If you’re here, then you obviously love desserts as much as I do, specifically, Cannoli Dip. It’s creamy, delicious and super easy to make!
What's In This Article
Cannoli Dip Recipe
Cannoli cream, cannoli dip,cannoli chips and dip, cannoli filling, whatever you want to call it—this is the best and easiest recipe to make it at home.
It’s pure deliciousness. Mascarpone and ricotta cheese come together with just a few ingredients from the pantry to make this velvety sweet dip.
I love a good cannoli, but let’s all be honest, if the filling sits too long it sogs up the shell. And then you get all the flavors, but the texture is all off.
And it doesn’t stop at just chips. You can offer a variety of things to dip like graham crackers, cookies or strawberries. It is WAY easier than rolling and frying cannoli shells, trust me on this one.
Ingredients
It doesn’t take much to whip up this cannoli filling! You probably even have most of these ingredients on hand. The only things I had to pick up from the store were ricotta and mascarpone.
- Ricotta cheese– get whole milk ricotta and use a fresh package
- Mascarpone cheese- you can substitute cream cheese
- Powdered sugar – also known as confectioners sugar
- Chocolate chips– regular size or mini chocolate chips
- Vanilla extract – you can also use almond, butter or rum for a twist
- Cinnamon – freshly ground from a stick gives the most flavor, can also be omitted
- Orange zest – totally a traditional ingredient, but can be omitted too
- Broken waffle cones– for dipping
How To Make Cannoli Dip
Cannolis seem like such a fancy Italian dessert, don’t they? They’re one of my favorites! (I love them so much I even turned them into a breakfast recipe with this Cannoli Pancakes recipe.)
But you don’t need to go out to a restaurant to enjoy their deliciousness.
ONE. Make sure you drain your ricotta cheese. When you look at the package and say “it doesn’t look wet, it’ll be fine”, mark my words and PUT IT IN A COLANDER with some cheesecloth. If you don’t drain it properly, it can get grainy or watery and you’ll have a whole bowl of nothing.
TWO. Beat the mascarpone first until smooth, then add ricotta, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and orange peel using a stand mixer until fully combined and fluffy. About two minutes. I highly recommend using a stand mixer or an electric mixer.
THREE. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar until fully combined and fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
So simple, it comes together in just one step! The next step is optional. I think this Cannoli Dip is EXTRA delicious with chocolate covered waffle cone pieces.
PRO TIP: Drain your ricotta cheese very well so your dip is thick and creamy. See instructions below!
Chocolate Dipped Waffle Cones
To make the chocolate covered waffle cone chips, break the chocolate bar into pieces and place it in a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave it for 1 minute, checking it after 30 seconds to stir. Dip the cones in the chocolate and place them on parchment paper to dry.
I like to place the cones in the freezer to dry, it only takes a few minutes.
What Is The Difference Between Cannoli Dip And Cannoli Filling?
There is no difference between cannoli dip and cannoli filling! Cannoli dip is just cannoli filling in a bowl. It’s a fun way to turn a classic dessert into a shareable party dessert.
You can even purchase mini cannoli shells to serve with the dip and have everyone fill their own!
Why Is My Cannoli Dip Runny?
Runny cannoli dip is a common problem. The first time I tried making this dip, it came out runny. Tasted great, but the texture was off.
If your dip is runny, taste it, if it tastes good I would refrigerate it for an hour and still serve it.
BUT.
If you want to perfect the texture of the dip, make sure you are buying FULL FAT ricotta cheese. Do not buy the fat free or skim milk ricotta.
AND
Make sure you are straining your ricotta cheese. This step is a major culprit in making sure your cannoli dip isn’t runny. TRUST ME.
How To Strain Ricotta Cheese
To achieve a thick cannoli dip, make sure you drain the ricotta really well. Drain it in a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth in the refrigerator, uncovered overnight.
In the morning, wring it in the cheesecloth to push any more moisture out. Roll the dry ricotta on a few paper towels. You want it to be dry as dry can be…
Mascarpone Substitute
If you can’t find mascarpone cheese, you can use cream cheese instead. The dip won’t taste like cream cheese, so don’t worry about that!
DO use full fat though- it tastes richer, just like mascarpone. Lower fat cream cheeses aren’t as thick and full.
More of my favorite dessert dips:
- Chocolate Dunkaroo Dip
- Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
- Caramel Praline Cream Cheese Dip
- Whipped Peanut Butter Dip
- Tiramisu Dip
Easy Cannoli Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese , drained and dried*
- 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp grated orange peel
- 8 waffle cones , broken into large chip-like pieces
- 1 semi-sweet chocolate bar
Instructions
- Using a hand mixer and a large bowl or a stand mixer, beat the mascarpone, ricotta, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and orange peel until fully combined and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Slowly mix in the powdered sugar until fully combined, then fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
- To make the chocolate covered waffle cone chips, break the chocolate bar into pieces and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave it for 1 minute, checking it after 30 seconds to stir. Dip the cones in the chocolate and place them on parchment paper to dry.
- Garnish the dip with more chocolate chips and serve!
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!
What a delicious looking dip! I can’t wait to make it myself so I can just dive in!
Drooling over this delicious and creamy dip. Will try this soon.
This dip looks epic. I want to dive right in to it.
Omg this dip is dangerous because I just want to keep digging in with a spoon!! Haha this is the perfect recipe to cheer us up after a long quarantine day!
If you were looking for someone who loves cannoli dip and a good dessert in general, I’m here LOL. I LOVE this recipe and can’t wait to give it a try!