Classic Italian Pies & Tarts
Italian cooking is very difficult to pin down -- almost every city and town has its specialties, and there are regional trends too; the end result is a huge number of local cuisines rather than a single national cuisine. However, there are some dishes that you will find almost everywhere, and that are now standards among the many Italian communities scattered across the globe.
La
Crostata
Shortbread topped with jam or fresh fruit -- the
former is classic Tuscan home cooking, while the latter can be extraordinarily
elegant.
Torta della Nonna
A classic
Tuscan dessert, a custardy shortbread pie.
Torta di Tagliatelle
Pasta
makes a surprising alternative pie filling in this classic from Mantova.
Torta di Ricotta
Two Italian
cheescakes, One more elaborate, from Naples, and the other Less, from Siena.
Cassata alla Siciliana al Forno
A sumptuous Sicilian dessert, made with pan di spagna and a rich
ricotta-based filling. Worthy of important occasions! Also, Cassadetti, smaller
variations on the theme.
La Pastiera Napoletana
The
classic Neapolitan Easter dessert, with the delicate orangy bouquet of spring.
Cakes
Babà
An extraordinarily
voluptuous treat!
Torta Claudia: An Italian Layer
Cake
A creamy layer cake laced with brandy or whatever you
prefer.
Panettone
Milano's classic
Christmas Cake!
Panettone Ripieno
A rich,
light filling for a panettone: Perfect for Christmas Eve.
Dolce alla Napoletana
An elegant
Neapolitan layer cake you can fill with either cream or fruit
preserves.
Millefoglie
One of the world's
best birthday cakes!
Schiacciata alla Fiorentina
An
amazingly tasty carnival cake, which takes more time to explain than it does to
make.
More Pies & Tarts
Classic
Italian Dishes
The General Recipe
Index
