SicilyChristmas almond sweet from Molfetta, Apulia Camporelli Ladyfinger-like biscuits made from sugar, flour, and eggsCanestrelliBiscuits made with semolina and confectioner's sugarPiedmontese biscuits made with flour, white wine, olive oil, sugar and salt Lucan and Calabrian fried pastries made with flour, olive oil, cooked wine and must Cannolo siciliano Sicilian rolled, crispy dough filled with ricotta Puff pastry filled with custard or zabajoneRomagnol sweet flatbreadCantucciAlmond biscuits from Prato, TuscanyChristmas fried pastries from southern Molise Pastry from Veneto filled with jam or honey and grappaPiedmontese fox grape cakeTuscan sweet flatbread made with aniseed, pine nuts and raisinsChristmas cake from Milan, containing apples and grapes Apulian and Lucan Christmas fried sweets Sicilian fried dough pastry filled with ricotta Cassata Sicilian round sponge cake made with ricotta, marzipan and candied fruit Sicilian fried dumplings filled with sheep ricotta, cinnamon and chocolate chipsCassatella di Agira Pastry filled with almonds, cocoa, chickpea flour, sugar and lemon zest, originally from Agira, Sicily Cassatella di sant'Agata Small Sicilian cassataCastagnaccioChestnut flour cakeCampanian oven-baked chestnuts with wine Carnival pastries Doll or hen-shaped chocolate biscuits from Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna Cavallucci Tuscan pastry made with anise, walnuts, candied fruits, coriander, and flour Lombard biscuitsAbruzzese pastry filled with grape jam, walnuts, almonds and orange zest Bolognese cake made with spices, honey, almonds, pine nuts and candied fruitMilanese cake made with stale bread, wine, apples, butter and sugar Cake filled with apricot jam, raisins and almonds, originally from Paullo, LombardyLombard fried pastry Round sweet from Montecatini Terme, Tuscany Ciambella Ring-shaped cake made using flour, milk, sugar, and vanilla flavouring Biscuit from San Cataldo, SicilyCiambella romagnolaRomagnol cakeWine-flavoured biscuits from Lazio Ring-shaped cake from Lucignano, Tuscany Umbrian Easter cake containing AlchermesLucan Christmas sweet Fried balls of dough covered in honey Cioccolato di Modica Specialty chocolate from Modica, Sicily Colomba di Pasqua Easter cake made with candied orange and almonds, originally from Milan, Lombardy Confetti Almonds covered in sugar coating, sometimes dyedConfetti di Sulmona Sugar-coated almonds from Sulmona, Abruzzo Sugar-coated almond from Agnone, MolisePiedmontese spoon sweet made with seirass cheese, whipped cream, eggs, Marsala wine, raisins and lemon zestLombard sweet made with honey, walnuts and wafersCornetto Venetian pastry descended from Austrian kipferlCotognata Quince gelLombard Mascarpone-based spoon sweet Sweet from Alghero, SardiniaJulian millefeuille with zabajone Espresso frozen dessert Pistachio cream or spread used for fillings, toppings, or eaten on its own. Custard made with cream and crème pâtissièreSpoon sweet from Reggio Calabria made with zabajone, rum, cherries and cinnamonCremino Piedmontese layered chocolate Piedmontese chocolate praline Siciliano rice-based fried doughnutsCroccante 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 pieCalabrian Christmas pastry made with must, red wine, vermouth, olive oil, honey and flourPiedmontese cake Ligurian jam-filled pastriesCuccìaSicilian sweet made with ricotta, boiled wheatberries and sugar Cuccidati Sicilian fig cookies Cinnamon-flavoured fried pastries from Delia, SicilySouthern Italian Easter cakeCalabrian Easter pastry Calabrian Christmas fried pastry Abruzzese cake made with almonds, candied fruit and chocolate Cupeta Dessert made from honey, dissolved sugar and diced almondsSweet from the province of Como, Lombardy Calabrian Easter cake

D Name Image Description Sponge cake made with Limoncello and lemon cream, originally from Sorrento, Campania Turinese vanilla-flavoured chocolateSweet bread from Bagnacavallo, RomagnaButtercream-based spoon sweet from Emilia-RomagnaSemolina cake from Atri, Abruzzo Romagnol sweet consisting in layers of savoiardi, buttercream, chocolate and Alchermes or Marsala Rice tart with rose water, pine nuts, almonds and candied fruit, originally from Vigevano, Lombardy

F Name Image DescriptionAlmond and cherry sweet from Turi, ApuliaFerratellaAnise-flavoured waffle cookiesFiadoneCheese-filled pastryMantuan sweet made with polentaDried figs filled with almonds and fennel seeds Piedmontese biscuits made with fennel seeds, aniseed, flour, eggs and honey Aostan cakePiedmontese sweet focacciaSweet Easter bread from VenetoCake from Treviso, VenetoFrìtołe Venetian fried doughnuts, eaten during CarnivalFried pastry made with rice, milk and sugarChristmas sweet from Marche made with figs and nuts Frutta martorana Sicilian imitation fruits made from marzipan

G Name Image Description Gelato Italian dessert similar to ice cream, thicker in consistencyGelo di melone Sicilian watermelon pudding Genoise Sponge cake made with melted butter whipped into the dough Sicilian custard-filled pastry Gianduja Chocolate made from hazelnut cream, originally from Piedmont Gianduiotto Piedmontese chocolate made from sugar, cocoa, and hazelnutsGiurgiulenaSicilian Christmas sweet made with almonds, sesame seeds, honey and sugarPiedmontese biscuitGraffeNeapolitan sugar-coated fried doughnuts Granita Sicilian ice dessert made from sugar, water and various flavourings Apulian sweet made with cooked wheat, pomegranate, cinnamon, walnuts and cooked mustGrattacheccaRoman hand-shaved ice topped with various syrups Ladin fried pastry filled with jam Sardinian sweets made from almond paste

I Name Image DescriptionIris Fried ricotta-filled doughnut, originally from Palermo, Sicily

K Name Image DescriptionFried doughnuts from Trentino South Tyrolean fried pastries filled with poppyseed jam or apricot jamKrumiri Biscuits created in Casale Monferrato, Piedmont, in 1878

L Name Image DescriptionLacabònHandcrafted candy from Alessandria, Piedmont Ladyfinger Long biscuit, typically used in tiramisùAbruzzese spoon sweet made with milk, eggs and sugarRomagnol spoon sweet made with milk, eggs, sugar and vanillaChilled and sweetened almond flavored drinkRomagnol milk-based spoon sweetLingue di gatto Cat tongueSweet from Marche made with figs, walnuts, almonds and star aniseedPiedmontese sweet made with peaches, butter almonds, eggs and sugarSnake-shaped Christmas cake from Marche

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