When you have a craving for one of Italy’s famous sweet treats, you may search for an Italian bakery. However, Mario’s Pizza is an Italian restaurant that creates several authentic desserts using traditional methods.

A Few Famous Italian Desserts You’ll Find At Tony’s

Italy has a rich history that includes the creation of many delicious foods. The country also has a rich cheese heritage, with different regions specializing in particular cheeses. While historians don’t know the origins of cheesemaking, we do know the Romans perfected and refined the process.

Why are we talking about cheese? It’s because delicious cheese is a prime ingredient in many Italian desserts.  Cheese offers unique textures and flavors that add depth and complexity to baked goods. With its creamy richness and delicate sweetness, cheese exquisitely complements the other ingredients.

Moreover, you don’t have to visit an Italian bakery when looking for the most popular desserts. Mario’s Pizza serves several popular, freshly made sweet treats:

1. Cannoli

Perhaps the most popular and beloved of all Italian desserts is the cannoli. Originating in Sicily, cannoli combine a crispy shell with a creamy filling for the perfect combination of flavor and texture.

This sumptuous treat begins with a delightfully crunchy, deep-fried dough. To achieve its signature crispiness, tradition requires the addition of Marsala wine. Marsala also gives the shell a unique flavor profile.

Traditionally, the filling contains ricotta lightly sweetened with powdered sugar. Sometimes, pastry chefs mix in candied fruit or chocolate chips. Moreover, bakers fill the shells on demand to maintain the shells crispiness.

2. Tiramisu

Another popular Italian dessert is tiramisu.

This dessert begins with soaking Savoiardi or ladyfingers in espresso coffee. Ladyfingers are a meringue cookie with a somewhat dry and crispy consistency. Soaking them in coffee adds moisture and softens them, making them tender and more flavorful.

Layered between these coffee-steeped cookies is mascarpone cream. This recipe combines mascarpone, sugar, and eggs and then whips them to a velvety smooth consistency. Finally, a dusting of cocoa powder tops the dessert.

3. Cheesecake

Although the Greeks invented cheesecake, the Italians altered it to include eggs and a pastry shell. As the Roman Empire grew, other cultures became acquainted with this dessert. The English especially loved their cheesecake. Thus, it’s not surprising that settlers brought the recipe to the American colonies.

Usually, the traditional Italian version uses ricotta and mascarpone cheese. However, American colonists used cottage cheese instead. However, the invention of cream cheese forever changed American cheesecake. In 1920, a New York restaurant owner used this new cheese to create a creamier and richer dessert.

4. Limoncello Mascarpone Cake

The light, fluffiness of sponge cake, zestiness of lemons, and rich, creamy texture of mascarpone combine in this delightful dessert. It begins with Limoncello, a sweet Italian liqueur. To make this alcoholic beverage, Italians steep lemon peels in grain alcohol. Traditionally, Italians use Sorrento lemons, a variety known for its abundance of oil and thick peels.

You add this sweet liqueur to the batter to give the cake a nice lemony flavor. After baking, you spread mascarpone icing with lemon curd over your limoncello-infused cake. Mascarpone adds a velvety texture and sweetness, while the lemon curd provides an additional burst of lemon. The result is a bright and refreshingly light cake with rich, creamy icing.

FAQs About Mario’s Pizza

Just like an Italian bakery, we make our desserts fresh daily. With every bite, you can taste the quality of our ingredients. Not familiar with our Italian restaurants? Below, we answer a few commonly asked questions about our establishments.

What Else Does Mario’s Serve?

We have a full and varied menu that’s sure to please everyone. In addition to delicious Italian desserts, we serve authentic NY style pizza. With 32 choice toppings, you can create a pizza suited to your taste. Additionally, we also serve several specialty pies, like meat or vegetable lovers.

Or, perhaps you’d like one of our Italian entrees:

• Lasagna
• Eggplant parmigiana
• Chicken parmigiana
• Ravioli
• Baked ziti
• Spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce.

Our menu also includes salads, appetizers, subs, calzones, and strombolis.

How Do I Know Mario’s Is Authentically Italian?

Typically, you wouldn’t think of Mario’s Pizza as an authentic Italian bakery. However, our owners grew up in a large Italian family in Brooklyn, NY. From an early age, they learned the secrets to baking delicious Italian pastries. Today, our restaurants use our family recipes to create our authentically Italian menu.

Where Can I Find The Nearest Mario’s Pizza?

For many diners leading very busy lives, convenient locations are critical when choosing a restaurant. That’s why we locate our establishments near major thoroughfares:

• 1469 River Ridge Dr., Clemmons
• 266 Harvey St., Winston-Salem
• 2205 Cloverdale Ave., Northwest Winston-Salem
• 1066 Hanes Mall Blvd., Winston-Salem
• 3354 W. Friendly Ave., Suite 142 Greensboro
• 4215 W Wendover Ave., Greensboro
• 1575 New Garden Rd., Greensboro
• 5824 Samet Dr., High Point
• 2645 N Main St., High Point

Can I Buy A Tray Of Cannoli?

Absolutely! We offer party trays of several Italian favorites:

• Greek salad
• Garden salad
• Garlic knots
• Spaghetti with marinara/meatballs
• Lasagna
• Baked ziti
• Chicken parmigiana
• Ravioli
• Eggplant parmigiana
• Cannoli

Simply call your nearest Mario’s Pizza a few days before your event.

Why Visit Mario’s For A Cannoli?

We craft every dessert with care using traditional methods and fresh ingredients. Stop by Mario’s Pizza for your favorite today for an unforgettable taste of Italy.