Other Italian Desserts That Are Just as Good as Gelato

Everyone loves a good gelato. When it comes to Italian cuisine, this is the dessert that people will automatically think about. Those rich flavors and that thick texture? Heavenly! It's no wonder cities in Italy, like Rome, has a number of great gelato places. However, it's not the only Italian dessert out there. It's just the most famous because, well, it's similar to ice cream. But Italian cuisine still has a good number of other sweet and delectable desserts worth having after a good meal. You're so focused on the gelato that you probably overlook them often. Here are some that you can even make yourself at home!

 

Affogato

If you're still into creamy desserts but you don't want one as cold as gelato, an Affogato is a great alternative!  An incredibly light mousse, it's the perfect light dessert to end a rich Italian meal with. Some will compare it to the chocolate mousse and that's perfectly alright. Texture-wise, they are practically the same thing. However, what makes the Affogato distinctly Italian is the use of an espresso flavor instead of your normal chocolate. This rich caffeinated flavor gives the sweet spot the strong kick that you would expect from an Italian dish! 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Get the recipe by clicking here! 

 

Bônet

Speaking of rich flavors, arguably none has it richer than the Bônet. Although it looks like your ordinary chocolate kick, it's actually a custard-like dish that's made out of eggs, sugar, milk, and a spirit. Well, what did you think? This is an Italian dessert, after all? Of course, it will have that signature zinger! Originated from Piedmont, this incredibly flavorful dish can sometimes make use of espresso or hazelnut instead of the usual chocolate. And although the texture is sort of like a custard, the taste couldn't be farther apart! This is the type of dessert you get when you want to gorge on the finer things in life! 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Get the recipe by clicking here! 

 

Biscotti

Okay, this is a list of Italian desserts. So why is a basic biscuit like Biscotti on it? Just about any coffee shop nearby will have this treat. What makes it special enough for you to make some at home? For one thing, although this is more commonly used as a snack to pair your coffee with, technically, it's still an Italian dessert and it deserves to be treated as such. At the same time, when you make your batch of Biscotti at home, you can incorporate your own flavors into the mix. Thing bits of cranberries or crushed pistachio nuts to really update the flavor! 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Get the recipe by clicking here! 

 

Cannoli

What's another Italian snack that's completely underrated as a dessert? The Cannoli! It's underrated in the sense that, because it's such a common treat, people don't treat it as a fine dessert anymore. It's even become a fixture in slapstick comedy. But when you get right down to it, isn't a cannoli just as delicious as a cup of gelato or a plat of tiramisu? Isn't the cream filling just as light and airy as icing on a cupcake? Isn't the scorza just as delectable as a French crepe? Make some for yourself and you'll see just how delicious it really is! 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Get the recipe by clicking here! 

 

Crostata

Imagine combining the crust of a classic homemade apple pie with a cheesecake tart. Now, make that cheese some sweet Ricotta and add in a few blackberries and you'll get a Crostata. At first glance, this traditional Roman-Jewish dessert may seem ordinary, but when you taste it, you'll discover that it's anything but! The rich interplay of flavors and the tantalizing push-and-pull of sweet and salty (sometimes sour depending on the berries you use) tastes make it quite the after-dinner treat. It's always so scrumptious when a dessert plays with different flavors, not just your usual sweet kinds. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Get the recipe by clicking here! 

 

Panna Cotta

Surprisingly, for a rich cuisine like that of Italy's, they do have a lot of light desserts. Another classic that you've probably had is the panna cotta. Ths sweetly soft treat just melts in your mouth with every spoonful. It's also probably the lightest dessert on this list. Although the flavors vary, the very essence of the panna cotta is the custard base that yearns for a mouthful. Pair it with any flavor you want and it will always turn out delicious. If you're having a big Italian feast and you want this for your dessert, go for the fruiter kinds for an airier treat. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Get the recipe by clicking here! 

 

Tiramisu

Finally, perhaps the most classic Italian dessert on this list: the tiramisu. Layers of rich chocolate (or hazelnut, depends on what you go for!), airy cream, and soft rum-drenched cake make for quite the heavenly treat. It's the sort of dessert that will make you more excited for the end of the meal, even though you're probably eating a nice pasta dish or a scrumptious pizza. This treat is just so good that, oftentimes, it calls for its own time as well. Have it with a nice glass of your finest red and enjoy life the way you're supposed to! 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Get the recipe by clicking here! 

 

Gelato is all well and good but it's not the be-all and end-all of desserts in Italian cuisine. Some are just as good, if not better! They'll work well with any Italian-style mean or just about any other kind of cuisine either. Make some yourself at home and see what you've been missing!