Are you ready to indulge in the sweetest flavors this holiday season with our guide to traditional Italian Christmas desserts? Christmas is a holiday season where you get to enjoy delicious food with your family and friends. Italian Christmas desserts fill the diner’s table with festivity.
Our easy to make Italian Christmas dessert recipes will transport you to Italy with every bite. So, roll up your sleeves and be ready to impress your loved ones with these traditional Italian Christmas Desserts.
Easy Italian Christmas Dessert recipes to make
If you need to get more familiar with traditional authentic Italian desserts! Whether you prepare it for yourself or the whole family. These desserts are easy to make and will surely add festive cheer to your holiday season.
What sweet is a Christmas tradition in Italy?
When in Italy, you must get a panettone or pandoro as a traditional treat. Both are sweet breads with different toppings.
Best Italian Christmas Desserts:
If you are looking for the best and delicious Italian Christmas Desserts we have gathered 26 of our favorites.
1. Italian Panettone
Panettone is a traditional Italian Christmas dessert. It is a bread made of yeast and shaped like a tall cylindrical dome. Studded with raisins, candied fruits, and sometimes nuts and chocolate chips.
It is similar to a light sponge cake and is often served sliced into wedges. It is beautiful on your Christmas table.
2. Zepolle
Zepolle is one of the famous Italian Christmas desserts known for its decadent flavor and unique texture. It is a deep-fried doughnut made from flour, yeast, water, and sugar. It is filled with sweetened ricotta cheese or cream.
3. Italian Cookies
Though Italian cookies are made of simple ingredients, which entails time and attention.
Italian cookies vary in size, shape, and flavor. Amaretti are made of almonds that are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. Biscotti are cookies baked twice and known for their crunchy texture. Canolli is fried shells that are filled with cream cheese filling.
4.Italian Easter Cookies
Aside from Christmas, Easter is also a significant holiday in Italy. It is also celebrated with different sweet treats such as Italian Easter Cookies.
5. Mini Chocolate Panettone
Mini chocolate panettone is a sweet bread originated in Milan and is enjoyed by Italians during the holiday season.
6. Tiramisu
Tiramisu is an iconic and traditional Italian Christmas dessert that is a staple at holiday gatherings. It is loved by many because of its creamy texture and indulgent taste. In this phase, we will introduce you to how to make such a beloved dessert in Italy.
7. Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake
Pandoro means “golden bread,” which initially came from Verona, Italy. It is a soft and spongy Christmas tree cake with the pastry cream filling of your choice.
8. Chocolate Toto
Chocolate Toto is a traditional Italian Christmas dessert that came from the region of Calabria. It is a soft and fluffy bread with a rich chocolate filling with a hint of orange zest.
9.Tiramisu Semifreddo
Tiramisu Semifreddo has the same ingredients as the classic Tiramisu. However, the difference is the whipped cream is folded into the mascarpone to create a fluffy texture.
10. Pizzelle
Pizzelle is an Italian Christmas dessert. It is thin, crisp waffle cookies made with a special iron and a grid design. It is richly flavored with lemon, anise, or vanilla. This cake is best enjoyed when sprinkled with powdered sugar or drizzled with chocolate.
11.Cannoli
Cannoli is a delicious treat consisting of crispy fried pastry shells filled with creamy ricotta cheese filling. It is often garnished with powdered sugar, candied fruits, or chopped pistachios. With delicious vanilla extract flavor.
12. Cannoli Dip
Cannoli Dip is a delectable and easy to make Italian Christmas dessert. That is perfect for pastries and best served with a variety of dippers such as pretzels, fresh fruit or biscotti.
13. Italian Struffolli
Italian Struffolli is bite-sized fried balls that are coated in honey and sprinkles. These are traditional Italian Christmas desserts are usually served with other sweet treats. This Italian Christmas recipe is known for its crispiness on the outside and chewy on the center.
14. Panna Cotta
Panna Cotta is a creamy, smooth, indulgent, traditional Italian dessert perfect for Christmas. It can be served with fruit compote, plain, or drizzled with caramel or chocolate sauce.
15.Panettone Bombe (Christmas Ice Cream Cake)
Panettone Bombe, or Christmas ice cream cake, is like a traditional Panettone. However, it is served with scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream on top.
16. Torrone
Torrone is an Italian Christmas dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth and leave you are carving for more. This Italian nougat candy is soft and chewy yet light and airy making it easy to savor every little bite.
17. Italian Mostaccioli Cookie
Get your taste buds ready with this mouth-watering Italian Christmas recipe. Mostaccioli cookies are delectable treats with their signature rectangular or diamond shape glazed with chocolate or icing.
18. Amaretti
Get ready to fall in love with this Italian Christmas dessert recipe. Amaretti Cookie is an almond-based treat with a crunchy exterior and moist center.
19. Italian Cream Cake
Italian Cream Cake is made up of moist and fluffy layers of cake. That are perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the frosting and the crunchiness of nuts, making it an absolute delight.
20. Canestrelli
Are you looking for an indulgent Italian Christmas dessert recipe? Canestrelli is small, crumbly, shortbread cookies with butter and a nutty flavor.
21. Panettone Bread Pudding
This easy Italian dessert recipe will highlight your Christmas feast. Panettone Bread Pudding is a delectable combination of rich buttery Panettone, sweet and juicy raisins, and creamy custard.
22. Italian Rainbow Cookies
Italian Rainbow cookies are also known as Italian Flag Cookies, Tri-Color Cookies, and even 7-Layer Cookies. This Italian Christmas dessert recipe will brighten up any holiday table because of its vibrant colors.
23. Zuppa Inglese (Italian Trifle)
Zuppa Inglese actually means “English soup,” which is far from its natural appearance. It is an indulgent trifle with layers of sponge cake, creamy custard, and sweet liqueur.
24. Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake
If you want to try a refreshing Italian Christmas cake, Lemon Olive Oil Cake will definitely give you a satisfying taste. This cake will provide you with a touch of lemon zest with a fluffy texture that bursts with flavors.
25.Homemade Panforte
Homemade panforte is an Italian Christmas dessert that has been enjoyed for centuries in Italy. It is a dense, chewy cake packed with dried fruits, nuts, and warming spices.
26.Sicilian Cassata Cake
The combination of sponge cake, candied fruits, and creamy ricotta filling makes the Sicilian Cassata cake is delightful. It is a traditional dessert that has been enjoyed in Sicily for generations with a dusting of powdered sugar.
More Christmas Dessert Recipes:
