Every year around my birthday, I try to visit new places and explore the world. Last year I went to Lanzarote—the hidden gem of the Canary Islands. This time, I fulfilled a dream of mine and spent a week on the beautiful Amalfi Coast and Capri island in Italy. There I had the chance to try some of the most traditional desserts—and I liked them all!
Italy is famous for its pizza, pasta, and seafood but I was eager to try something sweet that would not only satisfy my taste buds but fill my soul, too. During my trip I visited several cities in the Campania region. I started in Amalfi, followed by Positano, then I saw the breathtaking nature in Capri, walked around the small streets of Sorrento, and enjoyed the promenade by the sea in Salerno. In each place, I picked a different dessert that is typical for this part of Italy.
1. Gelato in Amalfi
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about Italian desserts is gelato. This frozen goodness is perfect in the hot summer days because it’s usually lower in fat and made with more flavorings than other frozen desserts.
Nowadays, there are a lot of different flavors that could satisfy any taste. My first gelato flavor during the trip was pistachio and milk chocolate from Porto Slavo in Amalfi. This gelateria is located close to the Cathedral of Saint Andrew the Apostle which gives you the perfect opportunity to take pictures of your dessert and enjoy it while marvelling at the beautiful facade of the cathedral.
2. Delizia al limone in Positano
Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, lemons from the Campania region are considered to be among the best in the world. They are bigger, juicier, and more scented than other lemons. This is why they are often among the main ingredients in Italian dishes and desserts.
I found out that Positano not only offers amazing views of its beautiful colorful buildings, but it’s also a great place to enjoy the classic lemon dessert of the Amalfi Coast—delizia al limone. After a long walk around the small streets full of various shops, I decided to stop by Positano Paradise Lounge Bar and regain my energy with a lemon cake. This is one of the most famous desserts from the Neapolitan cuisine and its name means “lemon delight.” The base is a sponge cake soaked in limoncello—an Italian lemon liquor—and covered with lemon cream. Despite all the lemons, it was rather sweet and I enjoyed it a lot!
3. Torta Caprese on Capri
Capri island was one of the main reasons to plan this trip and I was extremely happy when I got off the ferry that took me there from the mainland. Impatient to see the amazing landscape, I took a walk along Via del Pizzolungo, a path that led me to many beautiful natural sites. My walk turned into a hike around the whole eastern half of the island, so I was delighted to see the main street of Capri at long last.
I ordered a cup of coffee at Bar La Pompeiana and since it was the day of my birthday, I treated myself to a slice of Torta Caprese, too! This is a traditional chocolate, lemon, and almond flourless cake that originated on the island. According to one story, Torta Caprese was created by a chef who had to prepare a cake for the famous mobster Al Capone, but he was so nervous that he forgot to add the flour. And his mistake led to a heavenly result!
4. Cannoli in Sorrento
Sorrento impressed me a lot with its luxurious hotels along the coast, its narrow streets, and the adorable Antica Gelateria Sorrentina. This pastry shop was founded in 1860 which made me think that they must know what they’re doing when it comes to desserts!
The tables were arranged on the street and each had only two chairs. Once I sat down, I felt like I was part of Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, where the two dogs ate spaghetti and listened to an Italian accordionist playing. I ordered a cappuccino and three cannoli. Cannoli are popular Italian pastries that consist of fried tube-shaped dough, filled with sweet ricotta cream with different flavorings. I had the classic one with ricotta cream and chocolate chips, a lemon-flavored and a pistachio-flavored cannoli. My favorite was definitely the classic one.
5. Lemon cake in Salerno
Salerno is a nice and safe city and that’s why I booked my accommodation there. The mother of my host left me homemade lemon cake every morning, so I managed to satisfy my sweet tooth without even leaving the apartment. I was amazed by her passion for baking as I’ve never been a skilled baker myself. Even though I’ve only made one cake and several cookies so far, I recognised the main ingredients of the lemon cake—flour, eggs, sugar, and, of course—lemons. The cake combined perfectly with fruit flavored yoghurt.
Never have I eaten so many sweets on a trip before but I don’t regret even one bite!
What’s a must-try traditional dessert in your area? Share with us in the comments below.
Tiramisu and Panna Cotta sound good.
