Rumor has it that Italian ice was accidentally discovered by Nero sometime before the burning of Rome. It’s an amusing thought. Adding fruit juice and possibly spices to water prior to freezing is what sets Italian ice apart from its brother the snow cone. Regardless of its origins, there is nothing quite a refreshing as a fruit-flavored Italian ice to cool down a hot summer day.
Italian desserts are some of the finest, most creative in the world. The availability of sugar was sparse in Ancient Rome and those who had a sweet tooth found satisfaction in dishes flavored with honey, heavy spices, seasonal fruits, and nuts. The Panforte very well may have been the origination of fruitcake. It is a very dense cake that has a long shelf life and it is said that the Crusaders carried it with them on their travels.
The twice baked Biscotti are another of the sweetened breads to have made the Italian dessert scene at about the same time. Baking twice helped to dry out the biscuits which enabled them to last longer and travel well. Now known around the world for their sweet and crunchy accompaniment to an espresso, the earlier recipes were not quite as gourmet as the chocolate or caramel drizzled ones found in almost every market today.
As sugar became more readily available, Italian desserts became more decadent. Tiramisu, one of the best known Italian desserts, is said to have originated in the 1500’s and was made popular by the de Medici family. Day old lady fingers dipped in Marsala wine (some use cold espresso) layered with thick and creamy, sweetened mascarpone cheese and dusted with cocoa powder…mmmmm…what’s not to love? Panna Cotta is a delightful sweetened cream and sugar concoction which is thickened with gelatin, flavored with vanilla, and traditionally served with drizzled fruit coulis. In the 1700’s when chocolate was introduced into the Italian diet, chocolate sauce was an acceptable sauce to serve with Panna Cotta.
Today, the use of ricotta cheese is prevalent in many Italian desserts. From the filling of cannoli’s to the ridiculously scrumptious cassata cake which is made by layering sponge cake alternately with a filling similar to cannoli cream and covering it with either whipped cream, almonds, marzipan, candied citrus etc., ricotta cheese is an essential part of the Italian dessert culture. Pastiera, also known as Easter pie in Naples, is a lightly sweetened and cinnamon spiced ricotta mixture that is studded with citron and baked into a delicious pie crust.
Whether you favor the traditional denser, earthier flavors of the older Italian desserts or the sweeter and richer new delicacies, Italian desserts are guaranteed to satisfy your sweetest cravings. Visit Christini’s Ristorante Italiano for a spectacular meal complemented by an authentic Italian dessert all wrapped up in an extraordinary fine dining Orlando experience! Do you know anyone with a sweet tooth? Share this post with them, and see if they’ve tried any of these Italian desserts. Buon Appetito!
