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The Best Cannoli Filling Recipe

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3.9 from 5 reviews

This delightful cannoli filling recipe combines creamy ricotta and mascarpone cheeses with a touch of powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract to create a smooth, whipped, and flavorful filling. Perfect for piping into crunchy cannoli shells and garnishing with chopped pistachios or mini chocolate chips, this easy-to-make treat is a classic Italian dessert ideal for sharing.

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12 large cannoli filled or 24 mini cannoli filled

Ingredients

Cheese Mixture

  • 16 ounces ricotta cheese (drained)
  • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
  • ½ cup powdered sugar (plus more for dusting)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Assembly

  • 12 large cannoli shells (or 24 mini cannoli shells)
  • ½ cup chopped pistachios (or mini chocolate chips or both)

Instructions

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, add drained ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, and powdered sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat the ingredients until they are combined; the mixture will initially appear crumbly.
  2. Whip Mixture: Add ground cinnamon and vanilla extract to the bowl. Continue mixing on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, scraping down the sides occasionally, until the filling becomes smooth, creamy, and well-whipped.
  3. Chill Filling: Using a rubber spatula, transfer the whipped filling into a pastry bag or a zip-top plastic bag. Refrigerate the filling until you are ready to fill the cannoli shells. This helps it firm up and makes piping easier.
  4. Fill Cannoli Shells: Snip off a small corner of the pastry bag tip to create an opening. Carefully pipe the filling into each cannoli shell, filling one half at a time to avoid breakage and ensure an even distribution of filling.
  5. Garnish and Serve: Dip each exposed end of the filled cannoli into chopped pistachios, mini chocolate chips, or a combination of both to add texture and flavor. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar before serving. Serve immediately to enjoy the crunchy shells with creamy filling at their best.

Notes

  • Be sure to drain the ricotta cheese thoroughly using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth before using to prevent the filling from becoming too watery.
  • For extra flavor, you can fold in mini chocolate chips into the filling before piping into the shells.
  • Cannoli shells are delicate; pipe the filling slowly and gently to avoid cracking the shells.
  • This filling is best served fresh; if stored filled, the shells may become soggy over time.
  • Author: Amelia
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Find it online: https://recipesvibe.com/the-best-cannoli-filling-recipe/