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It’s hard to improve on the croissant, but we reckon an Italian pastry might just have the edge. Called sfogliatella, this shell-shaped confection is made of hundreds of flaky golden leaves and traditionally filled with sweet ricotta, semolina and candied orange peel.

The pastry originated in Naples at the Santa Rosa convent, some 400 years ago. Legend has it that a nun was preparing biancomangiare, a baked semolina dessert similar to blancmange, and made some modifications to the recipe, spreading it between dough covered in lard and sugar. The resulting magnificent puff pastry evolved at a local restaurant into the ricotta- and semolina-stuffed creation it is today.

A tower of beautiful, golden sfogliatella. Photo: iStock.

To make it, the pastry is rolled or passed through a pasta machine until very thin and transparent. It’s then rolled into a cigar before being sliced into discs, which are stretched into cone shapes and filled with a sweet ricotta-and-semolina mixture.

It’s still served in Naples as a breakfast item with a cappuccino.

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A post shared by sweetcafe1981 (@sweetcafe1981) on Feb 28, 2017 at 12:06am PST

We reckon that any day that starts like this is likely to continue in an excellent manner.

Ho quasi un Deja-vu #buongiorno #goodmorning #colazione #colazioneitaliana #colazionetime #breakfasttime #breakfast #napoli #napolifoodporn #foodpics #foodporn #italyfoodporn #italianfoodblogger #foodblog #foodgasm #sfogliatella #naples #picture #pics #foodie A post shared by Micaela Pilato (@miky_9501) on Feb 25, 2017 at 2:53am PST

Like a croissant, it’s best eaten while still hot from the oven.

If someone said I could no longer eat #Sfogliatella again, I would die a thousand deaths. My favourite thing in the world . . . . . . . #dolciitaliani #napolinelcuore #cucinaitaliana #cucinanapoletana #foodblogger #sugarfix #sweettooth #angolodelledilcezze #hkfoodie #dolce_salato_italiano #lafoodie #eatingforinsta #igfoodie #mumbaifoodie #foodpics #foodoftheday #eatlocal #semolina #hkfoodie #ricotta #colazioneitaliana #sydneyfoodie #yahoofood #huffposttaste #eattheworld #italiansdoitbetter #melbourneeats #sydneyfoodblogger #melbournefoodie

A post shared by Marianna Tuccia (@mariannatuccia) on Mar 19, 2017 at 12:22am PDT

In English, they’re often referred to as lobster tails.

It might be zeppole season but they’ll always take a backseat to my favorite mollusks and crustaceans at this gem. #sfogliatella #lobstertails #northendboston #lookatthoselayers #alltheends #thatcrunch #pasticcerianapoletana A post shared by Nicholas Vincelette (@nickvincelette) on Mar 18, 2017 at 2:10pm PDT

Though they remind us of shells, too.

Cola de Langosta #sfogliatella #venecia #dulces

A post shared by Pastelería Italiana Venecia (@pasteleriavenecia) on Feb 28, 2017 at 8:59am PST

Naturally, it’s also perfectly possible (if not highly recommended) to fill them with chocolate.

《催事情報》浦和伊勢丹 2017/3/22～3/27 伊勢丹浦和　大催事 『イタリア展』 スフォリアテッラ実演販売中♪ (初日完売でご迷惑をお掛けしました。) プレーン ピスタチオ ジャンドゥーヤ マロン フラゴーラ(新作) #伊勢丹浦和店#浦和スイーツ#スフォリアテッラ#スフォリアテッレ#sfogliatella#オスピターレ#ospitale#カフェオスピターレ#マツコの知らない世界#ドルチェ#イタリアンドルチェ浦和#イタリアンドルチェ#人気スイーツ#スフォリアテッラ焼き立て#オスピターレ#ospitale#カフェオスピターレ#マツコの知らない世界#ドルチェ立川#イタリア展#スフォリアテッラ埼玉#スイーツ埼玉#ドルチェ埼玉 A post shared by オスピターレ (@caffe_ospitale) on Mar 23, 2017 at 5:58pm PDT

Or ice cream, for that matter.

#Sfogliatella cone with white chocolate with #waffle, vanilla gelato with a hint of #orange, some more white chocolate, topped with #pistachios SOOOO GUUUUDDD

A post shared by Soha’s Hungry (@soha_eats) on Mar 13, 2017 at 4:59pm PDT

Either way, they’re utterly beautiful.

#sfogliatella A post shared by Valentina Riccobono (@piuchedolceconvalentina) on Mar 24, 2017 at 10:58am PDT

Eat your heart out, croissants!

#naples #sfogliatella #capparelli #foodpics #foodart #napolifoodporn #napoli

A post shared by MorenaCommone (@morenacommone) on Mar 3, 2017 at 3:32am PST

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