While wandering the canals and cobblestone streets of Venice last spring, I encountered a piece of candy that really made me smile. Have you ever eaten such a jolly piece of candy?

Before the spumoni police come to get me, I do realize that "spumoni" is a semi-frozen Italian dessert, similar to ice cream, mixed with lots of nuts, chocolates and other goodies.

But this confection, a "spamoni," as it was sold to me in Venice, was a very different sort of thing. It was basically a glorified marshmallow with a subtle, sweet flavor and a fun, spongy texture as well as a long (for some reason hilarious) shape. It's freshness was a stark contrast to the stale, commercially–produced marshmallows we've all had from the grocery store in the US. Coiled up in a knot, untied and fashioned into a hat or necklace, I've never had a piece of candy make me laugh so hard.

Have you tried one of these spamonis?

Related: A Taste of Italy: 15 Recipes for Summer

(Images: Leela Cyd Ross)