In Italy, breakfast is a quick and simple affair. Often, a coffee (either espresso or cappuccino), drunk quickly at the bar, alongside a croissant (known as a cornetto in Italy) is all that’s needed to kick-start the day, with perhaps a small snack before lunch later on. However, in certain parts of the country and on special occasions, breakfast becomes something more than a caffeine and sugar injection. Our collection of Italian breakfast recipes will help you bring a bit of Mediterranean sunshine to your morning routine.

In Sicily, it’s very traditional to have a sweet brioche bun with granita, a sort of rough crunchy sorbet – take a look at our recipes for lemon granita and coffee granita (which you don’t need an ice cream maker to create at home). Almost all pastries eaten in the morning in Italy are sweet, and you can’t get much more iconic than the stunning Neapolitan delicacy sfogliatelle. Try these pretty little potato zeppole for Italy’s answer to the doughnut, or if you’re feeling particularly festive you wouldn’t be chastised for toasting yourself a slice of panettone before lunch.

One thing to remember with Italian breakfasts is that the coffee is just as (if not more) important than the food, so make sure there’s plenty of espresso or cappuccino to go around. If you’re not a fan of coffee, then Italians also drink orzo, a caffeine-free hot drink made from barley, and plenty of freshly squeezed orange juice.