What are the best desserts in the world? Many of them come from France and Italy. These two powerhouse pastry destinations are responsible for creating some of the most delicious desserts you will ever try. Luckily, you don't need to travel to these spots in order to enjoy a sweet Italian or French treat. These easy recipes will help you bake like a pro right from the comfort of your own home. You honestly must try them all!
Italian Tiramisu
This classic Italian Tiramisu features airy ladyfingers soaked in coffee, layered between a silky, enriched mascarpone cream filling and a touch of cocoa on top. Buon Appetito!
Go to the recipe: Italian Tiramisu
Lemon Ricotta Cake
This delicious, easy Italian Lemon ricotta cake is by far one of the best lemon desserts you will ever try. Made with fresh lemons, creamy ricotta cheese, and a hint of vanilla extract, it has a gently sweet, citrusy flavor and an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth texture that resembles a moist sponge cake. Whether you enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, or as a dessert with a side of ice cream, it will be hard not to run back for seconds!
Go to the recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cake
Paris-Brest
Imagine a ring of choux pastry filled with hazelnut praline crème mousseline filling. Certainly, it sounds delicious, one of my favorite French desserts! This classic French Paris-Brest recipe has it all. Crispy pâte à choux, silky, nutty creme mousseline filling, extra praline paste, and roasted hazelnuts make Paris-Brest one of the most impressive European desserts of all! This fancy-looking dish is a great dessert for a dinner party as it feeds a crowd and looks so impressive.
Go to the recipe: Paris-Brest
Ricotta Pie
This easy Sicilian ricotta pie with a hint of lemon is one of the creamiest, most delicious European desserts you will ever make! Classic Ricotta Pie is traditionally a Spring dessert associated with Easter, but I think you can enjoy it at any time of year. The fresh lemon flavor, creamy filling, and crispy pie crust is the most amazing flavor and texture combination.
Go to the recipe: Ricotta Pie
Mini Tiramisu Cups
The Italians scored the jackpot when they invented Tiramisu. And now you can make delicious mini tiramisu cups so you don't have to share! I love Tiramisu so much that I made an easy version with just three ingredients you can whip up in minutes. This simple tiramisu recipe is a great way to enjoy a classic European dessert with zero hassle and using basic pantry ingredients.
Go to the recipe: Mini Tiramisu Cups
Creme Brulee
Make this super easy homemade crème brûlée recipe with a smooth and silky texture and crunchy caramel, just like in restaurants. Homemade crème brûlée comes together in just 5 minutes with three simple ingredients, but it tastes elegant and professional. You have to try it.
Go to the recipe: Creme Brulee
Mille Feuille
Mille Feuille means "a thousand leaves" in French, and it gets its name from the compacted layers of puff pastry that form this incredibly French dessert. Puff pastry normally rises as it bakes, but here, we weigh it down so that it forms crisp, thin pieces of delicious buttery pastry instead.
Go to the recipe: Mille Feuille
Fraisier Cake
Elegant Fraisier cake is often seen in Patisserie windows and revered as a famous French pastry dessert. Buttery, fluffy sponge layers, decadent vanilla bean créme mousseline, and fresh strawberries are all you need.
Go to the recipe: Fraisier cake
Macarons
Macaron is a classic European dessert that is hugely popular worldwide because it looks so pretty and tastes so good! You can make macarons in so many flavors; they are also very versatile and make great gifts or petit fours after dinner.
Go to the recipe: Macarons
Chouquettes
Made with fluffy choux pastry dough and sweet Swedish pearl sugar, these light and airy chouquettes may be only one or two bites, but they are absolutely irresistible! Serve these delicious French sugar puffs for breakfast with a hot cup of tea or coffee, enjoy a few as an afternoon snack, or after dinner. They also make perfect gifts for your loved ones on special occasions!
Go to the recipe: Chouquettes
Crème Brûlée Choux Au Craquelin
This Crème Brûlée Choux au craquelin (cream puff) is filled with silky vanilla pastry cream (Crème Pâtissière) and topped with a crunchy caramelized sugar layer just like traditional Crème Brûlée! Its delicate texture and delicious flavor will certainly impress everyone. It is crunchy, creamy, and silky, with a wonderful caramelized sugar flavor! Certainly one of the most delicious choux pastries I have ever made!
Go to the recipe: Crème Brûlée Choux Au Craquelin
Clafoutis
Cherry Clafoutis, this classic French dessert, is the ultimate flan-like recipe that comes together really quickly and easily! It has a custard-like creamy texture and can be made with a great variety of fruits, e.g., berries, cherries, apples, etc. This is a rustic dessert with a homemade comfort food vibe and probably the easiest recipe on my blog!
Go to the recipe: Clafoutis
Cannelés de Bordeaux
Cannelés—sometimes spelled Canelés—are a classic French pastry with a deliciously crispy caramelized exterior and soft baked custard center. These little cakes are packed with fresh Vanilla flavors and a touch of Rum.
Go to the recipe: Cannelés de Bordeaux
Torta Della Nonna
Torta della nonna is a simple, rustic Italian dessert that is loved throughout Italy! This homely tart consists of a lemony, tender shortcrust filled with luscious Italian pastry cream and is an absolutely ideal way to end any meal!!
Go to the recipe: Torta Della Nonna
Strawberry Tiramisu
Take the traditional classic Italian dessert to the next level with this scrumptious no-bake strawberry tiramisu recipe! Sweet, crunchy ladyfingers are topped with silky mascarpone cream and fresh strawberry jam between each layer for a blast of berry flavor!
Go to the recipe: Strawberry Tiramisu
Panna Cotta
Panna Cotta means "cooked cream" in Italian, and this European dessert is incredibly versatile. It is a molded dessert of sweetened cream thickened and set with gelatin to make the texture stable yet still jiggly. It can be flavored in so many ways, from coffee, coconut, vanilla, or other fruit. This particular Panna cotta recipe is made with coconut milk, so it is, in fact, a dairy-free European dessert.
Go to the recipe: Panna Cotta
Sicilian Cheesecake
Luxurious, light, and easy to make, my creamy Sicilian cheesecake is perfect for desserts, holidays, and every kind of celebration.
Go to the recipe: Sicilian Cheesecake
Floating Island
Also known as île flottante in French, a floating island is a light, fluffy, and creamy classic French dessert that is, in fact, no-bake and super easy. Made with milk, sugar, egg, and vanilla, the floating island dessert isn't just simple to make but also gluten-free!
Go to the recipe: Floating Island
Limoncello Tiramisu
This bright and refreshing Limoncello tiramisu puts a citrusy twist on the classic Italian dessert! Made with Limoncello lemon curd, sweet ladyfingers, and creamy mascarpone cream between each layer, it will surely leave an impression. Serve it after your favorite pasta for a well-rounded Italian meal you won't forget!
Go to the recipe: Limoncello Tiramisu
White Chocolate Mousse
These smooth and creamy white chocolate mousse cups will surely put a smile on your face! Made with decadent white chocolate and a hint of vanilla, this airy yet flavorful dessert melts in your mouth and packs just the right amount of sweetness. Its chantilly cream and shaved chocolate topping adds a beautiful finishing touch, making it perfect for any occasion!
Go to the recipe: White Chocolate Mousse
Profiteroles
Featuring a crisp choux pastry shell, luscious pastry cream filling, and a decadent, glossy chocolate glaze, every bite of these easy profiteroles is like a taste of heaven! Whether making them for a special occasion or just because, these fun, bite-sized treats are guaranteed to impress!
Go to the recipe: Profiteroles
Cream Puff
This easy cream puffs recipe is the perfect combination of fancy and simple! With a crisp choux pastry shell, a silky chantilly cream filling, and a dusting of sweet powdered sugar, this French-style favorite is just as perfect for a cozy night at home with friends and family as it is for an elegant dinner party or special event. The best part? Even novice bakers can make them with the help of my step-by-step recipe!
Go to the recipe: Cream Puff
Classic Chocolate Eclair
This is seriously the BEST classic chocolate eclair recipe that will take you through how to make eclairs at home step by step. It's a foolproof recipe designed for home bakers in their kitchen environment but delivers professional results. Mastering homemade eclairs is one of the most rewarding skills to learn!
Go to the recipe: Classic Chocolate Eclairs
Beignets
Popular in French cuisine and a staple in the Louisiana city of New Orleans, these New Orleans-style homemade beignets are fun to make and hard to resist! Their light, sweet, and pillowy texture make them the perfect treat to enjoy any time of day: For breakfast, an afternoon snack, or dessert. Top them with sugar, fill them with cream, or dip them in your morning coffee.
Go to the recipe: Beignets
Napolitan Ricotta and Pasta Pie
Traditionally made for Easter, pastiera is a ricotta pie popular in different parts of Italy. However, it’s most famously a Neapolitan recipe.
Go to the recipe: Napolitan Ricotta and Pasta Pie
Blueberry Ricotta Cake
This moist blueberry ricotta cake will be the highlight of your dessert table this summer! Made with fresh blueberries and creamy ricotta cheese, then topped with a bright, flavorful lemon glaze, it will melt in your mouth and make your taste buds explode.
Go to the recipe: Blueberry Ricotta Cake
Madeleines
Classic French Madeleines are one of the easiest, most delicious little tea cakes you can make. I flavor them with vanilla and lemon for a classic taste, and the iconic shell shape makes them look so elegant. It's clear why this traditional French snack is so popular!
Go to the recipe: Madeleines
More Desserts
This list of easy baking recipes contains a wide range of simple dessert recipes and easy baking ideas that you and your family will love. If you’re looking for easy baking recipes for kids or dessert recipes with few ingredients, this list has you covered.
Go to the recipes: Easy Baking Recipes
Chey505
You absolutely have the BEST dessert recipes EVER. I love making our recipes and love the reactions from those I share them with. Thank you! 🙂