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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Chocolate Cannoli with Ricotta & Pistachios

    Published: Mar 2, 2014 · Modified: Nov 18, 2019 by Andrea

    Jump to Recipe

    Cannoli, the worldwide famous dessert from the island I was born, Sicily.

    There's not even an English translation for it, because they're simply unique. A sweet fried dough filled with the most fresh Ricotta di pecora (not from cow but from ewe/sheep), bits of dark chocolate and sprinkled pistachios. Come on, no wonder they represent Sicily around the world.

    The first time these delicious sweet treats arrived on Sicilian tables was, guess what? During Carnival !

    Cannoli were originally made during this festive season to make fun of whoever poor friend attempted to eat them.

    One side was filled with the delicious ricotta cream, the other with cotton wool. Can you imagine their faces after the little surprise? I'm still laughing at the idea!

    Frankly, I have made cannoli shells only once. They're amazing, but require time that I often don't have.

    So, I decided to skip that part for this recipe and bought already-made cannoli shells. Blame on me, but let's be honest, if you want to satisfy your cravings for Sicilian cannoli, this is the best and quickest way possible.

    A sweet fried crispy dough dipped in dark chocolate and filled with the most fresh citrusy ricotta cheese, bits of dark chocolate and pistachios. The most famous Sicilian dessert in the world! Recipe from The Petite Cook

    You can easily find already-made shells in most of the Italian food shops;  if you want to go for the homemade version, I suggest this recipe from Parsley, sage and sweet , is the most accurate and precise you can find around the web!

    Now, let's talk about my own version of cannoli.

    A chocolate addicted friend especially requested them for a Sunday  "merenda" ( Italian word for an afternoon snack break , that can last hours).
    I love the ricotta filling, but i like to keep it basic and lighter than the original version. So, I gave a rich touch to the shells instead, and brushed them with dark chocolate. A sprinkle of crumbled pistachios on top did the rest of the job.

    If you're looking for a lighter, quicker version, why not try these mouth-watering Mini Cannoli Truffles?

    A sweet fried crispy dough dipped in dark chocolate and filled with the most fresh citrusy ricotta cheese, bits of dark chocolate and pistachios. Cannoli are the most famous Sicilian dessert in the world! Recipe from The Petite Cook
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    5 from 1 vote

    Chocolate Cannoli with Ricotta

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Chocolate cannoli are impossible to resist! A sweet fried crispy dough dipped in dark chocolate and filled with the most fresh citrusy ricotta cheese, bits of dark chocolate and pistachios. The most famous Sicilian dessert in the world!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Serving: 6
    Calories: 418kcal
    Author: Andrea Soranidis

    Ingredients

    • 6 cannoli shells
    • 400 g ricotta cheese, fresh and well-drained
    • 150 g sugar
    • ½ tablespoon orange zest
    • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 tablespoon pistachios , finely chopped
    • 100 g 70% dark chocolate, chopped

    Instructions

    • In a food processor or by hand, mix together ricotta, sugar, vanilla and orange zest, on low-speed. Beat the cheese mixture until you reach a creamy combined texture. Refrigerate for 15 mins.
    • Meanwhile, microwave the ¾ of the chopped chocolate until fully melted, stirring every 30 secs, on med-low power. Mix in the remaining chocolate and stir until combined.
    • Place the cannolo shells on a small tray covered with parchment. Brush them with the melted chocolate, until fully covered. Sprinkle with pistachios and cool until set.
    • Transfer the ricotta cream into a piping bag. Fill each chocolate cannolo shell with the cream and serve immediately.
    Did you try this recipe? Tag @thepetitecook or use the hashtag #thepetitecook - Looking at your pictures makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 316IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 6mg

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

     

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    Comments

    1. June Baby says

      August 07, 2014 at 3:40 am

      That looks awesome! I've never tried chocolate cannoli but they sound great. 🙂

      Reply
      • The Petite Cook says

        August 14, 2014 at 9:17 pm

        Oh yes you should really really try it! It s sicilian most favorite dessert, there must be a reason.. we re such foodies in sicily 🙂

        Reply
    2. [email protected] N Cookies says

      April 06, 2014 at 10:58 pm

      These look fantastic! I love cannoli, but I've never made them for myself. Your recipe looks quick and simple, but ever so elegant. And as you've said, it also looks lighter than many recipes. I'm looking forward to trying these!

      Reply
      • The Petite Cook says

        April 08, 2014 at 2:09 am

        Jamie I'm so glad you liked it 🙂 Even if I'm sicilian, I only recently started to make cannoli by myself, and it's so satisfying!! When you try to make them, let me know the result 🙂

        Reply

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    Andrea Soranidis, founder of The Petite Cook.


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