Make Your Own Cannolis – Easy Cannoli Cream

Last Updated on June 16, 2021 by Ellen Christian

Wondering how to make your own cannolis? It’s easy! Make this easy cannoli cream and enjoy homemade cannolis for dessert today.

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I love decadent dessert recipes like cannolis. I have to admit that I don’t splurge that often. But, when I do, I enjoy making them from scratch.

Have you had a chance to try any of my other dessert recipes? My Italian Easter Pie is another one of my favorite Italian dessert recipes. Or, this Italian Christmas Trifle is a decadent treat at any time of the year.

three cannolis on a purple plate

Tips to Make Classic Cannolis

Cannolis are the one dessert I remember most fondly from my childhood.  There was a little Italian bakery downtown that my mom and I would visit occasionally to buy cannolis.  

They were always a major treat because it wasn’t something that my mom ever made at home.  I had no idea that I could make my own cannolis at home but I recently received a PizzellePro and have learned I can.

a dish of cannoli shells

How to make cannoli shells

So, the first thing that you need to do is to make the outer shell. With the PizzellePro, you will make a Pizzelle which is a flat Italian cookie.

When it’s still warm, you will wrap it around a cannoli tube to make it round. As it cools, it will hold the round tube-like shape. Or, you can simply fold them in thirds.

I used the recipe for the shells that came with the PizzellePro. If you want to make the shells without a PizzellPro, check out the video at the end. 

You can also buy premade cannoli shells if you do not want to make them yourself. Look in the frozen section or refrigerated section of your grocery store.

Wondering how to make your own cannolis? It's easy! Make this easy cannoli cream and enjoy homemade cannolis for dessert today.

What do you dip cannolis in?

Traditionally, you will dip each end of the cannoli in something to make it look pretty. I’ve used mini chocolate chips in the past which are a hit with the kids. But, a classic Italian cannoli will be dipped in chopped pistachios with candied orange peel on one side.

But, I have also seen people use sprinkles. So, feel free to be as creative as you want to. When you make your own cannolis, it’s easy to use whatever toppings you want.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make cannoli shells without tubes

If you don’t have a cannoli tube, you can make your own. You will need a dowel and aluminum foil. Just wrap the foil around the dowel and use that instead. The dowel should be about 1 1/4″ around.

After these cool completely, you will make the easy cannoli cream recipe below and then pipe it into the cannoli shells. You will need a piping bag and tips to do this.

ingredients to make cannolis on a white table

Should you refrigerate cannoli?

Don’t fill the cannoli shells too far in advance. Ideally, you should add the filling right before you serve them. Otherwise, the cannoli shells will get soggy. I would not make them ahead and refrigerate them for this reason. 

If you want to make the shells ahead of time, you can. Just store them in an airtight bag on the counter for up to two days. But, they are better fresh.

a plate of cannolis with cannoli cream and pistachios

Easy Cannoli Cream

The cream filling in a cannoli is basically cream, ricotta cheese, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla, and corn starch to thicken if necessary. You will whip the cream until it has stiff peaks. Then, you will combine the rest of the ingredients carefully. And, you will need to pipe the filling into the cooled cannoli shells.

So, check out the recipe for easy cannoli cream and learn how to make your own cannolis today.

Yield: 10

How to Make Your Own Cannolis - Easy Cannoli Cream

Wondering how to make your own cannolis? It's easy! Make this easy cannoli cream and enjoy homemade cannolis for dessert today.

Wondering how to make your own cannolis? It's easy! Make this easy cannoli cream and enjoy homemade cannolis for dessert today.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Inactive Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Ricotta cheese (low moisture)
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
  • Candied orange strips

Instructions

  1. You must use low moisture ricotta or if you cannot find low moisture ricotta, you must drain all the moisture out of the ricotta or your cannolis will look like the below picture and not the above picture.
  2. Mix all the ingredients together gently.
  3. Fill the cannoli shells using a pastry bag.
  4. Chop the pistachios and press one end of each cannoli into them.
  5. Place a candied orange peel strip on the other end.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 64mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 5g

Did you make this recipe?

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6 thoughts on “Make Your Own Cannolis – Easy Cannoli Cream”

  1. reading the ingredients, It calls for cream, then ricotta…
    But it doesn’t state how much cream is used????
    Can you please tell me how much, which cream?

    Reply
  2. Holy Cannoli! These look great and seem fairly easy to make. I may have an idea for a birthday present, the Pizzellepro

    Reply

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