Photo by Dylan Howell.

Sweet Mom Italy puts a singular twist on the classic Cassata Siciliana, a traditional sweet popular in all areas of Sicily. This round sponge cake is softened with Cointreau and ricotta cheese with an outer dome of house-made marzipan, topped with whipped cream and garnished with with grape and orange-peels. The lime-colored marzipan gets its visually pleasing color from the pistachios’ natural hue. This sweet treat would typically have candied fruits in its moistened cake center, but Sweet Mom breaks tradition, opting for chocolate chips in its traditional creamy ricotta filling instead. With its silky taste, though the Cassata Siciliana is technically a softened cake, it could serve as an alternative to ice cream or a creamy mousse confection. And the fun shape and color of this dessert makes a small bite with a cappuccino an instagram-worthy experience.

Photo by Dylan Howell.

Sweet Mom Italy, 1473 Main St., Sarasota, 941-952-3608.