Colomba di Pasqua

An Italian Easter yeast cake baked in the shape of a dove and topped with almond glaze.

Colomba di Pasqua: A dove-shaped Italian Easter cake with a crackled almond glaze, pearl sugar and whole almonds on top, in its paper mold
  • Traditional and regional desserts
  • Italy

Also called: Colomba pasquale, Easter dove

Colomba di Pasqua means Easter dove. The dough is similar to panettone: a rich, slowly fermented yeast dough with flour, eggs, butter and sugar, usually with candied orange peel and no raisins. It is baked in a dove-shaped paper mold, which gives it a tall, soft, airy crumb.

Before baking, the top is covered with an almond and sugar icing, then scattered with pearl sugar and whole almonds, which bake into a crisp, crackled crust. Colomba is strongly associated with Milan and is given as a gift and served at Easter breakfast and lunch throughout Italy.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Italian Easter Dove Bread and Easter eggs, Italia.it (Italian National Tourist Board, ENIT)