Small Italian Desserts for Sharing
Small Italian desserts for sharing are soft, lightly sweet baked bites with gentle vanilla and citrus flavor. Easy to make and perfect for gatherings, these bite sized treats are meant to be passed around the table and enjoyed with coffee or espresso.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk or wooden spoon
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Small scoop or spoon
Ingredients
For the Small Desserts
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup mild olive oil or melted butter olive oil gives a classic Italian softness
- 1/4 cup milk or plain yogurt yogurt makes the texture extra tender
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon zest or orange zest
For Finishing
- powdered sugar for dusting
- cocoa powder or chopped nuts optional topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until smooth and slightly pale.
- Add olive oil or melted butter, milk or yogurt, and vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
- Stir in lemon zest, then gently fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Scoop small portions of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each.
- Bake until lightly golden and set, then allow to cool slightly.
- Dust with powdered sugar just before serving. Add a light sprinkle of cocoa or chopped nuts if desired.
Notes
These small desserts are meant to be lightly sweet and tender, perfect for sharing. Do not overmix the batter and avoid overbaking to keep the texture soft. Store fully cooled pieces in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If freezing, thaw at room temperature and dust with powdered sugar before serving.