These cannoli cookies are a fantastic dessert to prepare when you want something that looks fancy but is actually a breeze to make.
Cannoli Cookies
Fancy to look at, a delight to enjoy, and surprisingly easy to make, these cannoli cookies are the ones you want to prepare when you need a dessert that will impress your guests despite being approachable enough even for the amateur pastry chef. The secret is to let store-bought vanilla wafers do half of the work, while preparing the sweet filling is really nothing more than a bit of mixing.
That and some quick melting and dipping is all it takes to make these sweet treats that are great for housewarming gifts, perfect on a platter at a holiday gathering, or that look great ringing the cake at a birthday celebration that’s done to the nines. Just prepare these cannoli wafer cookies the same day you’ll serve them, because the fresh crispness of the wafers is key here.
Ingredients for Cannoli Cookies
- Ricotta cheese:Â Use whole milk ricotta for this recipe; the richness is a must.
- Confectioners’ sugar:Â This fine, powdery sugar brings the sweetness the dessert needs.
- Sugar:Â Sugar in its more standard form also adds sweetness, of course, as well as some texture.
- Vanilla extract:Â As we always say, a little vanilla extract goes a long way, so be precise in your measuring.
- Vanilla wafers:Â We said it before, but using freshly opened store-bought vanilla wafers is the secret sauce here.
- White candy coating: The white candy coating you’ll be using here is really just sugar, oil and milk powder, but buy it premade and melt it, don’t make it from scratch.
- Chocolate chips:Â Stick with semisweet chocolate chips here, as this cannoli cookie recipe already has plenty of sweetness.
- Additional confectioners’ sugar:Â This is for a dusting that’s mostly about looks, but does also add a touch more sweet taste.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the filling
In a small bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, confectioners’ sugar, regular sugar and vanilla extract, stirring until everything is well blended. Spread one scant teaspoon of this filling on the bottoms of half the wafers, then close each up with the remaining wafers.
Step 2: Melt the candy coating and dip the cookies
Melt the candy coating bits in a saucepan over medium heat, then dip each sandwich cookie halfway into the candy coating. Allow the excess to drip off, then place the cookies on waxed paper and sprinkle them with chocolate chips. Let the cookies stand until the coating has set, which will take about 10 minutes.
Step 3: Dust the cookies with sugar
Serve the cannoli cookies within two hours of preparing them, or refrigerate them until serving later the same day. Dust each cookie with additional confectioners’ sugar just before serving.
Cannoli Cookie Variations
- Use white chocolate chips: Want to take the sweetness up a notch and change the visuals a bit? Use white chocolate chips instead of the semisweet chocolate bits.
- Dust with cocoa powder:Â You can add a chocolatey kick to these sweet cookies by dusting them with cocoa powder instead of confectioner’s sugar; leave all other parts of the recipe just as they are.
- Skip the candy coating:Â These cannoli cookies are great with the chocolate chips mixed into the filling and the candy coating left out altogether. They won’t be quite as appealing to the eye, but they will taste wonderful just the same.
How to Store Cannoli Cookies
These cannoli cookies really rely on the freshness of the vanilla wafers; once the cookies grow even a little stale, the texture becomes unpleasant and the taste can’t really compensate. If need be, prepare and refrigerate them for same-day serving, but they can’t be made more than a day ahead of time and are best as fresh as possible.
Can I freeze cannoli cookies?
We’re sorry to say you can’t—the wafers will be a mushy mess once thawed. These cookies are a same-day treat only, so it’s a good thing that they are easy to make.
Cannoli Cookie Tips
What should I serve with these cannoli cookies?
These wafer cookies are plenty sweet enough on their own, but they do pair well with other treats as well. They can surround or top a cake, or go along with a classic scoop of ice cream.
Can I make the cannoli filling ahead of time?
Yes you can. While these cookies depend on fresh vanilla wafers, you can save time by preparing the cannoli filling a day or even two days ahead of time and storing it in the fridge in airtight packaging.
Is mascarpone OK to substitute for ricotta cheese?
Yes, you can use mascarpone in place of the ricotta cheese. Follow all other steps of the recipe just as they are described here.
Cannoli Cookies
Prep Time
35 min
Yield
3-1/2 dozen
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 package (11 ounces) vanilla wafers
- 12 ounces white candy coating, melted
- 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
- Additional confectioners' sugar
Directions
- In a small bowl, mix ricotta cheese, confectioners' sugar, sugar and vanilla until blended. Spread 1 scant teaspoon filling on bottoms of half the wafers; cover with remaining wafers.
- Dip each sandwich cookie halfway into candy coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let stand until set, about 10 minutes.
- Serve within 2 hours or refrigerate until serving. Dust with additional confectioners' sugar just before serving.
Nutrition Facts
1 sandwich cookie: 93 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 38mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Loading Popular in the Community
My family loves to visit a local Italian restaurant that has a wonderful dessert buffet. The cannoli is among our favorite choices, so I just had to come up with my own simple version. These sandwiches are best served the same day so the wafers remain nice and crisp. —Nichi Larson, Shawnee, Kansas
Recipe Creator
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