Heavenly Mini Cannoli Cups Recipe: Sweet Bites of Italian Bliss

Dessert lovers rejoice as these delightful mini cannoli cups bring the authentic taste of Sicily right to your table.

The crispy, bite-sized shells packed with rich cannoli filling will make your taste buds dance with excitement.

Each mini cannoli cup delivers a perfect balance of creamy ricotta and sweet chocolate chips that melts seamlessly in your mouth.

These elegant treats are surprisingly simple to create, requiring just a few basic ingredients and minimal preparation time.

The delicate pastry shells cradle a luxurious filling that promises to impress even the most discerning dessert enthusiasts.

Packed with irresistible flavors and a touch of Italian charm, these mini cannoli cups are sure to become your new favorite sweet indulgence.

Prepare to transport yourself to the sun-drenched streets of Italy with every delectable bite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 21

Ingredients for Mini Cannoli Cups

• Ricotta Cheese: Smooth, rich base that creates the authentic cannoli texture with a delightful tang.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds silky sweetness and helps bind the filling with a delicate, cloud-like consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides additional sweetness and helps stabilize the filling's structure.
• Orange or Lemon Zest: Introduces a bright, citrusy note that elevates the traditional cannoli flavor profile.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings warm, comforting depth and rounds out the filling's complex taste.

• Pie Crusts: Versatile pastry that transforms into a light, flaky vessel for the creamy filling.
• Turbinado Sugar: Creates a golden, caramelized crunch with its large crystal texture.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, aromatic spice that complements the sweet filling perfectly.

• Mini Chocolate Chips, Chopped Pistachios: Provide delightful crunch and contrasting textures to the smooth filling.
• Extra Powdered Sugar: Delivers a classic dusting that adds visual appeal and subtle sweetness.

Tools for Assembling Mini Cannoli Cups

• Rolling Pin: Essential for pressing sugar and cinnamon into the pie crust dough.
• Mini Muffin Tin: Crucial for shaping and baking the mini cannoli cups.
• Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining ricotta and other filling ingredients.
• Zip-Top Bag: Handy for piping the creamy ricotta filling into pastry cups.
• Sharp Knife: Needed to cut pie crusts into rounds.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Helpful for accurate ingredient measurements.

Steps to Make Mini Cannoli Cups

• Pastry Base

Create delicate pie crust circles with a delightful sugar and cinnamon coating. Gently press these delicate rounds into mini muffin tins, transforming simple dough into adorable tiny shells ready for filling.

• Golden Transformation

Bake the delicate pastry shells until they turn a beautiful golden brown color. Allow them to cool completely, creating the perfect crispy vessel for the creamy filling.

• Dreamy Filling

Blend ricotta with sweet sugars and a hint of citrus zest, creating a luxurious cream that will dance on taste buds. Transfer this silky mixture into a piping bag, preparing for an elegant presentation.

• Final Touch

Carefully pipe the luscious cream into each crispy shell. Sprinkle with chocolate chips or crushed pistachios, then dust with a light snow of powdered sugar. These mini cannoli cups are now ready to enchant and delight guests with their miniature elegance.

Helpful Tips for Mini Cannoli Cups

• Use room temperature pie crusts for easier handling and more even sugar coating.
• Gently press pie crust rounds into muffin cups to prevent tearing and create uniform shapes.
• Drain ricotta cheese in a cheesecloth for 30 minutes to remove excess moisture, ensuring a thick, creamy filling.
• Experiment with different zests like blood orange or bergamot for unique citrus notes that complement the sweet ricotta.
• Prepare pastry cups and filling separately up to 24 hours in advance, assembling just before serving to maintain crisp texture and prevent sogginess.

Serving Mini Cannoli Cups with Style

• Festive Party Platter: Arrange these mini cannoli cups on a decorative tray with scattered chocolate chips and crushed pistachios for a stunning dessert centerpiece that'll wow your guests.
• Brunch Elegance: Serve alongside fresh berries and a light espresso for a sophisticated morning treat that transforms your weekend brunch into a gourmet experience.
• Sweet Gift Idea: Package these delightful cups in clear gift boxes tied with a ribbon, creating a perfect homemade dessert gift for birthdays, holidays, or spontaneous celebrations.
• Dessert Buffet Star: Create a mini dessert bar with these cannoli cups alongside other bite-sized sweets, allowing guests to sample multiple delectable treats in one sitting.

Saving Mini Cannoli Cups for Later

• Smart Storage Solutions
• Chill and Seal: Store filled cannoli cups in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Moisture can soften the pastry, so consume quickly for the best crunch.
• Filling Separation Strategy: Keep the ricotta mixture and baked cups separate until just before serving to maintain crispy texture and prevent soggy bottoms.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare pie crust shells and ricotta filling separately 24 hours in advance. Assemble right before your gathering to ensure maximum freshness and delightful crispness.
• Freezer Friendly Trick: Baked empty pastry cups can be frozen for 3-4 weeks in a sealed container. Thaw at room temperature and fill just before serving for a quick dessert option.

Delightful Mini Cannoli Cups Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 21 1x

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Description

Sicilian-inspired mini cannoli cups deliver delightful dessert magic in bite-sized portions. Sweet ricotta filling and crisp pastry shells create an irresistible Italian treat you’ll want to share with friends and family.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 15 oz / 425 g ricotta cheese
• ½ cup / 100 g powdered sugar
• 2 tbsps / 30 g granulated sugar
• 3 tbsps / 45 g turbinado sugar
• 1 box pie crusts (softened)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp orange or lemon zest
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup / 40 g mini chocolate chips or chopped pistachios
• Extra powdered sugar

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Instructions

1. Preheat: Position oven rack to 425°F (218°C). Unfold pie crusts and generously coat with turbinado sugar and ground cinnamon, gently rolling to embed the sweet mixture into the dough.
2. Prepare Shells: Cut rounds from seasoned pie crusts using a circular cookie cutter, pressing them smoothly into mini muffin tin cavities. Ensure even placement and crisp edges.
3. Bake Pastry: Roast pastry shells for 10-12 minutes until achieving a rich golden-brown color. Allow shells to cool completely at room temperature, creating a crisp foundation for the filling.
4. Create Filling: Whisk ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, orange or lemon zest, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until achieving a uniform, creamy consistency with vibrant citrus undertones.
5. Assemble Cups: Fill a piping bag with the ricotta cream, carefully piping the mixture into each cooled pastry shell. Ensure a generous, smooth filling that reaches the shell’s rim.
6. Garnish and Finish: Embellish the cannoli cups with a sprinkle of chocolate chips or chopped pistachios. Dust lightly with powdered sugar for an elegant, professional presentation. Serve immediately to savor the delicate textures and flavors.

Notes

• Crust Tip: Use cold pie crusts for flakier, more delicate pastry shells that hold their shape perfectly.
• Sugar Secret: Rolling sugar and cinnamon into the dough creates a caramelized, aromatic crust with extra crunch and flavor.
• Filling Freshness: Drain ricotta cheese overnight in cheesecloth to remove excess moisture, ensuring a thick, creamy filling that won’t become watery.
• Storage Strategy: Assemble these mini cannoli cups just before serving to maintain the crisp texture of the pastry shells and prevent soggy bottoms.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 21
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg