Chocolate panna cotta served in a glass dessert coupe and topped with whipped cream, fresh raspberries and blueberries.

12 Italian Desserts for Easy Entertaining

By Lindsay @ The Café Sucre Farine | Updated on June 27, 2026

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12 Italian dessert recipes for easy entertaining. From summery panna cotta to rich chocolate ricotta cake, there's something for everyone!

Did you see our Summery Italian Recipes post earlier in the week? This is part two of our series of Italian recipes, perfect for easy entertaining. Today is all about the sweet treats! From silky panna cotta to zesty lemon cakes and rich chocolate ricotta cake, there's something for everyone. They pair perfectly with any of our other Italian recipes and have been tested over and over, ensuring success in the kitchen.

Chocolate panna cotta served in a glass dessert coupe and topped with whipped cream, fresh raspberries and blueberries.

These recipes can be made ahead - that's our favorite secret to entertaining success. Make them earlier in the day (or week!) and pull them out before your guests arrive. Everyone gets to enjoy a delicious meal, and there's no last-minute stress. Save these recipes for your next dinner party and enjoy them all summer long!

Marry Me Italian Love Cake on a white cake stand.

Marry Me Italian Love Cake

A rich chocolate cake topped with a creamy ricotta layer and silky chocolate frosting. As it bakes, the layers magically switch places, creating a beautiful dessert that's as impressive as it is delicious.

glass dessert dish filled with Ridiculously Easy Lemon Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta.

Ridiculously Easy Lemon Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta

A Ridiculously Easy Italian dessert that tastes like it comes from a fancy ristorante, this Lemon Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta will make you look like a kitchen rock star!

Limoncello Syrup poured over fresh fruit.

Limoncello Syrup and Dessert Sauce

Delicious, unique and super-versatile. This Limoncello Syrup is wonderful as a sweetener for tea or drizzled on fresh fruit, yogurt, ice cream, fruit desserts...

Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Glaze on a white cake stand.

Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Glaze

This Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake is ultra-moist, tender and bursting with fresh lemon flavor. Made in one bowl with olive oil and finished with a warm lemon glaze, it's simple, elegant and ridiculously easy.

Limoncello lemon tart garnished with purple flowers

Limoncello Lemon Tart

A modern update to an old-fashioned icebox torte, this Limoncello Lemon Tart is melt-in-your-mouth delicious - with a few fabulous gourmet touches!

Salted Butterscotch Panna Cotta in small glass jars.

Salted Butterscotch Panna Cotta

Although this silky-smooth, crazy-delicious Salted Butterscotch Panna Cotta has a fancy name and beautiful presentation, it may go down in history as one of the easiest desserts you'll ever make!

Italian Raspberry Jam Ricotta Cake on a white cake stand with a slice cut

Italian Raspberry Jam Ricotta Crumb Cake (Torta Sbrisolona)

This delicious Italian Ricotta Crumb Cake features a layer of creamy ricotta topped by a ribbon of raspberry jam nestled between a crisp, buttery dough that forms both the bottom crust and pretty crumb topping.

Chocolate Budino with Candied Maple Walnuts in a glass jar with fresh mint.

Easy Chocolate Budino with Candied Maple Walnuts

This impressive but easy Chocolate Budino is a creamy Italian-inspired dessert that takes pudding to a whole new level. You'll fall in love with the first silky smooth bite!

Lemon Curd Ricotta Tart on a cake stand with a slice cut.

Italian Lemon Curd Ricotta Crumb Cake (Torta Sbrisolona)

This Lemon Curd Ricotta Crumb Cake is a fabulous, four-layer Italian dessert. The crust and crumb topping are made from the same sweet, buttery dough, making it quick and easy; no special equipment needed!

Ridiculously Easy Chocolate Panna Cotta in a small glass jar with berries and a flower.

Ridiculously Easy Chocolate Panna Cotta

This easy Chocolate Panna Cotta is rich, silky smooth and incredibly delicious. A simple make-ahead Italian dessert that's perfect for dinner parties, holidays and special occasions.

Apple Ricotta Cake on a white platter cut into slices.

Italian Apple Ricotta Cake

This Italian Apple Ricotta Cake recipe is moist, tender, and cheesecake-like with layers of cinnamon-scented apples and a glossy maple glaze. Easy to make in one bowl with no mixer required, it's perfect for entertaining, make-ahead, and freezer-friendly!

Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake with red and yellow flowers on a white cake stand.

Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

A combination of cake and cheesecake, this delicious Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake is a one-bowl, no-mixer recipe that you can throw together in minutes.

Thought For The Day

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Psalm 84:10

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