How to Make Cannoli Filling

Learn how to make cannoli with this easy and delicious recipe. This classic
Italian dessert features crispy cannoli shells + creamy cannoli filling +
crunchy mini chocolate chips. Perfect for Christmas or special occasions. I skip
frying the shells and fussing with a cannoli mold and use store-bought cannoli
shells for ease.

Servings: 8 cannolis

Author:

Prep Time
15 minutes

Inactive Time
6 hours

Total Time
6 hours, 15 minutes

Course:

Dessert

Cuisine:

Italian Chocolate

Keywords:

Cannoli chocolate recipes Italian Food

🧂 Ingredients

8 cannoli shells, homemade or store bought will work
2 cups ricotta cheese
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus extra for dusting
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons fresh orange zest

Instructions

1 Place the ricotta cheese into a fine mesh strainer and place it in the fridge to
drain for at least 6 hours and up to 24 hours.
2 In a large bowl combine the drained ricotta cheese, confectioners’ sugar, 1/4
cup of the mini chocolate chips, vanilla extract, and orange zest (if using);
mix well. Using a spatula, carefully scrape the mixture into pastry bag fitted
with a 1/2 inch open tip. Use at once, or refrigerate until needed; filling can
be made up to 24 hours in advance.
3 When ready to serve, pipe the filling into one end of cannoli shell, filling
shell halfway, then pipe into other end. If you don’t have a piping bag, you may
spoon the filling into the shells. Repeat with remaining shells.
4 Place remaining mini chocolate chips on a small plate. Dip each end of the
cannoli into the chocolate chips, then lightly dust with confectioner’s sugar.
Serve at once.