Dolce: Italian Dessert Recipes
The meal isn’t over in Italy until something sweet, or dolce, hits the tongue. Go simple with fresh fruit and biscotti, or step it up with a rich Italian indulgence.
Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne
©2009, Jeremiah Alley
Photo By: Renee Comet ©Renee Comet
Gelato Affogato
Get the Recipe: Gelato Affogato
Sfogliatelle
Flaky, golden-brown layers of dough melt away to reveal a creamy ricotta filling. Even though a pastry this beautiful looks difficult to make, the prep actually takes less than 30 minutes — waiting for the dough to rest overnight is the longest part of the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Zeppieri's Sfogliatelle
Tiramisu
Get the Recipe: Tiramisu
Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze
Giada's cookies are light and zesty. Creamy ricotta keeps them moist and fresh, while tangy lemon zest balances out the sweet glaze.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze
Italian Ice
Get the Recipe: Italian Ice
Espresso Chocolate Mousse with Orange Mascarpone Whipped Cream
A little bit of espresso powder in the chocolate mousse and orange zest in the whipped cream is all you need to make a fresh and satisfying spin on a dessert favorite.
Get the Recipe: Espresso Chocolate Mousse with Orange Mascarpone Whipped Cream
Chocolate Sformato with Amaretto Whip Cream
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Sformato with Amaretto Whip Cream
Amaretto Tiramisu for Two
Amaretto liqueur and amaretti cookies are the key ingredients for this easy take on tiramisu, portioned perfectly for two.
Get the Recipe: Amaretto Tiramisu for Two
Chocolate Hazelnut Zeppole
Instead of eating an entire jar of chocolate-hazelnut spread by the spoonful, pipe it into homemade zeppole — aka Italian doughnuts.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Zeppole
Castagnaccio: Chestnut Flour Cake
Get the Recipe: Castagnaccio: Chestnut Flour Cake
Souffle al Cioccolato
Get the Recipe: Souffle Al Cioccolato
Carla's Torta di Ricotta
Get the Recipe: Carla's Torta Di Ricotta
Biscotti Di Prato
These biscotti, with raw almonds, orange zest and a light sugar glaze, are crunchy, sweet and absolutely perfect for dipping into a traditional glass of Vin Santo at the end of your meal.
Get the Recipe: Biscotti Di Prato
Risotto al Cioccolator: Chocolate Risotto
Get the Recipe: Risotto Al Cioccolator: Chocolate Risotto
Bruti Ma Buoni
Get the Recipe: Brutti Ma Buoni
Gianluca's Cioccolatini: Chocolate Martini
Get the Recipe: Gianluca's Cioccolatini: Chocolate Martini
Lingue di Gatto: 'Cat Got Your Tongue' Cookie
Get the Recipe: Lingue di Gatto: Cat Got Your Tongue Cookie
Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar
Get the Recipe: Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar
Hazelnut Crunch Cake with Mascarpone and Chocolate
Get the Recipe: Hazelnut Crunch Cake with Mascarpone and Chocolate
Ricotta With Vanilla-Sugar Croutons and Berries
Get the Recipe: Ricotta with Vanilla-Sugar Croutons and Berries