40 Italian desserts

Easy Italian dessert recipes

Classic tiramisu

Whip up our smart, authentic version of this classic Italian dessert, made with mascarpone, marsala and savoiardi biscuits soaked in coffee and Tia Maria.

Italian Easter cake

Give this traditional Italian Easter cake a go this spring – it’s a yeasty bake that's similar to a panettone.

White chocolate panna cotta with stewed rhubarb

White chocolate provides a perfect contrast to the sharpness of the rhubarb in this classic, creamy dessert.

Rhubarb frangipane cake

This recipe from Italian restaurant Manteca pairs tangy rhubarb with ground almonds in this nutty sponge. Serve with crème fraîche for an easy dessert.

Blood orange polenta drizzle cake

Change up the classic lemon drizzle with juicy blood oranges. Our polenta cake is easy to make and the ideal sweet treat to accompany your morning coffee.

Matcha tiramisu

Sweet mascarpone cream and bitter matcha are a match made in heaven in this vibrant dessert. You'll only need five ingredients for this no-cook recipe.

Espresso panna cotta

Try our recipe for silky-smooth espresso panna cotta. This dessert is an ideal way to end any dinner party, it's gluten-free and looks impressive served in martini glasses.

Limoncello baba

Limoncello offers a boozy kick with zingy lemon in this smart Italian dessert. This recipe serves up to eight, perfect for a dinner party.

Affogato chocolate mousse

Check out this quick and easy chocolate mousse recipe with espresso for an Italian twist. If you're hosting a dinner party and looking for an indulgent yet easy dessert that can easily be made ahead, try these gluten-free creamy puds – ready in 15 minutes.

Sgroppino

Serve this cocktail-dessert hybrid for an easy yet impressive end to an Italian-inspired al fresco dinner.

Italian lemon cake

Give our Italian almond and Amalfi lemon cake a go. The Amalfi lemons have a strong intense lemony aroma, and are slightly sweeter than normal lemons. This light cake is seriously moreish and a real crowd pleaser.

Pandoro semifreddo

Recreate our easy yet standout semifreddo, where chocolate and amaretto semifreddo is encased in an Italian pandoro bread and topped with crunchy pistachios.

Cannoli

If you’re into Italian sweet treats, you’ll love these homemade cannoli – you’ll need cannoli moulds but it’s worth investing in them.

Butterscotch budino

Budino – an Italian custard dish – is here flavoured with butterscotch, a kick of whisky and a salted caramel topping to make a stylish sweet dessert.

Zuccotto

Perfect for entertaining, try our version of a classic Italian chocolate cake with sponge, chocolate and a splash of booze.

Boozy tiramisu bombe

Everyone loves a boozy, coffee-flavoured Italian tiramisu and this is a great easy version, made with shop-bought sponge cake and without raw eggs and shaped like an ice cream bombe.

Warm molten chocolate and salted caramel tarts

Molten chocolate and salted caramel tarts take a little bit of effort to make, but are sure to impress guests. The recipe comes from Italian restaurant Luca, where it's served with milk ice cream – but vanilla would work well, too.

Chocolate and hazelnut meringue semifreddo

The Italian dessert, semifreddo, is an ice cream with a mousse-like texture. This recipe not only looks impressive, but can be made in advance for easy dinner party entertaining. Plus, there's no churning required.

Italian hazelnut and chocolate torte

This rich decadent chocolate torte may look tricky but it's so easy to put together for a dinner party. The secret is coating the outside with a layer of crunchy hazelnut and biscuit.

Cherry and pistachio Neapolitan

Showcase Italy’s best flavours – cherry, vanilla and pistachio – coloured like the Italian flag to impress guests with this effortless dessert.

Sicilian ricotta cake

Wow your dinner party guests with this creamy baked ricotta cake, studded with chocolate chunks.

Panna cotta with cherry and ginger sauce

Learn how to make the best version of this Italian dessert. The perfect panna cotta (‘cooked cream’ in Italian) should be just set enough to hold together, but soft and creamy enough to melt in the mouth. Gelatine is the secret to this texture and it can be a tricky ingredient to handle – but follow these simple rules and you’ll have it mastered in no time.

Raspberry granita with balsamic caramel

Mix up your caramels and try this raspberry granita with balsamic caramel to get your taste buds tingling. The natural sweetness of the sharp Italian vinegar works brilliantly with the zing of the soft fruit. It totally works so go on, give it a go!

Nougat and pistachio ice cream

Elevate your dinner party effortlessly with this no-churn ice cream. Amp up the fancy factor with chocolate-dipped ice cream cones.

Amalfi lemon syllabub

Try this refreshing lemon dessert from Italian restaurant Bancone in Covent Garden. Bancone's easy recipe makes more lemony granita than you’ll need – store any leftovers in the freezer.

Coffee cake with cappuccino buttercream

Try our super easy coffee slab cake – an American favourite with an Italian twist. This recipe is nut-free and comes with an indulgent cappuccino buttercream, a simple yet moreish cake, perfect for parties, birthdays or just family gatherings. More tray bake recipes here...

Strawberry zabaglione

Marsala, the key flavour in this, is a perfect match for strawberries in this fresh twist on the Italian dessert zabaglione. Don’t over-beat the cream, otherwise combining it with the zabaglione will be difficult. Whisk until it is barely in soft peaks and then gently fold together.

Coconut panna cotta with mango salsa

This classic Italian dessert gets a tropical twist by infusing the cream with coconut and topping with a zingy mango and passionfruit salsa.

Italian tiramisu

Layers of coffee-soaked sponge fingers and whipped mascarpone make for an authentic Italian tiramisu, finished with dark chocolate shavings.

Passion fruit panna cotta

This fruity and super creamy twist on panna cotta is quick and easy to make, plus it can be made easily in advance.

Vegan tiramisu

Vegans needn’t miss out thanks to this knockout plant-based tiramisu. The sponge is made with soy milk and apple cider vinegar.

Vanilla panna cotta

Try this super-simple, super-creamy, classic Italian dessert – it's the ideal way to impress guests at your next dinner party.

Italian Christmas cake

Torta alla nocciola, an Italian chocolate hazelnut cake, celebrates a classic combination and is deliciously indulgent. It makes for a great dinner party dessert.

Panforte

This Italian dessert is popular for its chewy texture, with pistachios, almonds and dried fruits offering a nutty and sweet flavour.

Classic panettone

Panettone is a classic Italian Christmas bake, traditionally slow-proved for 72 hours. We've used fast-action yeast to create an easy, make-at-home version.

Christmas pavlova

In this dessert by Covent Garden restaurant Ave Mario, individual pavlovas are filled with caramelised pineapple, topped with vanilla-infused cream and finished with a passionfruit coulis.

Pistachio and cherry nougat pandoro

Stuff pandoro with a decadent ricotta, almond and amaretto filling and cover in meringue. It's easy to assemble with shop-bought shortcuts.

Classic biscotti

These twice-baked biscuits are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. They are traditionally made with skin-on almonds that give a delicate nutty flavour.

Espresso martini tiramisu

Need a show-stopping Italian dessert? Make our creamy tiramisu with espresso, kahlúa and vodka. This indulgent recipe is easy to make and will be a hit with all your friends.

Florentines

These crunchy biscuits would make a great dessert alternative to serve with coffee. Otherwise, hang them from ribbons as an edible Christmas tree decoration or stack them on a plate and enjoy them with a comforting cup of tea.