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15 Irresistible Neapolitan Desserts and Pastries
Naples is world-famous for its pizza but most people outside of Italy aren’t aware of the greatness of Neapolitan desserts. Sometimes sophisticated, often rustic and always satisfying, the sweet treats in Naples are some of the tastiest in Italy as well as the entire world.
And the best part? Neapolitan pastries are super easy to find in neighborhoods throughout the chaotic city. In fact, it’s rare to find a street in Naples without a pasticceria – some even have two or three bakeries on the same block. They’re also easy to find at coffee shops, gelateria and restaurants throughout the city.
My Favorite Neapolitan Desserts and Pastries
1. Sfogliatella
If Naples were to have a signature pastry, that pastry would be the sfogliatella. This flaky pastry is available all over Italy but the best ones are found in its home city of Napoli. And, while it’s debatable that the sfogliatella is the best Neapolitan pastry, there’s no debate that it’s the most popular.
But what is it?
For the uninitiated, a sfogliatella is an addictively tasty pastry that comes in two main styles – riccia and frolla. The sfogliatella riccia is a flaky, layered pastry while the sfogliatella frolla has a shortcrust pastry shell. Both versions are stuffed with cream filling made with sweet ricotta and candied orange.
My tip : Pair your sfogliatella with coffee to create the ideal Naples breakfast.
Best Sfogliatella in town
Location : Scaturchio - Attanasio
2. Fiocco Di Neve
Snowflakes are an anomaly in Naples EXCEPT when they’re filled with sweet cream. This is a city that celebrates dough balls instead of snow balls and the best ball is called fiocco di neve. And, in case you don’t speak Italian, fiocco di neve translates to snowflake in English.
Invented and perfected by Ciro Scognamillo at Pasticceria Popella in the Rione Sanità neighborhood, the fiocco di neve appears to be nothing more than a cream-filled brioche bun dusted with powdered sugar. In fact, you may wonder why people queue to eat this seemingly simple pastry that’s quickly challenging the sfogliatella as the pastry to eat in Naples.
You’ll understand the fiocco di neve’s popularity after your first bite. Sweet ricotta cream will likely explode out of the bun and into your mouth. And, if you’re like me, you’ll return again and again to enjoy the explosive experience.
My Tip
Order an original vanilla fiocco di neve when you visit Pasticceria Popella for the first time. You can try varieties like chocolate and pistachio during future visits. If you’re lucky, you can also try a caramel fiocco di neve but that flavor isn’t typically on the menu.
Best Fiocco di Neve in town
Location : Poppella
3. Babà al Rum
Francophiles will be happy to find the Italian version of France’s babà al rum in Naples. Just like its French cousin, the Neapolitan babà is soaked in rum and is shaped like a mushroom.
You can try a babà at one of the thousands of pasticcerias in the city or as a dessert after dinner at a Naples trattoria or osteria. You can pair it with a shot of the local lemon liqueur "limoncello" for an extra kick or with a proper coffee Sambuca or Strega ( caffe corretto con sambuca /strega) .
Best Babà in Town
Location : Capparelli
4. Zeppola di San Giuseppe
Fried or baked dough called zeppole are popular in Naples but the one to look for is called zeppola di San Giuseppe. The colorful choux pastry filled with custard and topped with more custard and amarena cherries is easy to find once it’s on your radar.
Traditionally eaten during the Feast of St. Joseph in March, the zeppole di San Giuseppe are available at Napoli pasticcerias all year long. The only challenge is deciding whether to eat this Neapolitan pastry with your hands or with a fork.
Best Zeppola in Town
Location : Scaturchio Pasticceria Angelo Carbone - Di Costanzo - La Sfogliatella di Mary - Pasticceria Angelo Carbone - Luciano Mazzone
5. Ministerial
Despite its formal name, the ministerial is a fun chocolate dessert that’s shaped like a medallion and filled with liqueur-laden cream. Francesco Scaturchio invented this Neapolitan chocolate dessert more than a century ago and its recipe remains a secret to this day.
It was invented by Scaturchio around 1900 when he was trying to impress a woman with ties to the royal court. His mistress was so taken with the chocolate shell filled with a creamy liquor center that Scaturchio was encouraged to have the chocolate officially approved for Royal tables.
This required a lengthy bureaucratic battle with several different ministries — hence the name.
Long story short, the bureaucratic chocolate is fantastic. Eat it.
Best Ministeriale in Town
location : Scaturchio
6. Graffa
The Neapolitans love to fry food at stands which sell a variety of savory fried specialties from arancini to croquettes to fried pizza. There are plenty of fried sweets too including the donut-like, teardrop shaped graffa. However, you may be surprised that the humble graffa has Austrian roots.
The granulated sugar coated graffa is a traditional Carnival treat that’s available throughout the year. Inspired by Austria’s krapfen, this fluffy Neapolitan donut is fun to eat for kids of all ages. I recommend eating a graffa when it’s hot off the grill. Whether you add a topping like Nutella is up to you.
Best Graffa in Town
Location : Chalet Ciro ( via Toledo) - Chalet Ciro (Via Caracciolo)
7. Pastiera
According to local lore, the pastiera was originally created by the Greek siren Parthenope. Traditionally eaten during Easter dinner, the rich cake can now be enjoyed all year long at Naples restaurants and bakeries.
The pastiera looks like a pie thanks to its shortcrust base and latticed topper; however, it tastes like a Neapolitan cheesecake with benefits. Since those ‘benefits’ include ricotta cheese, candied orange and orange blossom water, the pastiera is a treasure of the Neapolitan tradition
Best Pastiera in town
La Sfogliatella di Mary - Scaturchio - Pasticceria Angelo Carbone - Luciano Mazzone
8. Struffoli
Popular during the Christmas season when it’s shaped like a wreath, struffoli is proof that Neapolitans bake a special dessert for every important holiday. And, while its roots may derive from Greece’s loukoumades, it’s a fun treat that screams Naples with its deep-fried crunchy dough balls, multi-colored sprinkles and sticky-sweet honey coating.
However, there’s a catch. Unlike other holiday pastries like the zeppole di San Giuseppe, graffa and apstiera, struffoli isn’t easy to find throughout the year. In other words, grab one when and if you see this colorful pastry on display.
Best Struffoli in Town ( easy to find during christmas time )
Location : Di Costanzo - La Sfogliatella di Mary - Scaturchio - Pasticceria Angelo Carbone -
9. Biscotto all’Amarena
The biscotto all’amarena not only is the portable cookie a staple in most of the city’s bakeries, but its tasty filling features two of my favorite dessert ingredients – chocolate and amarena cherries. In retrospect, it’s probably because the nondescript pastry doesn’t provide a visual wow factor compared to other Neapolitan treats.
Best Biscotto all'amaerna in Town
Location : Casa Infante - La Sfogliatella di Mary - Scaturchio - Pasticceria Angelo Carbone -
10. Torta Caprese
Invented a century ago on the Isle of Capri, the torta caprese cake qualifies as a Neapolitan pastry since Capri is a Campanian city located in the Napoli province. The flourless chocolate cake is notable for its crunchy exterior and almond flavor as well as for its notorious backstory.
Interesting backstory which involves mobsters and a baker who forgot to add flour to his chocolate cake recipe. That story had two happy endings – the mobsters liked the cake AND the baker, Carmine Di Fiore, created a uniquely spicy cake that’s become a local favorite.
My Tip
Don’t hesitate to order a slice of torta caprese if you don’t eat gluten. Unlike most Neapolitan desserts, this one is gluten-free.
Best Torta Caprese in Town
Location : Di Costanzo - La Sfogliatella di Mary - Scaturchio - Pasticceria Angelo Carbone -
11. Delizia al Limone
The delizia al limone is another Neapolitan dessert that was invented in the Naples province but not the city itself. Located just 30 miles from Napoli, Sorrento gets credit for this über-lemon dessert with a name that literally translates to lemon delight.
The dome-shaped pastry made with lemon sponge cake, lemon cream, lemon liqueur (i.e. limoncello) and lemon glaze provided an ideal finish to a meal filled with savory pizzas or pasta . Percfect even for breakfast , proving that it’s always a good time to eat a delizia al limone.
Best Delizia a Limone in Town
Location : Di Costanzo - La Sfogliatella di Mary - Scaturchio - Pasticceria Angelo Carbone
12. Polacca
The polaca has roots in Italy’s Aversa, a tiny Campania town located just 12 miles from Naples. You can get confused by the pastry’s name (which translates to Polish) because the polaca’s inventor was a Polish nun who lived in Aversa’s Cappuccinelle Convent a century ago. The polaca’s ingredients include brioche, custard and amarena cherries.
Pastry pilgrims can experience the original polaca recipe in Aversa – a noble mission to be sure. You can experience a more modern polacca at Pasticceria Di Costanzo in Naples’ Rione Sanità neighborhood. More of a pastry than a cake, it is delicious.
Best Polacca in Town
Location : Di Costanzo
13. Scazzetta del Cardinale
You can experience the amazing pastries in Salerno at two pasticcerias – Antica Doleria Pantaleone and Pasticceria Romolo. While the latter has won numerous awards both in Campania and Italy, the former is famous for inventing the scarzetta pastry in 1920.
Apparently inspired by red headdresses that cardinals sported at the nearby Salerno Cathedral, Mario Pantaleone had the ingenious idea of combining sponge cake with Chantilly cream, wild strawberries and slightly crisp strawberry icing. However, the addition of herbaceous Strega liqueur ensured that the pastry would be as popular today as when it was invented.
Best scazzetta In Salerno town
Both Locations are in Salerno : Dolceria Pantaleone and Pasticceria Romolo
14. Crostata di Frutta
Essentially shortbread pastry crust that’s filled with sweet custard and fresh fruit, a seasonal crostata di frutta might feature berries, figs , kiwis or the popular miniature crostata di frutta with wild strawberries.
While fruit tarts aren’t unique to Campania or Italy, the crostata di frutta may have Bourbon roots. The Bourbon dynasty ended in 1861.
Best Crostata in Town
Locations : Di Costanzo - La Sfogliatella di Mary - Scaturchio - Pasticceria Angelo Carbone -
15. Gelato
Gelato wasn’t invented in Naples but the frozen dessert is as prevalent in the southern Italian city as it is in the rest of the country. Relatively low in fat and high in flavor, a gelato cone is especially refreshing on hot summer days.
The city has both chain gelaterias and individual shops all over the city. Try several cones to find your favorite flavor.
BEST GELATO IN NAPLES
Mennella il Gelato 1 - Mennella il Gelato 2 - Mennella il Gelato 3 - Casa Infante 1 - Casa Infante 2 -
Soave - Chalet Ciro Mergellina - Gelatosità - Fantasia Gelati
MY FAVORITE PASTRIES SHOPS IN NAPLES
La Sfogliatella di Mary - Scaturchio - Pasticceria Angelo Carbone - Poppella - Luciano Mazzone
Pintauro - Mastracchio - Capparelli - Chalet Ciro (Via Caracciolo) - Casa Infante
MY FAVORITE PATRIES SHOPS ON AMALFI COAST
Sal de Riso ( Minori) - Pasticceria Pansa (Amalfi) - Gambardella (Minori) - Dolceria Pantaleone (Salerno) - Pasticceria Romolo (Salerno)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do Neapolitan people eat for dessert?
People in Naples eat a range of sweet treats that include cakes, pastries and gelato. The most Iconic are : Sfogliatella riccia , Sfogliatella Frolla , Rum Babà
2. What pastry is Naples known for?
The sfogliatella is the most famous Italian pastry with Neapolitan roots. Filled with sweet ricotta cream that’s flavored with candied orange bits, the flaky sfogliatella is easy to find at bakeries in and around Naples.
3. What’s the most popular Christmas dessert in Naples?
The struffoli is the most popular Neapolitan Christmas dessert. The unique pastry is a mishmash of deep-fried dough balls, sweet honey and colorful sprinkles.
4. What’s the most popular Easter dessert in Naples?
The pastiera is the most popular Neapolitan Easter dessert. Similar to cheesecake, the pastiera is baked with ricotta cheese, candied orange and orange blossom water.
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