Easy and Moist Cranberry Orange Crumble Cake

Moist and bright with fresh cranberry-orange flavor, this easy crumble-topped cake comes together in minutes and bakes up perfectly soft, sweet, and irresistible.

If you’re searching for the perfect holiday bake — something festive, bright, and incredibly delicious — this Cranberry Orange Crumble Cake is exactly what you need.

It has a wonderfully soft, tender crumb, bursting with fresh orange zest and juicy cranberries, and it’s topped with a buttery crumble that bakes up golden and crisp. The contrast of textures is irresistible, and the flavor is the ideal balance of sweet, tart, and cozy. And let me tell you, the aroma that fills the kitchen as it bakes is reason enough to make it!

Tuscan Cannellini Bean Soup with Ditalini Pasta

A cozy, creamy Tuscan-style soup made with cannellini beans, ditalini pasta, and hearty vegetables — naturally vegetarian and vegan.

There’s nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of Tuscan soup on a chilly day! 

This hearty vegetarian (and vegan!) Cannellini Bean Soup is made with tender vegetables, creamy  cannellini beans, and tiny ditalini pasta, all simmered in a flavorful broth. A handful of kale adds a fresh, nutritious touch, making this simple, wholesome soup both nourishing and delicious. 

It’s the perfect taste of Italy in every spoonful — cozy, satisfying, and incredibly easy to make.

Steam-Baked Chocolate Soufflé Cups

Light, airy, and irresistibly rich, this chocolate soufflé is pure indulgence. With a delicate crust and a soft, cloud-like center, it's an impressive yet surprisingly approachable dessert. And it's gluten-free!

There’s nothing quite as elegant—or as satisfying—as a freshly baked chocolate soufflé. 

Light as air, rich in flavor, and beautifully puffed, this classic French dessert feels like a small luxury you can enjoy right at home.

And while soufflés have a reputation for being tricky, I promise they’re much easier than they look. The key is gentle folding, precise timing, and a few simple tricks to help them rise perfectly.

How to Make Authentic Cannoli Siciliani at Home

Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these homemade Cannoli Siciliani are the perfect taste of Italy! Made with golden fried shells and a sweet ricotta filling speckled with chocolate chips and pistachios — a truly irresistible Italian classic

I’m super excited to share this recipe with you today! It’s such a true Italian classic that I honestly don’t know why I haven’t shared it with you before. It’s also one of the very first recipes in my new cookbook, Never Say Never to Dolce. After months of work, it’s finally on presale! Never Say Never to Dolce is a collection of dessert recipes that I haven’t shared in my other book,  Manuela’s Sweet Temptations.  In this new book, I’m sharing all the sweets I love most — from classic Italian recipes to biscotti and dolcetti, cakes and tarts, spoonable desserts, and even a section of gluten-free treats, because everyone should be able to enjoy a little something sweet. Thank you all so much for your support — I truly wouldn’t be here without you. Make sure to order your copy now so you’ll receive it before the holidays. Pre-order here. 

My Latest Cookbook: Never Say Never to Dolce

 Never Say Never to Dolce — My New Cookbook Is Here! 

I’m beyond excited to finally share this news with you! After months of baking, testing, writing (and tasting way too many desserts!), it’s finally time to announce my brand-new cookbook:

Never Say Never to Dolce!

This book is a true labor of love — a collection of 50 brand-new dessert recipes that you won’t find in my previous book, Manuela’s Sweet Temptations. From the most beloved Italian classics to rustic cakes and crostate, delicate cookies and pastries, and creamy spoonable desserts, this book celebrates the sweeter side of life, one irresistible recipe at a time. And yes, there’s even a chapter dedicated to gluten-free dolci, because everyone deserves a little something sweet!

Each recipe is simple, approachable, and created with love — perfect for home bakers who want to bring a touch of Italian magic into their kitchens. Whether you’re baking for the holidays, a celebration, or just because, these desserts are meant to make every moment feel special.

✨ Never Say Never to Dolce is available for preorder now! ✨

Make sure to order your copy before the holidays, so you’ll be ready to bake your way through the sweetest season of the year.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes stories, and some of my favorite recipes from the book — so stay tuned and bake along with me!

With amore,

Manuela

Classic Torta Tenerina — Italian Flourless Chocolate Cake

Delicate on the outside and irresistibly fudgy inside, this classic chocolate cake from Ferrara is pure Italian indulgence. Made with just a few simple ingredients — rich dark chocolate, butter, eggs, and sugar — Torta Tenerina, as the name suggests,  has a soft, melt-in-your-mouth center and a thin, crackly crust. It’s the kind of cake that feels both rustic and elegant, perfect with a dusting of powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream

If you’ve ever dreamed of biting into a chocolate cake that feels like a soft, cloud-like dream, then Torta Tenerina is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. 

Its name says it all — “tenerina” in Italian means soft — and this cake lives up to that promise with every forkful. With a delicate, crackly top and a rich, fudgy interior, it’s intensely chocolatey, irresistibly tender, and surprisingly light.

Authentic Spaghetti all’Assassina Recipe – Spicy and Garlicky and Perfectly Charred Italian Pasta

Spaghetti all’Assassina is a spicy and garlicky, bold and fiery Italian pasta, cooked directly in a rich tomato sauce until lightly charred for a smoky, caramelized flavor. A must-try!

This post is written in collaboration with Colavita. All opinions are mine alone.

Saucy, spicy, and a little bit dangerous — meet Spaghetti all’Assassina! 🇮🇹 This fiery Southern Italian pasta is bold, crispy, and unlike any spaghetti you’ve ever made. 

“Spaghetti all’Assassina,” or *Assassin’s Spaghetti,* proves that sometimes it pays to break the rules! Instead of boiling the pasta in water, the spaghetti cooks right in a spicy tomato sauce until it’s perfectly al dente, slightly charred, and packed with flavor. The result? A dish that’s smoky, crispy at the edges, and completely irresistible.

Easy No-Knead Caprese Focaccia with Burrata, Pesto & Balsamic Glaze

Fluffy no-knead focaccia topped with juicy tomatoes, creamy burrata, fresh pesto, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze — a Caprese twist that’s as easy as it is irresistible.

This post is written in collaboration with Colavia. All opinions are mine alone.

If you love the flavors of a classic Caprese salad, you’re going to adore this Italian Easy No-Knead Caprese Focaccia. 

Soft, airy, and golden, this focaccia is bursting with flavor thanks to a slow, overnight rise that develops a tender, pillowy interior and a crispy, olive oil–kissed crust. 

What makes it so good is the combination of simple, high-quality ingredients—Colavita extra virgin olive oil, ripe cherry tomatoes, creamy burrata, fresh pesto, and sweet balsamic glaze—layered on top of a perfectly airy bread. 

It’s the ultimate blend of fresh Italian flavors in every bite, yet it’s surprisingly easy to make.

Flaky Almond Frangipane Puff Pastries

Flaky puff pastry filled with rich almond frangipane, topped with toasted almonds and powdered sugar—easy to make, elegant, and irresistibly delicious.

If you love almond croissants but don’t want to spend hours making laminated dough, these flaky almond frangipane puff pastries are the perfect alternative. 

Crispy, buttery, and filled with rich almond cream, they’re everything you could want in a pastry—without the fuss. 

Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat, they deliver that almond croissant experience with a fraction of the effort. Absolutely everyone will love them!