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Home » Christmas » Cannoli Dip Recipe with Ricotta

Cannoli Dip Recipe with Ricotta

December 18, 2019 , Updated June 13, 2020 Maria 4 Comments

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A cannoli dip with chocolate chips surrounded by pizzelle.

Whisking sweetened mascarpone with homemade ricotta cheese creates the best Cannoli Dip Recipe. The perfect no-bake dessert for your holiday potluck.

Cannoli Dip surrounded by pizzelles and air fryer Italian cookies.
Cannoli Dip

Cannoli.

Without a doubt one of the most famous of Italian pastries.

The best pastry shops will pipe the filling into the cannoli shell just before serving in order to avoid getting a soggy pastry shell.

You need not worry about this because this cannoli filling is served in a bowl ready to be scooped up and enjoyed.

Pizzelle and Air Fryer Italian Cookies are a great addition to cannoli chips and fresh fruit for dipping.

You won’t believe how easy this is to make.

All you need is 10 minutes! 

Triangulate pieces of pizzelle next to a bowl of cannoli dip on a wooden board.

Instructions

Place 2 cups of strained whole milk ricotta cheese in a medium bowl. Using a handheld beater, whisk for 4-5 minutes until smooth and the texture becomes light. You can also use a stand mixer.

Ricotta and mascarpone cheese being whipped.

Add 1 cup of mascarpone cheese and whisk for a couple of minutes until well incorporated. 

Slowly whisk in the sifted icing sugar. Start with ¾ of a cup and taste. If you prefer a sweeter filling, add a little bit more icing sugar.

Add 1 teaspoon of clear vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Whisk this cheese mixture together for a few more seconds.

Chocolate chips are being folded in to the cannoli dip.

Gently fold in about ⅓ of a cup of mini chocolate chips, cover and refrigerate until needed.

Right before serving garnish with a tablespoon of mini chocolate chips.

Pizzelle dusted with icing sugar next to a bowl of the dessert dip.

Tips

  • The total yield for this recipe is 3 cups.
  • Use a high quality, whole milk ricotta to avoid a thin and runny dip.
  • Strain commercial ricotta in cheesecloth if there is excessive moisture.
  • Mascarpone cheese can be replaced with cream cheese.
  • Use a stand mixer or a handheld mixer for best results.
  • This ricotta dip with mascarpone also makes a great filling for cake.
  • Refrigerate dip in an airtight container and use within 3 days. 

What to serve with cannoli dip?

  • pizzelle, vanilla or chocolate
  • air fryer Italian cookies
  • cannoli chips
  • waffle chips
  • fresh fruit

Italian pastries we love

  • Zeppole di San Giuseppe
  • Sfogliatella
  • Zeppole

Cannoli dip in a serving dish surrounded by pizzelle.

Recipe origins

I love this traditional Italian pastry.

When my son was living in Boston, I had the pleasure of trying the cannolis at both Mike’s Pastry and Modern. It was definitely a worthwhile experience.

Closer to home, I have some really great Italian bakeries in my neighborhood. As a result, I never felt the need to make it at home. 

A few years ago, a friend of mine contributed a dessert dip at a Christmas potluck party.

I immediately fell in love with the idea of a deconstructed cannoli.  

Needless to say, it was popular back then just as it is today.

The addition of mascarpone cheese makes this dip “less runny”. If you are looking for a lighter texture, the ricotta filling used in this Chocolate Cream Cake is a great alternative.

Such a great way to end a meal! 

If you love this cheese as much as I do, feel free to look at some of my favorite Ricotta Cheese Recipes.

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

Ciao for now,

Maria

★★★★★ If you have made this dip recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Cannoli dip in a serving dish surrounded by pizzelle.

Cannoli Dip Recipe with Ricotta

Whisking sweetened mascarpone with homemade ricotta cheese creates the best Cannoli Dip Recipe. The perfect no-bake dessert for your holiday potluck.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 48 tablespoons
Calories: 53kcal
Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

  • 2 cups ricotta cheese whole milk
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese
  • ¾-1 cup icing sugar sifted, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract clear
  • ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon to taste
  • pinch salt
  • ⅓ cup chocolate chips dark
  • chocolate chips optional for garnishing
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Instructions

  • Place the ricotta cheese in a medium bowl. Using a handheld beater, whisk the ricotta for 4-5 minutes until smooth and the texture becomes light. You can also use a stand mixer.
  • Add the mascarpone cheese and whisk for a couple of minutes until well incorporated. 
  • Slowly whisk in the sifted icing sugar. Start with ¾ of a cup and taste. If you prefer a sweeter filling, add a little bit more icing sugar.
  • Add the vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Whisk this cheese mixture together for a few more seconds.
  • Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips, cover and refrigerate until needed.
  • Right before serving garnish with a tablespoon of mini chocolate chips.
Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Notes

  • The total yield for this recipe is 3 cups.
  • Use a high quality, whole milk ricotta to avoid a thin and runny dip.
  • Strain commercial ricotta in cheesecloth if there is excessive moisture.
  • Mascarpone cheese can be replaced with cream cheese.
  • Use a stand mixer or a handheld mixer for best results.
  • This cannoli dip with mascarpone also makes a great filling for cake.
  • Refrigerate dip in an airtight container and use within 3 days. 
What to serve with Cannoli Dip?
  • pizzelle
  • air fryer Italian cookies
  • cannoli chips
  • waffle chips
  • fresh fruit
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 114IU | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @shelovesbiscotti or tag #shelovesbiscotti!

Christmas, Desserts

About Maria

Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

Comments

  1. Susan Strom says

    October 3, 2020 at 09:21

    5 stars
    Sounds amazing!! Can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      October 10, 2020 at 21:35

      This is definitely a crowd-pleaser, enjoy Susan!

      Reply
  2. Val says

    February 2, 2020 at 19:04

    5 stars
    This is such a fantastic recipe! I brought it to a pot luck and everyone loved it! Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      February 2, 2020 at 21:37

      Thrilled to hear this! Thanks for sharing Val!

      Reply

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I'm Maria: dietitian and full time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth, to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

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