When the world's elite winter athletes descended upon Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, they discovered that the host nation had prepared far more than venues and medals. Italy transformed its Olympic Villages into showcases of baking excellence, where traditional pastries and innovative desserts became unexpected stars of the Games. With more than 3 million meals prepared across all venues throughout the competition, Italy has staged a remarkable culinary extravaganza.

The Tortino Takes Gold

The undisputed champion of the dining halls has been the tortino al cioccolato, Italy's answer to the molten chocolate lava cake. This dessert features a delicate outer shell that gives way to a warm, liquid chocolate centre when cut. Canadian speedskater Courtney Sarault swooned over the treat in a now-viral TikTok video, whilst her compatriot, ice hockey player Natalie Spooner, awarded it a 9.1 out of 10 rating, describing the gooey centre as exactly what she had been waiting for.

The tortino's popularity represents a continuation of a trend that began at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, where Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen earned the nickname "Muffin Man" for his devotion to the Village's chocolate muffins. Athletes this year are filming taste tests in search of that dessert's successor and the tortino al cioccolato is emerging as the treat to beat.

What makes the tortino particularly noteworthy is its limited availability. The dessert has only appeared at the flagship Olympic Village in Milan, whilst competitors staying at satellite locations in Cortina and Livigno report that the cake isn't available in their dining halls.

Tiramisu Earns Viral Fame

Switzerland's Jonas Hasler has become the "Tiramisu Man" of Milano Cortina 2026. Kitchen staff at the Olympic Village prepared tableside tiramisu especially for the snowboarder before his halfpipe qualification. The classic Italian dessert features layers of coffee-soaked savoiardi ladyfingers and mascarpone cream, dusted with cocoa powder.

Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen, the original "Muffin Man" from Paris 2024, passed the torch to Hasler in a TikTok message, saying he was now the official tiramisu man. This dessert has become another viral sensation at the Games, with athletes thrilled to have access to freshly prepared tiramisu in the dining halls.

Pizza Earns Its Place on the Podium

Traditional Italian pizza has earned devoted followers amongst the athletes. Matt Smith, South Africa's sole cross-country skier competing at Milano Cortina 2026, has become something of a social media sensation through his enthusiastic food reviews. His pizza review stands out not merely for the 9.5 out of 10 score he awarded, but for the personal connection he forged with Martina, the kitchen staff member who prepares his orders.

Smith has become famous for getting to know Martina, who makes his pizzas. His wholesome approach to connecting with everyone at the Games has resonated with the Italian public, who've nicknamed him "Grande Matt". The personal touch extended to a specially prepared South African flag pizza, made fresh just for him after he spent time building rapport with the canteen staff.

Nutella Meets Morning Pastries

Perhaps the most photographed item in the dining halls serves as the perfect accompaniment to Italy's morning pastries. Athletes discovered an industrial-sized Nutella dispenser that allows them to pump the chocolate-hazelnut spread directly onto croissants, toast and pancakes.

The dining hall introduced a massive, pump-style dispenser filled with Nutella, which has become a highlight for Olympians who are sharing their reactions online as they scoop generous amounts onto toast, croissants and pancakes. US snowboarder Hahna Norman dubbed it the "Nutella plug", whilst teammate Maddie Mastro called it the "Nutella Keg".

Austrian Baking Heritage in Cortina

The mountain town of Cortina d'Ampezzo brings a rich Austro-Hungarian baking heritage to the Games. Cortina was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for more than a century until 1918, and this cultural legacy lives on in the region's beloved desserts and pastries.

Traditional Austrian pastries feature prominently in Cortina's mountain huts and restaurants. Apple strudel, with its paper-thin pastry and spiced apple filling studded with raisins, is a quintessential offering. The delicate strudel dough is hand-stretched until transparent, then filled with cinnamon-scented apples and baked until golden.

Kaiserschmarrn, a beloved Austrian pancake dish, offers athletes a substantial energy boost. The light, fluffy pancake batter enriched with apple chunks and rum-soaked raisins is torn into bite-sized pieces whilst cooking, then served warm with generous dustings of powdered sugar and cranberry preserve. This dish was historically the favourite dessert of Emperor Franz Joseph and continues to appear on menus throughout the Dolomites.

Linzertorte, Sachertorte and Krapfen round out the Austrian pastry offerings. These traditional baked goods reflect Cortina's position as a borderland between Italian and Austrian culinary traditions.

A Baking Legacy

The baked goods at Milano Cortina 2026 have already secured their place in Olympic lore, joining Paris's chocolate muffins as memorable elements of the Games experience. For Italy, this culinary extravaganza represents more than hospitality—it's a demonstration of how baking can unite people across cultures, providing comfort and joy alongside the pursuit of athletic excellence.

From viral chocolate lava cakes to traditional Austrian strudels, from industrial Nutella dispensers to artisan pizzas, the baking at Milano Cortina 2026 tells a story of tradition, innovation and the universal language of freshly baked goods. As the Games continue, athletes return to the dining halls not merely to refuel, but to experience Italy's generous spirit, one croissant, one tortino and one slice of pizza at a time.