Italian Desserts List

Italian cuisine is one of the most popular and loved cuisines of the world. No matter how stuffed I am, if you happen to mention a pasta or a gelato, I am sure I can always have an extra space in my stomach created for that. Just like the pasta, pizza and lasagna, Italian desserts are also that popular and quite a treat, I must say. For all those who want to familiarize themselves with these I have an list right here for you. Read on, but just see that your salivary glands stay in check!

List of Italian Desserts

Anisette Cookies - These are traditional Italian cookies flavored with anise extract. You can have them with a lovely frosting on top.

Biscotti - Biscotti or biscotti di Prato are Italian biscuits made with hazelnut and aniseed. They are also available in different flavors of nuts, lemon and also orange rind. The specialty about these biscotti recipes is that they are cooked twice and therefore can be had with wine or coffee.

Cannoli - Next is a Sicilian pastry that consist of tube shaped shells made of pastry dough. The filling inside the shell contains ricotta cheese and succade. The literal meaning of cannoli or cannulicchi is not bigger than a finger. The filling inside just melts in your mouth with a lingering flavor.

Cassata - This is among the traditional desserts from Palermo, Italy. Cassata contains round sponge cake with fruit juice or liqueur and of course no Italian dish is complete without a layer of cheese. Cassata also has a layer of ricotta cheese on it that makes it even more difficult to resist.

Crostata - It is a tart. This tart can be filled with fruits like cherries, peaches or apricots. Another yummy addition to this is pastry cream and ricotta cheese. When topped with fruits this dessert becomes crostata di frutta.

Gelato - It is one of the most the most popular desserts, easy to make and eat as well. The reason behind this is that apart from being sinfully delicious, it does not add on the extra pounds. Gelato is a variant of the traditional ice creams with only 4 to 8 percent butter fat.

Granita - Granita is a Sicilian dessert, made from ice sugar and different flavorings. It can be as fine as sorbet or a little more coarse, but in any case it tastes amazing.

Pandoro - This is a sweet Italian bread made especially during Christmas and New Year. It is served with vanilla scented sugar that resembles the snowy peaks during Christmas.

Pastiera - This is an Italian cake with its origin in Naples. It is a traditional dessert again made with ricotta cheese, pastry cream and eggs.

Semifreddo - This is my favorite Italian dessert which consists of ice cream cakes, custards (semi-frozen) and tarts. The whipped cream topping is mouth-watering!

Sfogliatelle - These are shell shaped pastries which resembles leaves. It is topped with frosting and sugar to give it a perfect look.

Tiramisu - An irresistible rich, creamy dessert. A tiramisu can lift your spirits and take you to a new world of joy! It is a sort of cake made with biscuits and dipped in coffee with a layer of mascarpone and flavored liqueur and cocoa.

Zabaione - It is a dessert made using egg yolks, sugar and wine. It is like a custard which is traditionally served with figs.

These were the Italian desserts that will make anyone's mouth water. If you think you want to make one of these, take a look at Italian cooking and Italian dessert recipes which are available on Buzzle. A perfect Italian meal followed by the yummiest dessert, would bring on the broadest smile on your face.