6 Italian Desserts That Aren't Tiramisu

These sweet treats are easier than you might think. Make them and experience la dolce vita.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Updated November 06, 2024
Devan Grimsrud
Strawberries and Cream Semifreddo Slices Cascading on a Platter Next the Rest of the Uncut Semifreddo on the Same Platter. Semifreddo Is Topped With Halved Fresh Strawberries and Strawberry Compote. In the Surroundings, a Bowl of Fresh Strawberries and a Stack of Plates.

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

The Italian phrase, la dolce vita, literally means "the sweet life." I'm turning to these 6 easy Italian desserts to help bring some of that sweet life into my kitchen. These recipes span the gamut from frozen treats to hot chocolate, with tips and tricks from Simply Recipes contributors to make them foolproof. Buon appetito!

  • 3-Ingredient Torta Di Noci (Calabrian Walnut Cake)

    3-ingredient cake

    Simply Recipes / Devan Grimsrud

    "With this recipe, it's imperative that you separate the eggs properly. The key is to avoid breaking the yolks. You want absolutely no egg yolks in the egg whites—you'll have to start your egg whites over because they won't become stiff." —Devan Grimsrud, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Easy Panna Cotta

    Panna Cotta Topped With Summer Berries and a Berry Sauce in a Bowl, and on the Counter a Spoonful of Panna Cotta With a Raspberry and Blueberry

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "If you don’t want to bother with unmolding the panna cotta, you can also simply pour the mixture into pretty dishes and serve them as is!" —Sally Vargas, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Ciambellone

    slice of ciambellone on a plate with a fork, and in the background, a cup of coffee, more cake on a platter, and table napkins

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "With this cake, it’s very important to use room-temperature ingredients for the batter to mix properly." —Mark

  • Apple Crostata

    A plate of corstata
    Elise Bauer

    "We've included directions for making a simple butter crust. You can also use a store-bought crust (flat or folded, not in a pie tin) to save time." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder

    Continue to 5 of 6 below

  • Italian Cornmeal Cake

    A slice of golden cornmeal cake garnished with raspberry jam, fresh raspberries, and a scoop of ice cream

    Simply Recipes / Robin Asbell

    "After making this cake for over 20 years, I've learned a few tweaks. The original recipe called for grinding almonds into almond flour, but I prefer to use store-bought almond flour because it’s tricky to grind almonds as finely as they need to be." —Robin Asbell, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Cioccolata Calda (Italian Hot Chocolate)

    Two mugs of Cioccolato Caldo con Latte (Italian Hot Chocolate) in small white mugs with biscotti

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "It’s easy to accidentally keep the mixture on the stove for a second too long and end up with hot pudding. If you do, just copy my mom and stir in some extra hot milk; the result is just as delicious as ever." —Georgia Freedman, Simply Recipes Contributor

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