Are you looking for Italian recipes cannoli dip? You’re going to LOVE this easy recipe made with ricotta, mascarpone cheese, chocolate chips, heavy cream, a touch of orange zest and cinnamon. It’s a no bake dessert that’s perfect to satisfy your cannoli craving!
Italian Recipes Cannoli Dip
This creamy cannoli dip brings you the flavor of classic cannoli, which is one of my favorite Italian desserts, without the need to make the cannoli shells or buy them which can be hard to find in grocery stores.
Also, it can be hard to find cannoli chips in grocery stores so, I’ve included other dipping options below.
If you love cannoli filling, this Italian dessert is for you!
What does cannoli mean in Italian?
In the Italian language, the word “cannoli” is the plural form of the word “cannolo” which means tube. The Italian dessert originated in the beautiful island of Sicily, Italy.
What is cannoli dip made of?
Because cannoli are made with ricotta cheese, cannoli dip is made with ricotta cheese as well. Often recipes, like this one, include a creamy cheese such as mascarpone cheese or cream cheese.
Cannoli dip is also made with chocolate chips and flavoring that’s typically found in Sicilian cannoli, such as a little bit of cinnamon. This recipe also contains heavy cream to make it a creamy filling.
However, you may find recipe variations that are not made with ricotta cheese and are made with cream cheese or mascarpone cheese. For those who don’t like ricotta cheese, this is a great alternative and also delicious!
Ingredients
*The full, printable recipe is in the recipe card below.
- whole milk creamy ricotta (I use Galbani) drained for 8 hours: directions in recipe card
- mascarpone cheese
- heavy cream
- powdered sugar
- semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
- cinnamon
- orange zest
- pistachios (optional)
Drain the Ricotta
For best results, remove the excess liquid in the ricotta cheese. This is an important step and should not be skipped!
Ricotta can be very watery. That little bit that you find at the bottom of the container needs to be discarded along with all that drips out in the span of 8 hours. Otherwise, your cannoli dip can turn out runny and you don’t want that.
Draining the ricotta is very important especially if you’re making regular cannoli. Unfortunately, I found this out the hard way more than once!
Place a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl to let the excess liquid drip out. Let it sit overnight or 8 hours. This step is important to make sure your dip isn’t too watery, especially if you like a thicker dip.
Summary Instructions
*The printable, full recipe is in the recipe card below.
In a mixing bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, mix the heavy cream for a few minutes on high speed until it becomes fluffy.
Then, add the mascarpone cheese and continue to mix for another two minutes.
Then, add powdered sugar, drained ricotta cheese, cinnamon and orange zest. Mix well until it’s smooth and creamy. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Put the dip in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving so the flavors meld together and the cannoli filling can chill and set.
Before serving, top with more chocolate chips and pistachios if desired. Serve this delicious cannoli dip with your favorite dip form. Mine is cannoli chips!
How to Make Powdered Sugar Pizzelle Chips
First, add 3 tbsp of powdered sugar to a gallon sized plastic zipper bag.
Then, add 6 pizzelles to the bag, close the bag and shake until the pizzelles are coated.
Then, break the pizzelles in half and then again into to quarters. Makes 24, about 2 inch long chips.
It’s so festive if you’re serving this dip at Christmastime.
What to eat cannoli dip with?
- cannoli chips- cannoli shells that are shaped into dipping chips (they come in cinnamon sugar too)
- vanilla pizzelle cookies (or chocolate)
- waffle cones (broken into chips)
- graham crackers
- vanilla wafers
- strawberries
Add two drops of red food coloring to make a pink dip that’s perfect for a Valentine’s Day dessert.
This homemade cannoli dip is a crowd-pleaser and incredibly easy dessert dip.
Enjoy this perfect sweet treat with friends and family, or indulge all by yourself. Ignite the cannoli lover in you.
Happy dipping!
You may also like:
Chocolate Pizzelles with Cream Cheese Cannoli Filling
White Chocolate Cranberry Cream Cheese Cannoli
Easy Cannoli Cream Tiramisu Dessert
Pistachio Cream Pizzelles Italian Dessert
I took this recipe to Weekend Potluck.
Best and Easy Italian Cannoli Dip Dessert
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 8 oz mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup drained whole milk ricotta cheese (draining instructions below)
- 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 tsp orange zest
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- First, drain ricotta cheese: place a cheese cloth on a mesh strainer or colander over a bowl so the excess liquid can drip out. Spread out the ricotta with a spoon. and put it in the refrigerator overnight or for 8 hours to drain. Otherwise, your cannoli dip may be runny and watery.
- Then, in a mixing bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, mix the heavy cream for a few minutes on high speed until it becomes fluffy.
- Then, add mascarpone cheese and continue to mix two more minutes. This will make the cheese creamier.
- Next, add powdered sugar, drained ricotta cheese, cinnamon and orange zest. Mix well until it's smooth and creamy. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Put the dip in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving so the flavors meld together and it can chill.
- Before serving, garnish with additional chocolate chips and/or pistachios if desired. Serve this delicious cannoli dip chilled with your favorite dip form- cannoli chips, pizzelle chips, or waffle cone chips.
Notes
Did You Make This Recipe?
If you made this recipe don’t forget to leave a review!
Ah Tallutos. You must live near me! I’m glad everyone liked it and you could bypass draining the ricotta. Thanks for the 5-star rating!
I used the ricotta from Tallutos- it was already whipped and does not have water in it so I did not even have to drain it. I used mascarpone cheese as well. The cannoli dip was by far the biggest dessert hit for the holiday! Thank you Joanne for this great recipe!