Cannoli is a beloved Italian pastry that features crisp, fried pastry shells filled with a sweet, creamy filling, often garnished with powdered sugar and chopped nuts like pistachios. This classic dessert is perfect for special occasions or whenever you crave a delightful treat.
Cannoli are crispy, golden pastry shells filled with a rich ricotta cream, chocolate chips, and a hint of cinnamon—an irresistible Italian classic!
Why These Cannoli Are the Best
Crispy Pastry Shells: The pastry shells are fried to a perfect golden-brown, providing a satisfying crunch with every bite.
Sweet and Creamy Filling: The filling is smooth and sweet, often made with ricotta cheese and sometimes flavored with ingredients like vanilla, chocolate chips, or citrus zest.
Beautiful Presentation: The cannoli in the image are dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with chopped pistachios on the ends, making them visually appealing and perfect for any occasion.
Perfect for Any Occasion
Whether you’re celebrating a special event, hosting a dinner party, or simply enjoying a sweet treat, Cannoli are the perfect choice. The combination of crispy shells, creamy filling, and beautiful presentation makes them a crowd-pleaser that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredient Notes
Cannoli Shells:
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the dough, providing structure and crispness.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds a hint of sweetness to balance the rich filling.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the shells.
- Unsalted Butter (cold and diced): Creates a flaky, crispy texture when fried.
- Large Egg: Helps bind the dough and provides richness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar/Grape Juice: Adds flavor and tenderness to the dough while aiding in crispness.
- Egg or Egg White (for sealing): Helps seal the cannoli shells before frying, keeping them intact.
Cannoli Filling:
- Ricotta Cheese (strained): The creamy, rich base of the filling, providing a smooth yet slightly grainy texture.
- Heavy Cream: Adds extra richness and helps achieve a luscious consistency.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the filling without a grainy texture.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Provide little bursts of chocolatey goodness in every bite.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds a subtle warmth that enhances the filling’s flavor.
- Chopped Pistachios (optional): Offer a nutty crunch that pairs beautifully with the creamy filling.
Tips for Making the Best Cannoli
- Resting the Dough: The resting period is essential as it relaxes the gluten, making the dough easier to roll and shape, ensuring a delicate and crisp shell.
- Handling Dough Shrinkage: It’s normal for the dough circles to shrink slightly. Gently stretch them to snugly fit around the cannoli forms.
- Utilizing Dough Scraps: Gather any leftover dough, form it into a ball, and let it rest for about 10 minutes before re-rolling. This ensures the dough remains pliable and easy to work with.
- Frying Precision: Maintaining an oil temperature of 325°F (160°C) is key. Oil that is too hot will brown the shells too quickly, while oil that is too cool may cause the shells to absorb excess oil, resulting in greasiness.
- Filling with Finesse: For a neat and professional presentation, use a piping bag with a wide nozzle to fill the shells, ensuring an even distribution of the sumptuous ricotta filling.
- Serving Suggestion: Cannoli are best enjoyed within a few hours of preparation, as the shells may absorb moisture from the filling over time, leading to a softer texture.
- Make-Ahead Tips: For convenience, store the cannoli shells at room temperature for up to a week, and keep the filling refrigerated for up to 5 days. Assemble just before serving to maintain optimal crispness.
Serving Suggestions
- With a Cup of Coffee: Enjoy Cannoli with a hot cup of coffee for a perfect afternoon treat.
- With Fresh Berries: Serve with fresh berries for a burst of flavor and color.
- With a Dusting of Powdered Sugar: Finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar for a classic touch.
- With a Drizzle of Chocolate: Add a drizzle of melted chocolate for an indulgent twist.
- With a Scoop of Ice Cream: Serve with a scoop of vanilla or pistachio ice cream for an extra indulgence.
A Must Try
Imagine biting into one of these Cannoli—each bite offering a perfect blend of crispy pastry shell and smooth, sweet filling, all garnished with powdered sugar and chopped pistachios. Perfect for sharing with family and friends, these Cannoli are sure to bring joy to any occasion. So, gather your ingredients and create these delightful treats to impress your loved ones and make special moments even more memorable!
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Cannoli
Ingredients
- 2 ⅓ cups 280 g all purpose flour
- ¼ cup 60 ml Apple Cider Vinegar/Grape Juice
- 2 tbsp 25 gr granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp 42 gr unsalted butter cold and diced
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg or egg white for sealing
- For the filling:
- 2 pounds 900 gr ricotta cheese strained
- 1 cup 120 gr powdered sugar
- ¾ cup 170 gr mini chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp 30 ml heavy cream
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup 30 gr pistachios chopped, optional
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ricotta
- Place the ricotta in a cheesecloth-lined colander set over a bowl and allow it to chill in the refrigerator overnight. This process ensures excess moisture is elegantly removed, yielding a perfectly textured filling.
Step 2: Crafting the Dough
- In your food processor, blend together the flour, sugar, and salt. Introduce the butter and pulse just a few times until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add in the egg and a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar, blending until a cohesive dough forms. Should the dough feel overly loose, incorporate an extra tablespoon of flour.
Step 3: Kneading and Resting
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until it becomes smooth and supple. Encase the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour. This crucial resting period allows the gluten to relax, ensuring a tender final product.
Step 4: Shaping the Cannoli Shells
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough out thinly with a rolling pin. Using a cookie cutter, cut out circles approximately 3 to 3 ½ inches in diameter. Carefully wrap each dough circle around a cannoli mold, sealing the edge with a brush of egg white to secure its shape.
Step 5: Frying the Shells
- Heat two inches of oil in a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven to a precise 325°F (160°C). Fry each dough-wrapped form for about one minute or until a beautiful golden hue emerges. Transfer the shells to a cooling rack and, while still warm, gently remove the cannoli forms.
Step 6: Assembling the Filling
- In a large bowl, combine the prepared, well-drained ricotta with heavy cream, powdered sugar, and a touch of cinnamon. For an added burst of flavor and texture, gently fold in chocolate chips and/or pistachios. If opting for both mix-ins, consider dividing the mixture into two bowls to maintain balance in flavor.
Step 7: Finishing Touches
- Using a piping bag fitted with a wide nozzle, fill the cooled cannoli shells with the luxurious ricotta mixture. For an extra hint of decadence, dip the ends of each cannoli in crushed pistachios or sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.
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Cannoli are crispy, golden pastry shells filled with a rich ricotta cream, chocolate chips, and a hint of cinnamon—an irresistible Italian classic!