Easy Cannoli recipe with fresh ricotta filling, and decorated to perfection. Italian bakeries step aside for this at home treat.
If you love classic desserts, be sure to try our homemade Cream Puffs. Light and airy with a delicious filling, they’re the perfect treat. Or give our easy cannoli dip recipe a try next!
What is Cannoli?
Cannoli are pastry shells stuffed with a sweet cream filling, usually with Ricotta. Sicily lays claim to being the birthplace of Cannoli although these days they’re considered a broadly Italian dessert specialty.
You need a special metal tube to shape and fry the shells. You can buy the tubes online or make life easier–but an equally delicious route–you can buy premade cannoli shells at the grocery store.
Since this was my first time making cannoli of any kind, and only my second time eating it, I decided to focus on the filling.
If you love Italian desserts, like our homemade Tiramisu, today’s cannoli will surely delight your taste buds!
Be sure to grab a few extra tubs of ricotta. Perfect for homemade spinach lasagna, and to whip up a lemon ricotta cake!
What is Cannoli filling made of?
While there are tons of variations on Cannoli filling, virtually all of them include Ricotta cheese and powdered sugar.
Similar to our favorite cannoli dip, I also used mascarpone cheese and almond extract, along with candied orange peel to replicate the Disney version my family loved.
My kids ate these up in Disney, and begged me to make them at home. So here it is: An authentic homemade cannoli recipe!
Ingredient Notes
- Ricotta cheese
- Mascarpone cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Candied orange peel – Homemade or store bought
- Almond extract
- Optional garnishes: chocolate chips, pistachios, sprinkles, more powdered sugar
How to Make the Filling
Mix ricotta with mascarpone and powdered sugar until fluffy and smooth. Beat in almond extract. Fold in candied oranges. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until ready to use.
To fill the shells:
Pipe filling into shells. Sprinkle with chocolate chips or powdered sugar. Eat immediately! Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Chocolate Cannoli: I added a little more chocolate by dipping the ends of each shell into melted semi sweet chocolate then allowing it to harden before stuffing with the filling. Delicious!
- Toppings: A little powdered sugar is all you really need for perfectly elegant looking cannoli. The chocolate chips, pistachios, and sprinkles added a little bit more fun to the finished look!
- Can you make Cannoli ahead of time? You can prep the Cannoli filling ahead of time, as much as a day in advance of serving. Once the shells are stuffed with the filling they need to be served right away!
More Italian Recipes
- Lasagna
- Copycat Olive Garden Salad
- Tuscan Garlic Chicken
- Bruschetta
- Almond Croissants
- Italian Ricotta Cookies
- Blackened Salmon Pasta
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Cannoli
Ingredients
- 12 cannoli shells premade
For the filling:
- 1 ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup orange peel candy chopped
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- chocolate chips, sprinkles, pistachios (chopped) powdered sugar, optional
Instructions
- For the filling, mix ricotta with mascarpone and powdered sugar until fluffy and smooth. Beat in almond extract. Fold in candied oranges. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until ready to use.
- To serve, pipe filling into cannoli shells. (I dipped the ends of my shells in melted Ghirardelli dark chocolate and allowed to harden). Sprinkle with chocolate chips, sprinkles, pistachios, or powdered sugar. Eat immediately! Enjoy!
Notes
- Cannoli shells can be found in the Italian food section of most large grocery stores. You can use as is, or dip the ends in melted chocolate!
- Orange peel candy can be made using my recipe, or use tiny pieces of orange slice candy found in the candy aisle.
Video
Nutrition
Cannoli makes for an impressive dessert for any special occasion. It’s fancy enough to wow all the grown ups and kids love them too–especially with extra sprinkles!
I grew up with cannoli. Our family drained fresh ricotta before using, did not add mascarpone but did add a tablespoon of orange flower water, candied orange peel, and chopped dark chocolate bits. Since cannoli represented fertility, they would put half a candied cherry at one end and two small strips of candied citron, crossed, at the other end, as a metaphor for the male, well, you know. Now I dip the ends of the cannoli shell in a little melted chocolate before filling, and dip each end of the filled cannoli in chopped pistachios.
Nice blog on Cannoli. The instructions are simple to follow, and the filling looks excellent. Thank you for sharing.
I am curious about your bu sin ess name…Shugary treats because my last name is Schug, often in past generations, Shug. There is a Schug Winery in California, chocolate shop in Mississippi, bakery in Germany and now ,maybe your sweets. Sounds like the Shugs and Schugs have great taste!
Going to try your recipe for the candied orange cannoli to bring to a friend.
These look lovely!
These are amazing! Made them for the family and they loved them!
Oh these look so good! I’ve always wanted to make cannoli as well. I might need to inch them up on my to-bake list!
I say take your cannoli and open up an Italian bakery. You’re in business, baby!
anonymous, thanks for the catch, just fixed it! I chop the orange peel candy!
These sound so good! Do you chop the orange peel candy or leave it in strips?
Oh my goodness these sound amazing! I’d love for you to link up with me at my link party! Hope to see you there 🙂
http://www.thekurtzcorner.com/2011/08/tuesday-tutorials-link-party-no-4.html
I love cannolis! It might take me two years to get the nerve to make them. It intimidates me. Congrats for making them yourself!
Umm, I get equally excited about Epcot Mexico’s churros. It’s totally legit. 🙂
These look scrumptious! This is my first visit. I found you through Cast Party Wednesday and now I am your newest follower! Can’t wait to make this recipe!
They look so yummy! Thanks for sharing…I found you through Ginger Snap Crafts:)
Oooohhhh, these sound…and LOOK…absolutely FABULOUS!! YUM!
Deborah (happily visiting from
http://upcyclingmylife.blogspot.com/)