Simple Italian Recipes: How to Make Cannoli

Since we can’t go to Italy right now, we thought we’d bring a little bit of Italy home to you. Today I am focusing on Cannoli – a treat my grandmother used to make. I learned how to make cannoli when I was about 10, although I was never able to master the cannoli shells. I can make them but they just aren’t the same. When I was in Sicily recently, I tried cannoli every opportunity possible – from nicer restaurant desserts to bus-station and petrol station mini-marts. Some were exceptional, and some were just so-so, with price not factoring into the taste and quality of the filling at all.

We are temporarily not able to travel to our favorite destinations, but we can bring some of the flavors into our homes.

If you like cannoli, watch our video on how to make cannoli and see how easy it is!

Ingredients:
2 C – Ricotta Cheese (see my video on how to make home-made ricotta cheese)
1/3 C – Sugar (granulated)
1/4 C – Milk chocolate* (we use Hershey’s milk chocolate with almonds)
3 T – Heavy cream (if ricotta is dry)
3 T – Powdered sugar (for dusting)
1 T – Almond Meal (optional)
1 t – Cinnamon
1/2 t – Vanilla
6-8 Maraschino Cherries

Supplies:
Medium bowl for mixing
Spatula
Sandwich bag – cut 1/2 slit in the corner (or pastry bag if you have one)
Mixer – (optional)
Small strainer (or sifter)
Grater (you can also chop the chocolate or put in food processor)

*You can use semi-sweet chocolate. Alternatively, use small chocolate chips as well.

Place chocolate bar in the freezer. Once frozen, shred or chop.

In a medium bowl, add Ricotta and Vanilla and mix thoroughly. Slowly add in chocolate, granulated sugar, almond meal, cinnamon, and mix until well blended. If mixture appears too dry, add in the cream. Place about 1 c of the mixture in the sandwich baggie. Squeeze mixture into cannoli shells until full. Gently dust the cannolis with powdered sugar. Cut maraschino cherries in half and place 1/2 of each on either end of the cannoli.

You can also sprinkle the cannoli with chopped pistachios or grated chocolate.

I purchased my vanilla and cinnamon from Savory Spice, a local Colorado retailer. They have 22 locations nationwide and also sell products online. Savory Spice ships worldwide so if you are looking for high-quality herbs and spices, check them out.

Savory Spice: https://www.savoryspiceshop.com/