NewsThese crunchy Cannoli Shells are filled with a decadent, slightly sweetened cream cheese filling with chopped strawberries! In no time, you’ll have an absolutely scrumptious mouthful!
Even though we haven’t gone to Italy yet (it’s on my bucket list to visit soon), I like Italian food! The delectable marinara sauces, the delectable wood-fired pizzas, and, oh my goodness, their desserts! Cannoli are one of the most beloved Italian sweets.
What are Cannolis?
Cannolis are tube-shaped pastry shells composed of fried pastry dough. They are popular in the Italian island of Sicily. I haven’t tried making the cannoli shells yet, but I assume they’re rather simple. To obtain that curled form, you’ll need the cannoli shell molds to cook the dough in oil. Alessi Cannoli Shells were available at my local grocery shop. They’re crispy and delicious.
Variety of fillings!
Traditionally, the cannoli shells are filled with a sweetened Ricotta Cheese mix topped with chocolate chips, nuts, and fruits. I have come across recipes where people use mascarpone cheese, which results in a creamy filling. Since I prefer the taste of cream cheese over that of ricotta, I used a cream cheese filling and coupled it with strawberries. Who doesn’t like cream cheese with strawberries?
Cannolis filled with Cream Cheese and Strawberries!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
- 12 Alessi cannoli shells (4 ounce package) or any brand of your choosing
For the filling
- 1 8 oz Cream Cheese , room temperature
- 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 cup Heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
- 1 cup Strawberries, chopped into small pieces
- To create the filling, place the cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl and beat it with a hand mixer on medium speed until it breaks down somewhat.
- Mix in the lemon zest, vanilla essence, and powdered sugar until blended. Add more powdered sugar if more sweetness is preferred.
- To get a smooth, creamy texture, gradually add the heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time. You may not need the full 1/4 cup. The mixture should not be runny; rather, it should have a pipeable texture that will stay in the cannoli shell.
- Add the diced strawberries and gently mix them in until incorporated.
- Using a piping bag with a half-inch opening, gently pipe in the filling. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and garnish the opening with a few strawberries. Enjoy!
