10 Most Popular Sicilian Desserts and Sweets

From classic cannolis to light citrusy orange cakes, these Sicilian desserts are a dream come true.

No matter the occasion, they always hit the spot.

Whether you’re in the mood for something cool and creamy or nutty and fresh, these Sicilian desserts have your cravings covered.

I can’t resist authentic cannoli made with ricotta, orange zest, and mini chocolate chips.

But I’m also a sucker for tender sponge cake infused with pistachios.

Seriously, you’ll love these sweet treats so much, you might end up booking a flight to try the real thing!

10 Best Desserts to Try in Sicily 

1. Sicilian Orange Cake

Are you a citrus fanatic? If so, this is the cake for you.

Just thinking about this cake makes me weak in the knees. It has a moist, light, and spongy texture, and it smells phenomenal.

The orange flavor is out of this world, and it’s unbelievably simple to make, too.

You’ll only need seven ingredients, most of which you probably have right now. 

Serve it for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. It doesn’t matter when you put it on the table; people will devour it.

Oh, and it’s the perfect complement to a hot cup of tea or coffee. 

2. The Best Sicilian Cake

If you think the orange cake is good, wait until you try this one.

The best Sicilian cake is one of my favorite Sicilian desserts. It’s incredibly moist, delightfully spongy, and all-around amazing.

Featuring layers of sponge cake and ricotta cream, the whole thing is soaked in decadent coffee syrup to boot. (Use fruit syrup if you aren’t a coffee fan.) 

It’ll give you tiramisu vibes but is lighter, softer, and more indulgent. Plus, the pistachio coating is just plain fun – tasty, too! 

This one will make an excellent birthday cake if you want something new.

3. Sicilian Cannoli

I had a big cannoli this summer on my trip to Italy (okay, I had a few), and I ate every bite with my eyes closed. It was that good!

But did you know this sweet treat is actually Sicilian? It’s true!

Crispy, bubbly pastry stuffed with a dreamy ricotta mixture is just as yummy as it sounds.

You’ll love the contrasts of creamy and crispy textures and sweet and tangy flavors.

They take a bit of time to get right. And you’ll need some specialized equipment to get the shells to turn out perfectly.

However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, the result is well worth it. 

4. Biancomangiare (Almond Milk White Pudding)

Want to try Sicilian desserts but think cannoli is out of your league? Start simpler with this five-ingredient almond milk white pudding. 

You can have it ready in about 30 minutes. (Though it needs a few hours in the fridge before you serve it.)

It has a sweet, mild flavor that combines nuts and vanilla. Plus, the texture is so soft and silky that it’ll practically melt in your mouth.

Try it once, and you’ll be hooked. 

5. Sfincia di San Giuseppe

Have you ever had an authentic New Orleans beignet? Divine, right? These unique desserts are like NOLA beignets dialed up to 11! 

You’ll stuff and top them with chocolate chip/ricotta cheese icing. Then, you’ll add a candied cherry and some crushed pistachios for good measure. 

Beignets are spectacular enough by themselves. When you do all this extra stuff, it makes them downright addictive. 

6. Sicilian Ice Cream Sandwiches

These ice cream sandwiches don’t look like the Mayfield brand you and I are used to eating.

Instead, they look like someone scooped ice cream onto a hamburger bun!

Well, that’s precisely what someone did. 

For Sicilian ice cream sandwiches, you’ll need brioche buns, gelato, butter, and sea salt. It’s a genuine ice cream sandwich. 

You’ll toast and butter the buns and add a little salt. Then, scoop a generous portion of your favorite gelato onto the bottom bun.

Cap it off with the top bun, and enjoy! 

7. Sicilian Almond Granita

Granitas have become increasingly popular in the US over the last few years. And with this recipe, you can make them at home. 

If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re in for a real treat. It’s somewhere between a milkshake and ice cream and is wonderfully nutty.

It’s a refreshing summer treat you can make with four simple ingredients. And the hardest part is waiting for it to freeze!

8. Granita al Limone (Lemon Granita)

Prefer bright, citrusy flavors to rich, nutty ones? Whip up this lemon granita instead.

It’s still icy cold and fabulously refreshing. However, it’s tart and tangy instead of sweet and nutty. 

Both options are delicious, but this lemon one always cools me down faster on a hot summer day. 

You’ll need lemon peel, lemon juice, sugar, and water to make it. So it’s kind of like lemonade.

Just remember: it needs to freeze for 5 hours. So don’t wait until the last minute to get started.

9. Paste di Mandorla (Italian Almond Cookies)

If you haven’t noticed, pistachios and almonds are a big deal in Sicily. These delectable almond cookies are further proof of that. 

They feature a gorgeous cracked and crumbly appearance and have the best texture.

Their edges are crisp, but the centers are melt-in-your-mouth soft and tender. 

They also combine almonds and lemons for a bright, sweet taste that’s impossible to resist.

Make these for your next cookie swap, and you’ll definitely be the star of the show. 

10. Sicilian Pistachio and Nutella Cake

Let’s end with another gorgeous pistachio-covered cake.

This one features fewer layers than the one above. Fortunately, it’s still just as mouth-wateringly incredible.

It’s a straightforward, single-layer cake with pistachios baked in. Then, you’ll cover it in Nutella instead of icing and top it with even more crushed pistachios.

It’s rich, chocolatey, nutty, and scrumdiddlyumptious! 

You wouldn’t think something so simple could taste so exquisite. But you’d be wrong.

It’s a recipe you’ll want to bookmark and make over and over again.