Spumoni is a special Italian dessert made of layers of ice cream, whipped cream, candied fruit, and nuts. In Italy, spumoni is spelled spumone, but pronounced exactly as it is pronounced in English, with an accent on the last vowel. In spumoni, each layer contains different flavors and ingredients. In traditional dessert kitchens, spumoni is often made of three layers of flavor: chocolate, pistachio, and cherry.

Each layer of spumoni ice cream includes much more than flavored ice cream. The chocolate layer, for example, may include chocolate shavings or chunks. In fact, sometimes to chocolate layer has crushed hazelnuts inside. Not only does the hazelnut add a lovely flavor to the chocolate, but it also compliments the pistachio layer. The pistachio layer, of course, almost always includes crushed pistachio nuts. Finally, the fruit layer of spumoni is usually made with candied fruit. Sometimes spumoni is made with strawberry or even raspberry flavored ice cream. However, cherry is the most traditional fruit component to the dessert.

The layers of spumoni offer a lovely combination of flavors. Spumoni connoisseurs often have special ways in which they like to enjoy the dessert; enjoying each layer at a time, for example, or making sure to get a bit of each in every bite. Spumoni ice cream, much like many other famous and beloved foods, has yielded an entire breed of dishes. There are a number of layered ice cream treats that were probably inspired by spumoni. It is almost certain that Neapolitan ice cream is a direct descendant of spumoni. Some people believe, however, that the banana split may also be a relative. After all, two of the most common ice cream flavors in banana splits are strawberry and chocolate. Furthermore, splits are often topped with nuts and whipped cream.

Spumoni ice cream was originally created in Naples, Italy. Neapolitan ice cream then evolved from spumoni. Neapolitan ice cream is, quite simply, layers of chocolate, berry, and vanilla ice cream. The ice cream is packaged and served with no barrier between the flavors. Much like spumoni fans, Neapolitan ice cream lovers each have their own way of enjoying the dessert.

Spumoni ice cream is still enjoyed in Italy today. Italian immigrant to the United States and Argentina have popularized the dessert there as well. Spumoni can be found year round in the United States. However, it is prized by some Americans as a winter dessert. It is often paired with butter cookies after holiday meals.