Dolci – Desserts

Tiramisù – one of Italy’s most beloved desserts. I can hardly think of a more ubiquitous dessert here in Italy or outside of it. Who doesn’t love it? Today, I am sharing a super quick and delicious recipe for it using cantucci (almond biscotti) in place of the traditional savoiardi cookies. It is a delightful twist with extra crunch and flavor coming from the almonds and a hint of chocolate due to the addition of chocolate chips. Yum. This is the kind of dessert that you can whip up in the morning and serve in the evening. We all need…

I adore any dessert made with egg whites. Whether it be French macarons, amaretti, pine nut cookies, Angel Food Cake, or simple meringues, I cannot resist any of them. Brutti ma Buoni (Ugly But Good Cookies) are also included in that list of cherished desserts made with egg whites. They are utterly addictive. If you love meringue-type cookies and nuts (typically hazelnuts or almonds) then read on! After many recipe tests, I finally managed to replicate my favorite version of these iconic Italian treats. These cookies are golden, crisp & crunchy on the outside, and soft & chewy on the…

I’m excited to share this carrot loaf cake recipe with you today. Why? It is absolutely delicious, simple, easy, and incredibly light. You can serve it either at breakfast or as an afternoon treat. If you like sweets that aren’t too sweet, then this cake will be perfect for you. (Think of an Italian ciambella or a yogurt cake.) It’s something nice to have with coffee or as a snack. Unexpected guests? No problem. Have slices of this ready in your freezer and you’ll be ready for anything. (I’m eating a semi-frozen piece of it right now. It’s really good.…

In America, we have a tendency to eat savory breakfasts. At least that was always my go-to. You know, eggs and bacon, omelets, egg and cheese on a roll… (Pardon me as I drool…) In Italy however, they seem to like a sweet breakfast. Toast with jam, biscotti, chocolate-filled pastries, donuts filled with pastry cream, or this Ciambella allo Yogurt agli Agrumi. A ciambella is a ring cake, similar to a bundt cake, and you see them all over Italy in a variety of flavors. Like a bundt cake, they are incredibly homey and easy to make. This Ciambella allo…

If you’ve been to the Jewish Ghetto in Rome, you might have come across Pizza Ebraica before. For those unfamiliar, Pizza Ebraica isn’t pizza at all. It’s actually a kind of cookie – a rather large cookie! Pizza Ebraica is a specialty from the Roman-Jewish culinary repertoire. (Which is a treasure trove of delectable delights!) It is a very rustic cookie, filled with nuts, raisins, candied fruit, oil, white wine, flour, almond flour and little else. It is surprisingly delicious.