20 Traditional Italian Christmas Desserts That Belong on Every Holiday Table
Let’s talk dolce!
The word for sweet in Italian is dolce—and that is exactly what you get with these Italian Christmas desserts! This list is full of traditional holiday favorites and a few fun twists, so you can add something new to your annual cookie plate or go big with a Christmas cake that feels a little like tiramisu in party clothes. They make a lovely ending to a big Italian Christmas dinner, but they also just bring a festive feel to any holiday table. There's homemade struffoli (which are those little honey-soaked dough balls) shaped into a pretty wreath, seasonal tiramisu, homemade panna cotta, and so much more. You can also always keep things simple with a scoop of gelato and a shot of hot espresso poured over the top.
On the Christmas cookie front, you'll find chocolate dipped cannoli, espresso biscotti, and the delicate waffle cookies known as pizzelle. Our classic Italian Christmas cookies taste like something from a neighborhood bakery, with soft cakey centers, vanilla icing and plenty of red and green sprinkles. Beyond the cookie tray, there are Italian Christmas desserts like ricotta cheesecake, zeppole fritters, and even a dessert-inspired Christmas cocktail. Any of these treats can sit happily next to your favorite Italian dinner recipes, or you can mix and match a few for whatever menu you're planning. Just don't forget to say "Buon Natale" when you pass the dessert plates!
Sugar Cookie Biscotti
These biscotti bake crisp on the outside with a soft sugar-cookie flavor running through each slice. A simple glaze and sprinkles give them a pretty holiday look that fits right into any Christmas cookie tin.
Get the Sugar Cookie Biscotti recipe.
Italian Cream Cake
This Southern classic comes straight from Ree’s friend Billie, who shared her special trick of sprinkling sugar over the batter so the layers bake with a light and sweet crunch. The cake is tender and flavorful with coconut, vanilla, and plenty of toasted nuts, all covered in a rich cream cheese frosting.
Get Ree's Italian Cream Cake recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu
This seasonal twist layers espresso-soaked ladyfingers with pumpkin custard, warm spices, and creamy mascarpone. A sprinkle of gingersnaps on top adds a little texture and makes the whole dessert feel extra fun and festive!
Get Ree's Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu recipe.
Tiramisu Martini
Who says you have to choose between dessert and drinks? This cocktail tastes like a creamy spoonful of tiramisu thanks to espresso, liqueurs, and a cloud of mascarpone on top. It's such a fun way to serve the flavors of the classic Italian dessert without lifting a baking sheet.
Get the Tiramisu Martini recipe.
Affogato
Hot espresso meets cold gelato in this zippy Italian treat. You can get creative with the different flavors and toppings, including chopped pistachios, chocolate shavings, rolled wafer cookies, or even red and green sprinkles.
Get the Affogato recipe.
Pizzelle
For many Italian families, it wouldn't be Christmas without these pretty wafer cookies. They're light and crisp, so they're perfect for serving up with a scoop of gelato.
Get the Pizzelle recipe.
Tiramisu Cake
This over-the-top cake is a fun twist on tiramisu! Each of the espresso-drenched layers is perfectly balanced with the fluffy mascarpone frosting.
Get the Tiramisu Cake recipe.
Struffoli
This fun dessert is made up of lots of little deep-fried dough balls all stuck together with a honey glaze. Shaping them into a wreath and adding red and green sprinkles makes it even more festive for the holidays.
Get the Struffoli recipe.
Cannoli
This Sicilian specialty has a crisp pastry shell and a lusciously smooth sweetened ricotta filling. You can dress them up with different garnishes like chopped toasted pistachios or mini chocolate chips.
Get the Cannoli recipe.
Almond Layer Cookies
These cake-like cookies are inspired by the classic Italian rainbow cookie. Instead of red, green, and white layers, they have a bold red and white look instead.
Get the Almond Layer Cookies recipe.
Espresso Biscotti
Golden brown and crunchy, these Italian cookies are even better when dipped in a cup of hot coffee. They also make for a beautiful DIY gift during the holiday season.
Get the Espresso Biscotti recipe.
Olive Oil Cake
Show off one of Italy's best ingredients: olive oil! Its unique flavor when used in desserts like this simple citrusy cake.
Get the Olive Oil Cake recipe.
Italian Peach Cookies
These cookies, known as pesche dolci, are as tasty as they are pretty! The pastel colors and peach buttercream in the center make them a sweet delight.
Get the Italian Peach Cookies recipe.
Italian Christmas Cookies
Almond extract gives these sugar cookies a unique flavor, but it's their vanilla glaze and red and green sprinkles that really make them stand out. They'll look so pretty on a Christmas cookie plate.
Get the Italian Christmas Cookies recipe.
Ricotta Cheesecake
Unlike New York-style cheesecake, which is made with cream cheese, this Italian-style cheesecake is made with light and fluffy ricotta cheese. You can decorate the top with chopped pistachios, chocolate chips, whipped cream, or anything your heart desires.
Get the Ricotta Cheesecake recipe.
Panna Cotta
More elegant than Jell-O, but just as easy to make—homemade panna cotta is a luscious custard treat. Top it with a raspberry sauce, caramel, or chocolate sauce, if desired.
Get the Panna Cotta recipe.
Rainbow Cookies
Making this Italian-American classic is such a fun baking project for the holiday season. The almond-flavored, cake-like cookies have layers of jam between each color and a chocolate topping that's hard to resist.
Get the Rainbow Cookies recipe.
Chocolate-Dipped Mocha Cannoli
This recipe takes traditional cannoli to the next level by dipping the shells in chocolate and filling it with a mocha pastry cream. It's easy to make thanks to store-bought cannoli shells!
Biscotti
The name biscotti comes from the word meaning "twice cooked." You'll bake them off twice to get that extra-crunchy texture that's perfect for dunking in a cup of coffee.
Get the Biscotti recipe.
Tiramisu
This layered coffee-flavored dessert is light, creamy, and great for making ahead. Ree Drummond says that this life-changing treat is "enough to make your eyelids flutter."
Get Ree's Tiramisu recipe.
Kara Zauberman is the Senior Editor of Content Strategy at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, lifestyle, news, and more. When she’s not writing and editing, you can find her seeking out new restaurants or cooking for friends and family.
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