Easy Cannoli Dip ~ Creamy Italian Dessert for Holidays and Parties
Easy Cannoli Dip is a quick Italian-style dessert made with creamy ricotta, a little vanilla, orange zest, and mini chocolate chips. It has all the familiar flavor of a classic cannoli in a simple, no-bake dip that takes just minutes to make. Serve it with crisp pizzelles, broken waffle cones, or fruit for an easy dessert that works for holidays or casual gatherings.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-bake dessert that comes together in minutes
- Light, creamy texture with classic cannoli flavor
- Perfect make-ahead sweet for parties or family gatherings
- Delicious served with pizzelles, waffle cones, or fruit slices
- Simple ingredients and elegant presentation
Serving Ideas
- Serve in a pretty bowl surrounded by Classic Italian Pizzelle Cookies for dipping.
- Use as a filling in rolled pizzelles.
- Add a dusting of cocoa powder, mini chips, or chopped pistachios for garnish.
- Offer alongside an espresso or coffee for an easy, elegant dessert.
Storage
Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving.
Ingredients You Will Need
This recipe uses simple ingredients you may already have on hand.
- Whole milk ricotta
- Mascarpone or cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla
- Orange zest
- Mini chocolate chips
- Pistachios for garnish
Draining the ricotta and bringing both cheeses to room temperature helps create a smooth, creamy texture.
Tips for Best Results
- Drain the ricotta well to avoid a watery or loose dip.
- Bring the ricotta and Mascarpone/cream cheese to room temperature to help prevent graininess.
- Fold mix-ins gently to keep the dip light and creamy.
- Adjust sweetness by adding more or less powdered sugar to taste.
- Chill before serving so the flavors develop and the dip thickens.
Variations to Try
- Skip the orange zest for a classic vanilla-only version.
- Add a small pinch of cinnamon for a warm bakery-style note.
- Stir in extra chocolate chips for a richer dip.
- Replace pistachios with chopped almonds for a slightly different flavor.
How to make Cannoli Dip
Drain the ricotta:
Place ricotta in a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth-lined bowl.
Cover with plastic wrap and let it drain for about 30-45 minutes in the refrigerator to remove excess liquid.
If your ricotta holds its shape softly, like thick yogurt, straining isn’t necessary.
Draining the ricotta removes about ¼ to ½ cup of liquid, which is completely normal and helps the dip become thicker, smoother, and less grainy.
Bring to room temperature:
After draining, let the ricotta and mascarpone (or cream cheese) sit at room temperature (covered) for about 30 minutes before mixing. This helps create a smoother, creamier dip.
Beat the mascarpone or cream cheese until smooth.
Add the ricotta and mix briefly.
Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 3/4 teaspoon orange zest, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, if using. Mix gently just until combined.
Fold in 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1-2 tablespoons chopped pistachios.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for the dip to thicken for the flavors blend.
Spoon into a bowl and garnish with extra pistachios before serving.
Serve the cannoli dip with pizzelles, waffle cones or cookies for dipping.
Easy Cannoli Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese well drained
- 4 ounces mascarpone or cream cheese softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar sifted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- ¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios stirred in plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Let the drained ricotta and mascarpone or cream cheese sit at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes.
- In mixing bowl, beat the mascarpone or cream cheese for about 1 minute just until smooth.
- Add the ricotta. Mix on low speed for a few seconds, just until combined.
- Add powdered sugar, vanilla, orange zest, and cinnamon, if using. Mix briefly until smooth.
- Fold in chocolate chips and 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios.
- Chill the dip for 30 to 60 minutes.
- Spoon into a bowl, garnish with extra pistachios, and serve with pizzelles, waffle cones, or fruit.
Notes
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