Torta delle rose

Torta delle rose is a traditional dessert from the Lombardy region, particularly associated with the city of Mantua. This cake is named for its rose-like appearance: the dough is rolled and cut into small spirals that resemble rosebuds, which “bloom” as they bake.

The cake is made with a soft, enriched dough similar to brioche, featuring ingredients such as flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and milk. The dough is often flavored with lemon zest or vanilla and spread with a butter-sugar filling before being rolled up and sliced.

Once baked, the spirals create a beautiful, fragrant "bouquet" effect, with a caramelized outer layer and a soft, buttery interior. Torta delle rose is said to have originated during the Renaissance as a dessert to celebrate the marriage of Francesco II Gonzaga, the Duke of Mantua, to Isabella d’Este.