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51 recipes for all your favourite Italian desserts

There's crostata, panna cotta and cannoli galore, plus tiramisù, of course. Buon appetito!
Italian desserts recipe for crostata

How to make crostata recipe

James Moffatt (main)

In Italy, “dolce” is more than just a word – it’s a way of life. So, no wonder we’ve fallen in love with every traditional Italian dessert imaginable.Italian desserts are enchanting. Each sweet indulgence tells a story of centuries-old culinary traditions and modern gastronomic artistry from the regions, from the popular northern Italian dessert panna cotta to Calabrian fruit and nut pastries (Pitta ‘mpigliata).

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In our collection of best Italian desserts, we have recipes for tiramisù with layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and luscious mascarpone; semifreddo variations for the warmer months and celebratory feasts; Flour & Stone’s Italian Easter cake recipe (that we’d gladly eat year-round); and classic Italian treats such as cannoli, ricotta cheese fritters with honey, and bomboloni. Plus, a couple of easy Italian desserts to have on hand.

Here are our favourite Italian dessert recipes.

Photo: Alicia Taylor

How to make sorbet (peach, plum and strawberry)

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Photo: Brett Stevens

How to make semifreddo

Photo: William Meppem

Ricotta fritters with honey and figs

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Classic tiramisù

Photo: William Meppem

Curtis Stone’s yoghurt panna cotta with strawberries and rosewater

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Photo: Ben Dearnley

Jaci Koludrovic’s caramelised Marsala pear crostata

Photo: Chris Chen

Cannoli

Baci di dama
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Baci di dama

Photo: William Meppem

Ricotta gelato with espresso praline

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Hazelnut tiramisù
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Pinbone’s hazelnut tiramisù

Roasted white chocolate and ricotta cannoli
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Roasted white chocolate and ricotta cannoli

Macadamia panna cotta
Photo: Will Horner

Macadamia panna cotta

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Coffee caramel panna cotta

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Photo: Ben Dearnley

Dan Pepperell’s hot cross cannoli

Photo: John Paul Urizar

How to make bombolini, step by step

Photo: William Meppem

Flour and Stone’s Italian Easter tart

Photo: John Paul Urizar

Alistair Wise’s sfogliatelle

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Photo: William Meppem

Orange-scented schiacciata

Photo: Chris Court

Panettone

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Colomba Pasquale

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Guy Grossi’s globi (Italian ricotta doughnuts)

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Photo: Vanessa Levis

Cassata

Photo: Anson Smart

Ricotta and pecorino tarts (casadinas)

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Sweet Italian Easter bread

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Calabrian dried fruit and nut pastry (Pitta ‘mpigliata)

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Photo: Chris Court

Passionfruit semifreddo

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Cuddura Cull’ova (Sicilian Easter biscuits)

Bonet
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Bonet

Photo: William Meppem

Monte bianco

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Photo: William Meppem

Guy Grossi’s supa piazentina (Venetian trifle)

Photo: Chris Chen

Espresso zeppole with Marsala mascarpone

Torrone semifreddo
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Lupino’s torrone semifreddo

Chocolate, fig and hazelnut semifreddo
Photo: William Meppem

Chocolate, fig and hazelnut semifreddo

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Strawberries and cream semifreddo
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Strawberries and cream semifreddo

Photo: Chris Chen

White nectarine granita

Peaches and raspberries with prosecco zabaglione
Photo: John Paul Urizar

Peaches and raspberries with prosecco zabaglione

Photo: William Meppem

Torta Caprese

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Torta nera
Photo: William Meppem

Torta nera

Torta di moscato
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Cafe di Stasio’s torta di moscato

Panettone with honeycream and berries
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Panettone with honeycream and berries

Sour cherry amaretti
Photo: Prue Ruscoe

Sour cherry amaretti

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Amore di polenta (polenta cake)
Photo: Ben Dearnely

Stefano de Pieri’s amore di polenta (polenta cake)

Chocolate cannoli
Photo: William Meppem

Chocolate cannoli

Photo: William Meppem

Italian cherry cake

Photo: William Meppem

Sorbetto di arancia

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Photo: William Meppem

Frittelle di mele

Photo: Chris Chen

Cicerchiata

Photo: Amanda McLaunchlan

Crostata di marmellata

Panettone with honeycream and berries
Photo: Ben Dearnley

Panettone with honey-cream and berries

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Photo: Ben Dearnley

10 William St’s tiramisù

James Moffatt

How to make crostata

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