Last updated on January 19th, 2025
Are you looking for some delicious Italian desserts to serve at your next Thanksiving dinner (or lunch)? You’re in the right place!
I’m an American living in Italy, so you can bet my family’s version of Thanksgiving is a huge melting pot of Italo-American traditions rolled into one festive dinner. I’ve been celebrating Thanksgiving with an Italian twist since 2012.
These are my favorite Italian desserts to serve at Thanksgiving dinner. They’re all authentic Italian desserts that will add an interesting touch to your typical Thanksgiving piescape.
These Italian desserts are easy to make at home and can be integrated into your traditional Thanksgiving celebration without too much added effort. If you are hosting a large crowd, consider making (or delegating) one of two of these desserts for your Thanksgiving table. For smaller crowds, just choose one.
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Italian Apple Cake
Italian apple cake is a straightforward fall treat made with firm, seasonal apples and a hint of lemon zest. Here in Italy, we enjoy this simple cake for breakfast with coffee or as an afternoon snack with tea but it’s also ideal to serve at Thanksgiving dinner for dessert as a pie alternative.
Make It: Make the day beforehand and don’t be stressed on Thanksgiving day with step-by-step instructions for Italian Apple Cake Recipe – Italy’s Favorite Breakfast & Snacking Cake.
Tiramisù
Tiramisù, which means “pick me up,” is a creamy coffee-based dessert from northern Italy made with ladyfinger cookies soaked in strong coffee and layered with a luscious mascarpone cream.
Make It: Check out my authentic recipe for Authentic Italian Tiramisù Recipe – The Only One You’ll Ever Need (+ Tips).
Panettone With Mascarpone Cream
Mascarpone cream is a rich, pudding-like topping made from raw eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese. It’s often paired with Italian desserts, in this case, panettone or pandoro, similar to how ice cream accompanies pie on Thanksgiving for Americans. This cream is quick and easy to make, perfect for complementing other desserts you might already be serving at Thanksgiving dinner.
Make It: Make and serve this Italian dessert, crema di mascarpone, instead of ice cream this year with my step-by-step instructions in Mascarpone Cream Recipe – An Easy Italian Condiment For Any Dessert (and be sure you are cutting it correctly!)
Zabaglione
Zabaglione (zabaione) is a creamy custard made from egg yolks, sugar, and sweet wine. It’s typically enjoyed with a spoon or served with Italian cookies but is also a great addition to many other Thanksgiving desserts just like mascarpone cream is used. Try it on pie, cake or tarts.
Ricciarelli
Ricciarelli are gluten-free (and dairy-free) almond cookies from Siena, most commonly enjoyed during Christmas in Italy, but in my experience make a fine dessert to serve at Thanksgiving dinner for all your gluten-free friends and family.
Make Them: Ricciarelli are another great dessert to make with Ricciarelli – Italian Almond Cookies before Thanksgiving day. They last several weeks if stored properly.
Gluten-Free in Italy: Read up on eating senza glutine in Italy:
Eating Gluten-Free in Italy – Florence – Venice – Rome
Gluten-Free Meals in Italy
Gluten-Free Italian Side Dishes
Gluten-Free Italian Desserts
Gluten-Free Cicchetti in Venice
Is Gelato Gluten-Free?
Apple Strudel
Strudel is a dessert of Germanic/Austrian origin, made with thin pastry dough wrapped around sweet local apples, spices, sugar, and sometimes raisins. This is a nice change from your classic American apple pie, ideal for serving at Thanksgiving dinner. You will get that fall vibe but with an Italian twist.
Crostata
Crostata is a traditional Italian dessert made from shortcrust pastry filled with either pastry cream or jam, and often topped with a lattice crust. This is about as close as Italians get to a pie and it can be tailor made by using seasonal fruit, making it perfect for serving at Thanksgiving dinner.
Lemon Ricotta Cake Lemon
Lemon ricotta cake is a beloved Italian dessert that’s perfect for any occasion, regardless of the season. Its light, refreshing flavor is ideal after a large Thanksgiving dinner. Although less traditional in terms of flavor for Thanksgiving desserts, this is a nice change from the classic pumpkin and pecan pie.
Make It: With my simple recipe for Lemon Ricotta Cake Recipe – Everyday Italian Cake For Any Occasion.
Chocolate Ricotta Cake
Chocolate ricotta cake is an easy Italian dessert baked with ricotta cheese and cocoa powder. Italian cakes tend to have a rustic charm and are typically topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. However, for this cake, I like to enhance its richness by adding a touch of lightly sweetened whipped cream, which is surely someone on your Thanksgiving dessert table already!
Make It: Easily with Chocolate Ricotta Cake – My Italian Family’s Recipe.
Spongata di Sarzana
Spongata di sarzana is Italy’s other version pie, making it the ideal dessert to serve at Thanksgiving dinner alongside all your other classic American pies. It’s made with a short crust pastry filled with a mixture of nuts, spices, honey and candied fruit, leaning into the flavors of Christmas.
Dessert Lovers: Don’t miss all of Italy’s sweet treats!
The Most Popular Italian Chocolate – Candy – Cookies
35+ Delicious Desserts in Italy
Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free Italian Desserts
Italian Carnevale Sweet Treats
Italian Christmas Cookies
The Best Gelato in Florence – Rome – Venice
Cooking for the Holidays? You may want to check out Italian Christmas Desserts and Italian Christmas Cookies.
