The Traditional Italian Dessert Recipe My Aunt Tries to Make Happen Every Easter – Latest Food News Update

While every household may have certain festive traditions, some are bound to be more steadfast than others. Especially when it comes to what’s on the menu—at least in my family. The holidays happen around the table. Certain dishes are non-negotiable, whether because they are beloved, passed down through tattered recipe cards, or customary within the culture.

Others are question marks. Are there new dietary restrictions to consider? Can we get a good deal on a ham or prime rib? Do we have the energy to make pasta from scratch? But when Easter rolls around, my family asks the same thing every year: “Grain pie? Are we still trying to make that happen?” If you ask my aunt, the answer is, “Yes.”

What Is Grain Pie?

Grain pie, also known as pastiera Napoletana (or even pastiera di grano), is a traditional Italian Easter dessert made from cooked wheat berries, ricotta cheese, eggs, and candied citrus, all nestled in a crust. The wheat and eggs symbolize resurrection and new life, with bright, fresh flavors alongside to celebrate the sentiments of both the occasion and the spring season. 

Like my relatives, it hails from the Neapolitan region of the boot, which explains why my dad’s side of the family has memories of the dish from childhood. According to my dad’s sister, their grandmother made it with her “paisani” who emigrated from Italy—though it didn’t last long within their Easter traditions growing up because my nonna wasn’t a fan. 

However, when a newcomer to our Easter table brought a grain pie from Manhattan bakery Veniero’s a few years ago, this long-lost dessert was revived, much to my aunt’s delight. And since then, there is always talk of pastiera over Easter weekend, centered around whether or not we’re going to serve it and who among us even enjoys it. 

Luckily for us—and my aunt—we have a recipe on site to help us make it from scratch once and for all this year.

How to Make Our Italian Easter Grain Pie Recipe

Recipe creator PAMSTER2 has us start this Italian Easter Grain Pie by cooking wheat berries on the stovetop. While they’re simmering away, the rest of the filling comes together: Beat eggs with an electric mixer and add in sugar and ricotta. Mix in flavorings—in this case, candied fruit, citrus zest, vanilla, and cinnamon. Then fold in the cooked wheat berries and pour it all into a prepared pie crust. Finish the grain pie off with a lattice crust and bake for about 45 minutes in a 375 degree F oven. Finally, chill overnight before serving.

The result is a dense yet creamy and rich dessert that has its fans and detractors. My dad calls a slice a whole meal within itself. 

Why We Love This Traditional Easter Dessert

When I saw the reviews on the recipe page, I was pleasantly surprised by how revered this iconic treat is in families other than mine. Allrecipes community member gobomel remarked, “So glad to see this recipe which is very similar to my grandmother’s who was from Naples, Italy. The only thing different that she used to add was chocolate chips. It was her own personal preference. Very nice recipe and tribute to our Italian heritage for the holidays.”

Similarly, user Ameji commented, “I was delighted to find this recipe, which my great aunt used to make for the whole family every Easter. I made it without the candied fruit and it turned out wonderfully. Now everyone asks me about the grain pie each year.” 

Liza even called this version “ better than my grandmother’s (shhh)” and added, “It was a big hit last year, and everyone is looking forward to it again at Easter brunch!”

With all the five-star reviews, it sounds like we can trust the process here and give it a try. Maybe it will even change some hearts and minds this time—everyone loves a good comeback story, after all. Great- Grandma Rosie (and her compatriots Angelina and Sandrina) would be proud to see it on the Easter table next to the pizza rustica. Buona Pasqua a tutti!