Cannoli
AI-generated image
Vegetarian Italian

Cannoli

Crisp, lightly sweet baked cannoli shells filled with bright ricotta cream, dark chocolate, pistachios, and orange zest. Baking keeps the classic Italian pastry lighter while preserving its characteristic blistered crunch.

63 min 10 servings Medium
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How to prepare

1
Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, and cocoa powder in a bowl. Mix in the melted butter and beaten egg until a firm, slightly crumbly dough forms, then knead briefly until smooth. Wrap and rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2
Heat the oven to 190°C. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces and roll each one into a very thin oval, about 2 mm thick. Wrap each oval around a lightly greased metal cannoli tube, brushing the overlapping edge with a little water and pressing to seal.
3
Arrange the tubes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 16 to 18 minutes, rotating once, until the shells look dry, lightly browned at the edges, and firm to the touch.
4
Cool the shells on the tubes for 5 minutes, then carefully slide them off and cool completely on a rack. If a shell resists, twist the tube gently rather than pulling the pastry forcefully.
Crisp baked cannoli shell cooling after removal from its tube AI-generated image
5
Mix the drained ricotta, mascarpone, sifted confectioners' sugar, orange zest, and half of the chopped chocolate until smooth but still slightly textured. Chill for 20 minutes so the filling firms.
6
Transfer the chilled filling to a piping bag fitted with a wide round tip. Pipe the filling into both ends of each completely cooled shell, stopping just short of the edges.
7
Dip or sprinkle the filled ends with the remaining chopped chocolate and pistachios. Dust lightly with confectioners' sugar and serve within 1 hour for the crispest shell.
Finished baked cannoli with ricotta filling, chocolate, and pistachios AI-generated image

Why this recipe works

A short-rested dough develops enough structure to bake into crisp, blistered shells, while drained ricotta and a small amount of mascarpone create a stable filling that balances citrus, chocolate, and toasted nuts.

Storage and reheating

How to store it

Store unfilled baked shells in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Refrigerate the ricotta filling in a covered container for up to 2 days.

How to reheat it

Do not reheat filled cannoli. If the unfilled shells lose some crispness, warm them in a 160°C oven for 3 to 4 minutes, then cool completely before filling.

Nutrition / serving

324kcal
9.88 gprotein
30.35 gcarbs
18.52 gfat
P
Pantryvale editorial kitchen
Recipe prepared for publication with complete ingredients and ordered cooking steps.
Published 17 Aug 2026 · updated 17 Aug 2026