Dreamy Homemade Cannoli Filling Recipe: Sweet Treat Magic

Creamy, rich cannoli filling captures the heart of Italian dessert magic.

This delectable cannoli filling brings authentic Sicilian flavors straight to your kitchen.

Pastry chefs and home bakers alike adore the smooth, sweet mixture that makes every bite extraordinary.

Ricotta cheese forms the perfect base for this classic treat.

Whipping together simple ingredients creates a decadent filling that melts in your mouth.

The secret lies in using high-quality ricotta and carefully blending each component.

You’ll fall in love with this irresistible cannoli filling that promises to delight your taste buds and impress even the most discerning dessert enthusiasts.

Serve Cannoli with That Bakery Look

• Festive Cannoli Plating: Dust the filled cannoli with powdered sugar for a stunning snow-like effect that elevates presentation.
• Sweet Companion Treats: Serve alongside espresso or Italian coffee to complement the rich, creamy filling and enhance the traditional dessert experience.
• Garnish Galore: Sprinkle chopped pistachios or chocolate shavings on the ends of the cannoli for added texture and visual appeal that delights guests.
• Seasonal Celebration Style: Arrange cannoli on a beautiful platter with fresh berries or mint leaves to create an elegant dessert display that looks as amazing as it tastes.

Cannoli Storage Without the Hassle

• Store the cannoli filling in an airtight container within the refrigerator for maximum quality, keeping it cold for up to 3 days before potential texture changes occur.
• Transfer the filling into a sealed pastry bag or container with a tight lid to prevent moisture absorption and maintain its rich, creamy consistency.
• Allow the prepared filling to cool completely at room temperature before refrigeration, which helps stabilize its texture and prevents unwanted condensation.
• Prepare filling just before serving for the most vibrant taste and smoothest texture, ensuring each cannoli bite delivers maximum deliciousness and prevents potential ingredient separation.

FAQs

• What ingredients make the cannoli filling creamy and rich?

Ricotta cheese is the key ingredient, providing a smooth, velvety texture. Adding powdered sugar and mascarpone cheese helps create a sweet, luxurious consistency that makes the filling irresistibly rich.

• Can I adjust the sweetness of the cannoli filling?

Yes, you can easily control the sweetness by gradually adding powdered sugar and tasting as you mix. Start with a smaller amount of sugar and increase to your preferred level of sweetness.

• How do I prevent the cannoli filling from becoming watery?

Drain the ricotta cheese thoroughly by placing it in a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. This removes excess moisture and ensures a thick, creamy filling.

• What are the best mix-ins for cannoli filling?

Chocolate chips, candied orange peel, chopped pistachios, and mini chocolate chips are traditional and delicious mix-ins that add texture and flavor to the classic cannoli filling.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 275 kcal

Servings: 12

Cannoli Filling Ingredient Rundown

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides essential structure and texture for the cookie dough, seeking high-quality unbleached flour ensures better results.
• Cocoa Powder: Adds rich chocolate depth and deep color, opt for unsweetened dark cocoa for intense flavor.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light, choose aluminum-free for cleaner taste.
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves: Warm spices that create complex, aromatic background notes, freshly ground spices offer maximum flavor intensity.

• Butter: Creates tender, rich base, use high-quality unsalted butter at room temperature for smooth mixing.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps cookies spread, select fine-textured sugar for even distribution.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add moisture, choose fresh large eggs at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity, pure vanilla delivers superior taste compared to artificial versions.
• Orange or Lemon Zest: Introduces bright citrus notes, use fresh citrus for vibrant, authentic flavor.
• Milk: Softens dough and adds subtle moisture, whole milk provides richer results.

• Mini Chocolate Chips, Nuts: Adds textural interest and extra flavor dimension, choose high-quality chocolate or freshly toasted nuts for best results.

Must-Have Tools for Cannoli Prep

• Electric mixer: Powerful tool for creaming butter and beating ingredients smoothly.
• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining wet and dry ingredients.
• Medium bowl: Perfect for whisking dry ingredients.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements for accurate recipe results.
• Whisk: Great for blending dry ingredients evenly.
• Baking sheets: Needed for baking cookies.
• Parchment paper or silicone mats: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Spatula: Helps scrape and mix ingredients thoroughly.
• Tablespoon scoop or cookie scoop: Creates uniform cookie sizes.

Pipe Perfect Cannoli Filling at Home

• Prepare Ricotta Cheese

Drain ricotta in a fine-mesh strainer to remove excess liquid. Let it sit for about 30 minutes to ensure a thick, creamy consistency.

• Mix Filling Base

In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained ricotta with powdered sugar. Whisk thoroughly until smooth and no lumps remain.

• Add Flavor Enhancers

Stir in vanilla extract and finely grated orange zest. Mix well to distribute flavors evenly throughout the filling.

• Incorporate Chocolate Bits

Gently fold in mini chocolate chips, distributing them carefully to ensure even spread throughout the mixture.

• Chill and Set

Cover the filling and refrigerate for at least one hour. This helps the flavors meld and creates a firmer texture for easier piping into cannoli shells.

• Final Preparation

Remove from refrigerator and give a quick stir before filling cannoli shells. For best results, use a piping bag or spoon to fill shells just before serving to maintain crispness.

Sweet Tips to Enhance Cannoli Flavor

• Drain ricotta cheese overnight in a cheesecloth-lined strainer to remove excess moisture, ensuring a thick, creamy filling without wateriness.
• Experiment with different extracts like almond or rum to add depth, or fold in finely chopped dark chocolate for extra richness.
• Use lactose-free ricotta for a dairy-sensitive version, or swap whole milk ricotta with part-skim ricotta to reduce overall fat content.
• Prepare the cannoli filling up to 2 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
• Top with candied orange peel, crushed pistachios, or a light dusting of powdered sugar to add visual appeal and complementary textures to the classic cannoli filling.

Luscious Cannoli Filling Recipe

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4.9 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Classic cannoli filling blends ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a creamy Sicilian dessert delight. Cinnamon and chocolate chips elevate this traditional Italian treat with irresistible richness you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
• ⅓ cup (30 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp orange or lemon zest
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup (120 ml) milk
• 23 tbsps milk or orange juice
• ½ cup (80 g) mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts (optional)
• Colored sprinkles
• Chopped nuts

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Combine ricotta, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and optional citrus zest in a spacious mixing bowl, whisking until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy with no lumps.
2. Flavor Enhancement: Fold in mini chocolate chips or finely chopped pistachios, distributing ingredients evenly throughout the filling for a delightful textural contrast.
3. Consistency Adjustment: If the mixture appears too runny, incorporate mascarpone cheese or additional powdered sugar to achieve a thick, pipeable consistency that holds its shape.
4. Chilling Process: Cover the filling with plastic wrap, pressing directly onto the surface to prevent skin formation, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and texture to firm up.
5. Piping Technique: Transfer the chilled filling to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip, ensuring smooth and elegant filling for traditional cannoli shells.
6. Final Touch: Carefully pipe the filling into crisp cannoli shells, filling from both ends to ensure complete coverage, and dust with additional powdered sugar just before serving.

Notes

• Ingredient Temperature Matters: Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for smoother, more even mixing and better incorporation of ingredients.
• Avoid Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined to prevent tough, dense cookies with a heavy texture.
• Chocolate Chip Variation: Fold chocolate chips or nuts gently at the end to distribute evenly without deflating the delicate batter.
• Precise Baking Time: Watch cookies closely during final minutes of baking, as golden edges indicate perfect doneness without burning.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 292
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 153 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg