Difficulty: Beginner
Do you love Cannolis as much as I do? Like anytime you pass an Italian bakery you have to have one? Anytime you see one on a menu you have to order one?
What’s not to like? The crunchy shell and the creamy, slightly sweet filling are a match made in heaven. Have you ever considered making Cannolis? I never had until this week. I had always thought of a Cannoli as fancy treat from a bakery. Though I bake a lot there are certain things that I don’t consider trying to do myself.
The other day, however, I had an idea. An epiphany you might say. This idea is so stupidly simple and brilliant at the same time. This one little trick makes it possible to have homemade cannolis on your table in a matter of minutes.
I’m using the term homemade loosely, because the filling is homemade, but the shells aren’t. The shells don’t start as shells, so there is a process that you can take credit for.
The next time you have guests over set a plate of these out and they will be impressed that you made them . Only you need to know just how easy it was.
What is this secret ingredient that makes it so easy? What is this cannoli hack that is about to take the internet by storm? Store bought pizzelles and your microwave. Pizzelles are thin wafer like cookies that become pliable for a few seconds after heated in the microwave. You simply heat and then quickly shape into a cannoli shell. Fill with sweetened ricotta and you’re on your way to Italian pastry bliss.
Seriously, when you see how easy this is you’ll be making some tonight.
Recipe
8-10 Store bought Pizzelle Cookies (vanilla or anise)
1 Cup ricotta cheese
1/3 Cup powdered sugar
¼ Mini chocolate chips plus more for garnish
1 tsp vanilla
Method
Place 1 pizzelle on a microwave safe plate and microwave for 25-30 seconds depending on the power of you microwave. Remove the pizzelle and immediately shape into a cannoli shell shape. Continue with the remaining pizzelles and set aside. In a small bowl add ricotta cheese. Add the vanilla and the powdered sugar. Mix until smooth. Add chocolate chips and mix until combined. Put the filling into a piping bag or a plastic storage bag with the corner clipped off. Pipe from the middle of the shell out to the end on one side, then turn the shell around and pipe from the middle out to the other side to ensure even distribution of filling. If desired dip cannoli ends into chocolate chips. If you want to get extra fancy dip cannoli shells into melted chocolate and let cool before adding filling. Makes 8-10, Make sure to fill cannoli shells right before serving. The shells will get soggy as they sit with filling inside of them.
Place 1 pizzelle on a microwave safe plate and microwave for 25-30 seconds depending on the power of you microwave.
Remove the pizzelle and immediately shape into a cannoli shell shape. Continue with the remaining pizzelles and set aside.
In a small bowl add ricotta cheese.
Add the vanilla
and the powdered sugar
Mix until smooth
Add chocolate chips and mix until combined.
If desired dip cannoli ends into chocolate chips.
Make these the next time you have guests and let me know if they were impressed with your skills.