Episode #289: Beyond Cannoli – Sweets to Seek out in Sicily

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Summary

We are joined, in this episode, by Henna Garrison, culinary expert, Untold Italy tour guide and Sicily local, to uncover the fascinating history, unique flavors, and must-try treats – from crunchy cannoli to refreshing granita, that make Sicily a true dessert paradise!

What you’ll learn in this episode

• Sicilians often begin their day with something sweet, like pastries, brioche, or granita, which contrasts with the savory breakfasts common in English-speaking countries
• The island’s desserts reflect centuries of cultural influence, with Arabic and French traditions introducing key ingredients and techniques
• Local resources such as Mount Etna’s ice, pistachios, almonds, and seasonal fruits have shaped many of Sicily’s most iconic sweets
• From cannoli and cassata to granita, brioche con gelato, and festive specialties like frutta martorana and pignolata, Sicilian pastries are both diverse and deeply tied to tradition
• Finding the best versions of these desserts means seeking out local pasticcerie, avoiding tourist traps, and looking for freshness and authenticity

Timeline Overview

• 07:43 Italian breakfast traditions and the Sicilian love of sweets
• 09:39 Sicily’s diverse cultural influences on desserts and ingredients
• 14:56 Fresh-filled cannoli tips and pastry traditions, including brioche
• 25:45 Iconic Sicilian treats from cassata to pignolata and festive pastries
• 37:09 A love of eating over cooking and where to find Sicily’s sweet delicacies

About our guest – Henna Garrison

Henna is a tour leader, educator and mindset coach. She lives between Liguria and Sicily, where for many years she ran Cook the Farm, a food education program for international students as part of Anna Tasca Lanza and served as a founding board member of Food Heritage Association. Henna graduated in 2015 with a Master’s degree in Food Culture and Communication from the University of Gastronomic Sciences and has a background in education and communication. She consults and creates content for educational and hospitality-related activities across Italy. Her favorite pastimes include drinking morning cappuccinos, searching for blue skies, and talking about what to eat next.

Follow Henna Garrison here

• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned

Places

• Cefalù – seaside town you can visit easily from Palermo by train, bus or private transfer
• University of Gastronomic Sciences – university in Bra, Piedmont
• Anna Tasca Lanza – cooking school and center for food knowledge and culture in Sicily
• Santa Caterina – this convent in Palermo is one of the few where nuns still make the delicious Cannoli
• Cangelosi – for Cannoli in Cefalu. You have to look hard for the signs, but it’s worth it!
• Messina – port city that the Messina Strait separates from the mainland in Calabria
• Marzamemi – a coastal village near Noto

Food / Drink

• Cannolo and Cartoccio – classic ricotta-filled pastry and its rolled cousin
• Granita and Brioche col Tuppo – Sicilian shaved ice (best in mulberry season) with soft brioche
• Brioche con Gelato – the ultimate ice cream sandwich
• Bianco Mangiare – almond-flavored milk pudding, delicate and wintry
• Beignet – a French deep-fried pastry
• Challah – a traditional Jewish yeast-leavened bread
• Mullberry/Gelsi – a fruit preferred by silk worms. A special flavor of granita you find in Sicily
• Cassata – the queen of Sicilian sweets. Variations of this iconic ricotta cake include cassatine, cassatelle, and cassata al forno
• Frutta Martorana – almond paste fruits, hand-painted; lambs appear at Easter
• Sfince di San Giuseppe – fried choux pastry with ricotta, honey, and pistachio
• Pignolata – honey-coated fried nuggets with sprinkles, eaten at Christmas
• Gelo di Melone – refreshing watermelon pudding, a summer classic
• Buccellati – fig-filled cookies

Words / Concepts

• Monsù cuisine – influence of the French 17th-century chefs on Sicilian food
• San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph) – celebrated on March 19th, and it is also Father’s Day in Italy

Related content on Untold Italy

Podcasts

• Ep 270 – Exploring Sicily – Adventures by car, train and boat!
• Ep 246 – Exploring Sicily’s Volcanic Vineyards – Mount Etna Wines
• EP 221 – Magical Marsala – The Sweet Taste of Sicilian Wine
• Ep 186 – Captivating Catania – Sicilian city of charm
• Ep 107 – Tastes of Sicily
• Ep 069 – Discovering Sicily’s Aeolian islands
• Ep 043 – Palermo – a great base for excursions
• Ep 036 – Palermo – not what you expect
• Ep 031 – Exploring Sicily’s Val di Noto

Articles

• Sicily travel guide
• Best things to do in Sicily
• Best places to visit in Sicily
• Best places to stay in Sicily
• Traditional foods of Sicily
• Best things to do in Palermo
• Where to stay in Palermo
• What to eat in Palermo
• Best things to do in Catania
• Where to stay in Catania
• Sicily – Off the beaten track
• Agrigento – Valley of the Temples Sicily

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