How To Make Baked Cannolis

 

How To Make Homemade Baked Cannolis

Crispy cannoli shells with a creamy ricotta filling

Cannolis, a popular Italian dessert, consist of crispy shells filled with creamy ricotta filling flavored with vanilla, orange zest, and chocolate chips. I am sharing my recipe for the homemade cannoli shells paired with a creamy ricotta filling. You can use an air fryer to prepare these, which will make cannolis that will taste just as amazing as the fried version.

Makes 16

For the cannoli shells:

• 1 cup (125g) All purpose flour

• 1/2 cup (65g) Whole wheat flour*

• 2.5 tbsp (35g) Softened salted butter

• 1/2 tbsp Unsweetened cocoa

• 1 tbsp (12g) Sugar

• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon

• 1/2 cup - 2/3 cup (as needed) Apple or grape juice

• 1 tsp White vinegar

• Oil for brushing

For the ricotta filling:

• 15 oz (425g) Whole milk ricotta cheese

• 2/3 cup (80g) Powdered sugar

• 1 tsp Vanilla extract

• Zest of 1 orange

• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Mini chocolate chips

• 2 tbsp Chopped pistachios

*An additional 1/2 cup of all purpose flour can be used instead of whole wheat flour.

A step by step video with this recipe can be found here:

1. To make the ricotta stuffing: Line a strainer with cheese cloth or paper towel and add the ricotta cheese. Let it strain for 4-5 hours in refrigerator. To the strained cheese, add powdered sugar, vanilla, orange zest and chocolate chips. Mix well and refrigerate.

2. To make the cannoli shells: Combine the all purpose and whole wheat flour. Add the cocoa, ground cinnamon, butter, sugar. Mix well. Add the juice gradually to form a semi-stiff dough. Do not over knead the dough. Cover and rest the dough for 15 minutes.

3. Preheat oven to 350ºF(175ºC) or air fryer to 325ºF(160ºC). Divide the dough into 16 potions and roll each portion into 3 inch circle.Grease each cannoli tube with oil and wrap around the rolled dough around it. Use water to seal the ends. Bake for 10 minutes.Turn them after 5 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 300ºF(150ºC), bake for additional 2 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Remove the cannoli tubes carefully.

4. Instead of baking, the cannoli shells can be fried in hot oil until golden brown.

5. Fill the ricotta mixture in a piping bag or plastic bag. Cut off the corner of the bag and fill each cannoli shell. Garnish with chopped pistachios and additional chocolate chips. Serve immediately.