Hamdi Saidani This Chocolate Cannoli recipe is a creamy and crispy dessert, which is made with ricotta and bittersweet chocolate. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, ready in about 40 minutes.
Chocolate Cannoli Recipe Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted pistachios
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons golden raisins
- 1 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate
- 1 cup ricotta
- 14 cannoli shells
How To Make Chocolate Cannoli
- Toast the Pistachios: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pistachios on a baking sheet and toast for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crisp and fragrant. Let them cool completely, then finely chop them.
- Whip the Cream: In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of the sugar until it holds soft peaks.
- Make the Ricotta Filling: In a separate large bowl, combine the whipped cream, golden raisins, 1/3 of the chopped chocolate, 1/3 of the chopped pistachios, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar. Gently fold this mixture into the ricotta until just combined.
- Fill the Cannoli: When you are ready to serve, spoon the ricotta filling into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe the filling into the cannoli shells from each end, ensuring they are filled completely.
- Garnish and Serve: On a plate, mix the remaining chopped chocolate and pistachios. Dip each end of the filled cannoli into the mixture to garnish. Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- How to keep cannoli shells crispy? This is the most important rule of making cannoli! Do not fill the shells until you are absolutely ready to serve them. The crisp shells will become soft and soggy within an hour of being filled.
- What’s the best way to fill cannoli? Using a pastry bag with a wide, round tip is the easiest and cleanest way to fill the shells completely from both ends without breaking them.
- Can I make the filling ahead of time? Yes, absolutely. The ricotta filling can be made up to a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This makes assembly very quick.
- Why toast the pistachios? Toasting the nuts is a crucial step that you shouldn’t skip. It intensifies their deep, nutty flavor and makes them extra crunchy, which provides a beautiful textural contrast to the creamy filling.
What To Serve With Chocolate Cannoli
Cannoli are a classic Italian-American dessert that are a complete treat on their own. They are the perfect ending to a rich Italian meal and are traditionally paired with:
- A strong cup of espresso or a cappuccino
- A small glass of a sweet dessert wine, like Vin Santo
How To Store Chocolate Cannoli
- Best Eaten Fresh: Filled cannoli have a very short shelf life and must be eaten within an hour for the best crispy texture.
- Store Components Separately: The best way to store them is to keep the unfilled cannoli shells in an airtight container at room temperature and the ricotta filling in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Assemble just before serving.
Chocolate Cannoli Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 cannolo
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 7g
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Sugar: 18g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
What kind of ricotta cheese should I use?
For the best, creamiest, and least watery filling, it is essential to use a high-quality, whole-milk ricotta cheese. It’s also a great idea to let the ricotta drain in a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth for an hour to remove any excess whey.
What if I don’t have a pastry bag?
If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can use a sturdy zip-top plastic bag. Just fill the bag with the ricotta mixture, push it into one corner, and snip off the corner to create a makeshift piping tip.
Can I use a different kind of nut?
Yes. While pistachios are a classic pairing, these would also be delicious with finely chopped toasted almonds or hazelnuts for the garnish.
Try More Recipes:
- Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese and Walnuts Recipe
- Super-Simple Apple-Cinnamon Dessert Crepes Recipe
- Pecan Squares Recipe
Chocolate Cannoli Recipe
Description
A classic Italian-American pastry featuring a crisp, sweet shell filled with a creamy ricotta, studded with chocolate chips, and garnished with toasted pistachios.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Toast the pistachios in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes; let cool and chop finely.
- Whip the heavy cream with 1 tbsp of sugar until soft peaks form.
- In a large bowl, gently fold the whipped cream, raisins, 1/3 of the chopped chocolate, and 1/3 of the chopped pistachios into the ricotta.
- Just before serving, pipe the ricotta filling into the cannoli shells from both ends.
- Mix the remaining chocolate and pistachios on a plate.
- Dip each end of the filled cannoli into the chocolate-pistachio mixture to garnish.
Notes
- The most important tip for this recipe is to not fill the cannoli shells until the moment you are ready to serve them to ensure the shells stay perfectly crisp.
- For the creamiest filling, use a high-quality, whole-milk ricotta cheese and drain it of any excess liquid.
- Toasting the pistachios before chopping them is a non-negotiable step that deeply enhances their nutty flavor.
- Using a pastry bag makes filling the cannoli quick, easy, and clean.
