If you're thinking of switching up your menu for Christmas, and would like to swap out the pies, cakes, and ice cream for something more unique and memorable, then you should consider Italian desserts. There are lots of very delicious and interesting Italian specialties that you can get from a local Italian cater, which is great, because these desserts are not very easy to make at home. So, it is a good idea to pick out the ones you like and speak with the caterers and have them prepare it.  

Torte Sant'Antonio

This is a delicious, and rustic looking apple tart made with a red wine reduction. It's similar to an open faced tart such as a crossota. Apples are cooked with cinnamon, vanilla, lemon zest, sugar, and red wine. This mixture is then used to fill an open faced tart and baked. You end up with a deep red color that is beautiful for the Christmas season. This torte is very rustic looking, but when it's sliced it is delicate on the plate. The filling is not stuffed and overflowing like some pies and tortes, the apple mixture is more like a very thick jam, so it's perfect for when you want desserts that are not too heavy.

Pizzelle Cookies

These are classic Italian cookies that resemble waffles. They are made by making a sweet batter with lemon zest and anisette as flavoring. These are definitely a cookie that you should order from an Italian restaurant that does catering or a bakery. They are not cookies that most people can make at home because they require a special type of waffle iron like device to make the cookies. When they are done, they can be dusted with powdered sugar, but they are often served plain.

Pignoli Cookies

These cookies are very famous in Italian cuisine. They are made with pine nuts. Pine nuts are very soft and have a slightly sweet texture. The cookies also include almond paste. They have a very interesting design, with little pine nuts sticking up from the cookie in the same way chocolate chips stick up on chocolate chip cookies. These cookies are great when served with an Italian white wine after dinner, such as Pinot Grigio.

Panforte

Finally, don't forget panforte, which is Italy's classic fruitcake. The cake dates back to the 13th century, and originated in the region of Tuscany. It's made with honey, fruit, and candied fruit. You should try and get these fruit cakes from a real Italian restaurant or bakery, and avoid the packaged ones you sometimes see in stores. The mass produced ones are much more breadlike and dry and don't have the same rich texture of the original. A classic Panforte is a dense, rich, incredibly rich cake. The sliced cake is served with coffee of espresso at the end of a meal.