Italian cuisine is not just pasta and pizza! Italian desserts also have a reputation for their incredible taste! There’s nothing quite like the amazing aroma of fresh citrus and creamy ricotta filling your home as you bake. Imagine the delight of biting into a light, fluffy, sweet pastry that practically melts in your mouth!

These classic Italian pastry recipes blend sweet and creamy flavors in unique ways, and the best part is they require just a little effort—no fancy equipment needed. So, if you’re craving something special, why not go through Grandma’s recipe box and create Italian dessert recipes that’ll wow everyone?

Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

This easy Italian lemon ricotta cake is a real treat! Made with fresh lemons, lemon zest, creamy ricotta cheese, and a splash of vanilla extract, it’s a classic Italian dessert that packs a punch of sweet, citrusy flavor. You won’t be able to resist the irresistible taste of those thick slices!
Get the Recipe: Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

Cantucci (Italian Almond Cookies)

Cantucci are a delicious Italian Christmas cookie that started in the Tuscan town of Prato. These crispy treats, made with egg, butter, flour, and sugar, are packed with crunchy almonds. They’re perfect for any individual with a sweet tooth, especially when paired with a glass of vin santo.
Get the Recipe: Cantucci (Italian Almond Cookies)

Taralli Recipe (Italian Pretzels)

Taralli is a tasty treat from a particular region of Puglia in Italy that’ll definitely tickle your taste buds. This classic recipe is very simple to make, featuring a no-knead dough with just a few ingredients: flour, extra-virgin olive oil, white wine, and salt. It’s an easy way to enjoy a piece of Italian tradition!
Get the Recipe: Taralli Recipe (Italian Pretzels)

Italian Cream Cake

This easy 3-layer Italian Cream Cake, also known as Italian Wedding Cake, is a delicious dessert bursting with flavors of coconut, walnuts, buttermilk, and cream cheese. It’s the perfect after-dinner treat for special occasions and tastes the best with a scoop of ice cream on top!
Get the Recipe: Italian Cream Cake

Italian Rainbow Cookies

Italian rainbow cookies are the talk of Italian cookies! These treats have layers of almond cake with raspberry jam in between and are coated in rich chocolate. They’re perfect for any occasion and will definitely steal the show!
Get the Recipe: Italian Rainbow Cookies

Bomboloni

Soft and light Italian Bomboloni doughnuts are a real delight with those creamy custard filling! These little pieces of dough, rolled in sugar and filled with creamy Italian pastry cream, are a treat from Italian bakeries—but you can make it at home. They’re perfect for breakfast or a sweet mid-day snack.
Get the Recipe: Bomboloni

Italian Lemon Mascarpone Cake

This lemon mascarpone cake is a real winner! It’s light, tender, and has a zesty flavor that’s hard to beat. The layers of cake and simple whipped cream frosting are a delightful twist on common desserts, making every bite a tasty treat.
Get the Recipe: Italian Lemon Mascarpone Cake

Apple Olive Oil Cake

For any occasion, this moist and flavorful Italian apple olive oil cake is one of the best things you can try if you love apples. You’ll need large eggs, all purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and a splash of lemon juice. Don’t forget to top it off with a sprinkle of icing sugar for extra sweetness!
Get the Recipe: Apple Olive Oil Cake

Creamy Sicilian Ricotta Pie

This easy Sicilian Ricotta pie with wonderful shortcrust pie dough and lemon ricotta filling is one of the creamiest, most delicious Pies!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sicilian Ricotta Pie

Italian Zeppole

These fried Italian Zeppole doughnut balls are crispy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, and nearly impossible to resist.
Get the Recipe: Italian Zeppole

Ricotta Cookies

Light, fluffy, and bursting with lemon flavor, these Ricotta Cookies are soft, cake-like cookies made with ricotta cheese and fresh lemons.
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Cookies

Best Authentic Italian Tiramisu

This classic tiramisu is a real Italian treat! It’s made with coffee-soaked homemade ladyfingers layered between creamy mascarpone and completed with a dusting of cocoa. Heavy cream is whipped and mixed with mascarpone cheese to make the filling extra smooth and dreamy.
Get the Recipe: Best Authentic Italian Tiramisu

Sourdough Maritozzi (Italian Sweet Buns)

Sourdough Maritozzi are Italian sweet buns filled with whipped cream. These buns are made with a sourdough brioche dough and are so fluffy!
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Maritozzi (Italian Sweet Buns)

Pasta Frolla: Italian Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

Pasta Frolla is Italy’s version of sweet shortcrust pastry, made with just flour, butter, eggs, and sugar. Here’s a tip for good luck: use unsalted butter to get that perfect flaky texture.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Frolla: Italian Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cake

This cannoli cake features moist vanilla cake with tangy cannoli frosting and tons of chocolate chips. Tastes like a cannoli in cake form!
Get the Recipe: Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cake

Zeppole Di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph’s Day Traditional Italian Pastries)

Zeppole di San Giuseppe are traditional Italian cream-filled pastries to celebrate the Italian holiday of St. Joseph’s Day. With fluffy, sweet dough and rich cream, these are the perfect treat for any time of year!
Get the Recipe: Zeppole Di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph’s Day Traditional Italian Pastries)

Frappe or Cioffe: Italian Bow Tie Cookies

These Italian bow tie cookies are as light as angel wings and taste heavenly, especially with a dusting of powdered sugar! Beautiful pastries!
Get the Recipe: Frappe or Cioffe: Italian Bow Tie Cookies

Pizzelle

Pizzelle (aka Ferratelle) is an authentic Italian recipe! They’re sweet and fresh with pastry dough, bright strawberries, and rich cream.
Get the Recipe: Pizzelle

Crunchy Sourdough Biscotti

Sourdough cantuccini biscotti are delicious when dipped into espresso. Quick and easy to make—perfect for a quick session in the kitchen!
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Sourdough Biscotti

Chiacchiere di Carnevale (Italian fried pastries)

Chiacchiere di Carnevale is an Italian sweet treat made of thin rectangles of dough deep-fried in olive oil or pork lard. They are slightly sweet and aromatic.
Get the Recipe: Chiacchiere di Carnevale (Italian fried pastries)

Italian Butter Cookie

Tired of the same old cookies you buy from the grocery store? This is the best Italian Butter Cookie Recipe you’ll ever try. The butter mixture is creamed together with sugar to form the base of this classic treat. Learn how to pipe Italian butter cookies so your cookies look swoon-worthy.
Get the Recipe: Italian Butter Cookie

Cannoli Poke Cake

This easy cannoli poke cake recipe tastes just like the cream-filled Italian pastry. It has a fluffy cake and a scrumptious, rich cream frosting.
Get the Recipe: Cannoli Poke Cake

Biscotti Della Tresca

Biscotti della Tresca is a traditional Italian cookie with a spongy texture, perfect for dipping! Make a big batch and share with your family!
Get the Recipe: Biscotti Della Tresca

Ciambelline al Vino: Italian Biscuits With Sourdough

These wine cookies with sourdough combine all the flavors associated with Italy: tart wine, aromatic olive oil, and fresh lemons. If you like, you can enhance the dough with crushed or ground anise seeds. In the area around Rome, Ciambelline al Vino is typically served as dessert and dipped in local wine. However, they also make a great snack for in-between and store very well.
Get the Recipe: Ciambelline al Vino: Italian Biscuits With Sourdough

Italian Sesame Cookies

A little crunchy, slightly soft in the middle, and subtly sweet, Italian Sesame Cookies are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. These classic Italian favorites get their nutty flavor from the toasted sesame seeds that coat the outside of the cookie and give it its crunchy texture.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sesame Cookies

Orange Cookies

Orange Cookies are crispy on the outside and light and airy on the inside with a sweet delicate orange flavor. Super easy recipe.
Get the Recipe: Orange Cookies

Pizzicati

Pizzicati, or Italian pinch cookies, are delicious buttery cookies filled with jam and sprinkled with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Get the Recipe: Pizzicati

Lemon Biscotti with Pistachios

Delicious lemon biscotti with pistachios dipped in white chocolate are easy to make and delightfully crispy!
Get the Recipe: Lemon Biscotti with Pistachios

Sicilian Orange Cake

If you’re bored with the usual sweet bread, try Sicilian Whole Orange Cake! This moist and delicious treat is bursting with orange flavor and is so easy to make. Top it with some fresh whipped cream lightly sweetened and flavored with orange peel zest for the perfect finishing touch!
Get the Recipe: Sicilian Orange Cake