14 Scrumptious Italian Desserts

Cherry Cassata Torte

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

Boccone Dolce Meringue

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.

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Apple-Fig Cake (Torta di Mele)

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.

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Chocolate Cannoli

Chocolate Cannoli

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

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Pear Frangipane Crostada

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?

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Classic Tiramisu

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.

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Coffee-Raspberry Zabaglione Semifreddo

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.

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Strawberry Granita

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.

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Lemon Olive Oil Cake

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.

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Tiramisu Semifreddo

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.

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Mascarpone Cheesecake with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote

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.

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Classic Zabaglione

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.

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Little Hazelnut-Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

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.

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Lacy Florentines

Lacy Florentines

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

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Genoise in Strawberry Vin Santo Sauce

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.

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