Looking for Italian desserts to serve at your next dinner party? Want an easy Italian cake for a summer afternoon tea event? Try our dessert ideas including Italian biscuits to serve with coffee, chocolate tortes and, of course, plenty of panna cotta and tiramisu recipes.
Easy Italian dessert recipes
Classic tiramisu
Whip up our smart, authentic version of this classic Italian dessert, made with mascarpone, marsala and savoiardi biscuits soaked in coffee and Tia Maria.
Italian lemon cake
Give our Italian almond and Amalfi lemon cake a go. The Amalfi lemons have a strong intense lemony aroma, and are slightly sweeter than normal lemons. This light cake is seriously moreish and a real crowd pleaser.
Double chocolate Italian biscotti
These chocolaty almond biscotti make great edible gifts for the festive season, but are delicious all year round. Make them as a little treat to have with your coffee.
Panna cotta with cherry and ginger sauce
Learn how to make the best version of this Italian dessert. The perfect panna cotta (‘cooked cream’ in Italian) should be just set enough to hold together, but soft and creamy enough to melt in the mouth. Gelatine is the secret to this texture and it can be a tricky ingredient to handle – but follow these simple rules and you’ll have it mastered in no time.
Check out this quick and easy chocolate mousse recipe with espresso for an Italian twist. If you’re hosting a dinner party and looking for an indulgent yet easy dessert that can easily be made ahead, try these gluten-free creamy puds – ready in 15 minutes.
Raspberry granita with balsamic caramel
Mix up your caramels and try this raspberry granita with balsamic caramel to get your taste buds tingling. The natural sweetness of the sharp Italian vinegar works brilliantly with the zing of the soft fruit. It totally works so go on, give it a go!
Espresso martini tiramisu
Need a show-stopping Italian dessert? Make our creamy tiramisu with espresso, kahlúa and vodka. This indulgent recipe is easy to make and will be a hit with all your friends.
Amalfi lemon syllabub
Try this refreshing lemon dessert from Italian restaurant Bancone in Covent Garden. Bancone’s easy recipe makes more lemony granita than you’ll need – store any leftovers in the freezer.
Caffè latte panna cotta with espresso syrup
Try our recipe for silky-smooth espresso panna cotta. This dessert is an ideal way to end any dinner party, it’s gluten-free and looks impressive served in martini glasses.
Chocolate and hazelnut meringue semifreddo
The Italian dessert, semifreddo, is an ice cream with a mousse-like texture. This recipe not only looks impressive, but can be made in advance for easy dinner party entertaining. Plus, there’s no churning required.
Italian coffee cake with cappuccino buttercream
Try our super easy coffee slab cake – an American favourite with an Italian twist. This recipe is nut-free and comes with an indulgent cappuccino buttercream, a simple yet moreish cake, perfect for parties, birthdays or just family gatherings. More tray bake recipes here…
Italian hazelnut and chocolate torte
This rich decadent chocolate torte may look tricky but it’s so easy to put together for a dinner party. The secret is coating the outside with a layer of crunchy hazelnut and biscuit.
Dark chocolate florentines
These crunchy biscuits would make a great dessert alternative to serve with coffee. Otherwise, hang them from ribbons as an edible Christmas tree decoration or stack them on a plate and enjoy them with a comforting cup of tea.
Boozy tiramisu bombe
Everyone loves a boozy, coffee-flavoured Italian tiramisu and this is a great easy version, made with shop-bought sponge cake and without raw eggs and shaped like an ice cream bombe.
Strawberry zabaglione
Marsala, the key flavour in this, is a perfect match for strawberries in this fresh twist on the Italian dessert zabaglione. Don’t over-beat the cream, otherwise combining it with the zabaglione will be difficult. Whisk until it is barely in soft peaks and then gently fold together.
Blood orange polenta cake
Change up the classic lemon drizzle with juicy blood oranges. Our polenta cake is easy to make and the ideal sweet treat to accompany your morning coffee.
