Spumoni originated in Naples and
is the ancestor of Neapolitan ice cream. Spumoni ice cream, like
Neapolitan ice cream is a molded Italian ice cream made with layers
of different colors and flavors. The difference is that Spumoni
usually also contains candied fruits and nuts. The name Spumone
comes from spuma or 'foam'. The plural form is spumoni.
Typically it is of three flavors, with a fruit/nut layer between
them. The ice cream layers are often mixed with whipped cream.
Cherry, pistachio, and either chocolate or vanilla are the typical
flavors of the ice cream layers, and the fruit/nut layer often
contains cherry bits, causing the traditional red/pink, green, and
brown color combination. It is popular in places with large Italian
immigrant populations such as the United States and Argentina.
August 21 is National Spumoni Day in the United States. November 13
is National Spumoni Day in Canada.