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Scrumptious Italian Desserts

Touting creamy gelato and richly delicious cakes, Italy produces some of the world's most beloved desserts. Crafted with simple but decadent ingredients, these Italian desserts are truly irresistible.

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Boccone Dolce Meringue with Chocolate Cream and Berries

Desserts don't get more decadent than this. Boccone dolce -- Italian for "sweet mouthful" -- features lavish layers of crisp vanilla meringue, drippy chocolate, cloudlike whipped cream, and market-fresh berries.

Start to Finish:

3 hrs 40 mins

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Cherry Gelato

Meet gelato: ice cream's indulgent Italian cousin. Orange peel and toasted almonds add zippy crunch to this very-cherry version, while pitted dark cherries provide nutrition and color.

Start to Finish:

5 hrs

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- Check out these stunning fruit desserts.
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Chocolate-Hazelnut-Filled Bombolini

So long, sprinkles and frosting! It's back to basics with these Italian doughnut holes. A package of instant mashed potatoes helps create the batter, while simple sugar and velvety chocolate-hazelnut cream dress them all up.

Start to Finish:

1 hr 58 mins

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Apple-Fig Cake (Torta di Mele)

Torta di Mele -- apple cake -- was inspired by the abundant apple orchards of Northern Italy. Every happy forkful of this fragrant fig version oozes with warm ginger goodness. Serve with a smear of honey-infused mascarpone.

Start to Finish:

1 hr 15 mins

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Chocolate Cannoli

With ricotta cheese, dark chocolate, and zippy orange peel, this version of a quintessential italian dessert marries a melange of delicious flavors.

Start to Finish:

1 hr

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Pear Frangipane Crostada

Bring the intoxicating flavors of Italian bakeries to your kitchen with this pretty almond crostada. Smeared with jam, studded with pears, and sprinkled with almonds, what's not to love?

Start to Finish:

1 hr 15 mins

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Classic Tiramisu

Ahh, tiramisu. The iconic Italian dessert continues to evoke oohs and ahhs, thanks to its addictive layers of liqueur-soaked ladyfingers and fluffy mascarpone cheese. Dust the dreamy dessert in cocoa powder to finish.

Start to Finish:

4 hrs 45 mins

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Make Perfect Tiramisu

The real secret to making fabulous tiramisu? It's all in the chilling time. Check out these quick tips!
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Coffee-Raspberry Zabaglione Semifreddo

Zabaglione (a sweet wine custard) meets semifreddo (a semifrozen fruit sorbet) in this delightful Italian dessert. Each forkful features raspberry-lemon sorbet sandwiched between two layers of whipped espresso topping, all on a crumbly amaretto crust.

Start to Finish:

37 hrs 10 mins

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Strawberry Granita

Granitas are intensely fruit-flavored ices popular in southern Italy. This one is zippy, light, and refreshing. Top with a spoonful of homemade lemon cream.

Start to Finish:

6 hrs 20 mins

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- Get our best fruit desserts here.
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Lemon Olive Oil Cake

Almonds, olive oil, and lip-smacking lemon liven up this light-as-air cake while a topping made of your favorite fruit makes it party-ready.

Start to Finish:

1 hr

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Chocolate-Dipped and Nut-Stuffed Apricots

Apricots are a staple in Italian cuisine. These chewy little fruit bites make the perfect sweet snack when stuffed with pistaschios and dipped in chocolate. Choose between white or dark chocolate -- or better yet, drizzle in both!

Start to Finish:

3 hrs 12 mins

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Tiramisu Semifreddo

Frozen tiramisu? Sold. Italy's finest flavors -- coffee, vanilla bean, and Kahlua -- come together to create this creamy cool twist. Enjoy the slew of sweet flavors atop a rich ladyfinger crust.

Start to Finish:

4 hrs 35 mins

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Mascarpone Cheesecake with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote

For an authentic Italian cheesecake, blend mascarpone with vanilla bean and cool cream cheese. Freeze the filling atop a crunchy amaretti cookie crust, then bedazzle with candylike fruit for a true taste of Italy.

Start to Finish:

6 hrs 53 mins

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Classic Zabaglione

Light and creamy, this classic custard is infused with sweet Marsala wine and freshly grated nutmeg. The homey dessert tastes fabulous when topped with fresh fruit or simply eaten alone.

Start to Finish:

28 mins

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Little Hazelnut-Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

In the Piedmont region of Italy, the duo of chocolate and hazelnuts flavors all kinds of desserts. Serve these sweet little cookie sandwiches with after-dinner espresso.

Start to Finish:

1 hr 6 mins

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Ricotta Mousse with Berries

Creamy ricotta cheese flavored with orange peel and orange liqueur is the perfect flavor contrast to a tart but sweet berry mixture.

Start to Finish:

1 hr 30 mins

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Sweet Ricotta with Amaretti and Fresh Plum Sauce

Macaroons flavored with sweet almonds are known in Italy as amaretti cookies. They make a delightful topper for this dreamy plum dessert.

Start to Finish:

4 hrs 30 mins

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Lacy Florentines

Sweet honey, spicy ginger, rich cream, and crisp almonds come together to make these delightful, light-as-air cookies.

Start to Finish:

48 mins

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- See our favorite cookie recipes here!
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Genoise in Strawberry Vin Santo Sauce

Genoise (zhen-WAHZ) is a rich, light-texture cake (similar to sponge cake) that originated in Genoa, Italy. Here, the cake is topped with a mouthwatering sauce spiked with Vin Santo, a rich, sweet Italian white wine.

Start to Finish:

1 hr 22 mins

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Raspberry-Almond Meringues

These melt-in-your-mouth raspberry and almond meringues are a lovely way to end a hearty meal on a sweet note.

Start to Finish:

2 hrs 35 mins

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Triple-Chocolate Gelato

Three kinds of chocolate make this oh-so-creamy gelato a no-brainer for chocolate-lovers. Best of all, it has fewer than 200 calories per serving and calls for just six ingredients.

Start to Finish:

6 hrs 50 mins

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Cherry Cassata Torte

This variation of cassata, a traditional Italian dessert often served at weddings, offers a heavenly cherry brandy-spiked ricotta and cream cheese filling flecked with almonds and dried cherries.

Start to Finish:

2 hrs 56 mins

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Next Slideshow All-Time Favorite Italian Recipes
All-Time Favorite Italian Recipes

Calling all spaghetti-lovers and pizza purists! You're going to fall for all of our delicious Italian recipes. These traditional dishes are our favorite Italian recipes -- ones you'll want to share, hand down, and save in your recipe box. Sure, we have classics like spaghetti bolognese and baked ziti, but be sure to start with bruschetta and end with tiramisu for the complete Italian experience!
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