Despite its name, zuppa Inglese (lit. English soup) is an original Italian layered dessert consisting of pastry cream and sponge cake that is soaked in Alchemers liqueur. The dessert was first made in the 16th century for Dukes of Este, who resided in Ferrara.

According to a popular theory, it was invented by the court chefs when a diplomat from Ferrara wanted a trifle, a traditional British dessert, upon his return from a trip to England. Since the court chefs didn't have all the necessary ingredients, they made their own version, using sponge cake, pastry cream, and Alchermes herb liqueur for color.

Zuppa Inglese is also made with a layer of chocolate cream, which was not included in the original recipe. Today, the dessert is usually not sold in bakeries nor cafés, as it is something that is commonly made at home. There are also numerous modernized versions of zuppa Inglese, with added ingredients such as coffee, plum jam, almonds, and candied fruits.