Churro Cannoli Recipe

Homemade Cannolis coated in cinnamon and sugar are filled with a sweet and creamy ricotta cannoli filling that hits all the right notes! This cannoli recipe can be deep fried, air fried or baked! Love pastries? Make sure to try this Almond Bear Claw and Cherry Cheese Danish!

Cannoli Recipe

I always thought cannolis were reserved for special occasions. You know, nice-Italian-restaurant type occasions and definitely something I always look forward to at our favorite Italian bakery.

And then I learned how to make them at home. This fancy dessert is so much easier to make than I thought. It does take a bit of time but the results are absolutely worth the effort.

What Is A Cannoli?

Cannolis are an Italian pastry that feature a crisp tube-like shell that is filled with a sweet, creamy filling made with ricotta.

Cannolis are made with two components: the cannoli shell and the cannoli filling. The shell of the cannoli is a dough made with marsala wine which gives it a distinct flavor and aids in the superior flakiness of the shell.

Cannolis are typically deep fried but can be air fried and baked as well. I give instructions for all three methods below.

What Is Cannoli Filling

Cannolis are known for their creamy filling made with ricotta (and sometimes mascarpone) cheese and chocolate chips. It’s delicate and sweet and can be enjoyed on it’s own as a dip. Simply serve with your favorite cookies and fresh fruit.

Tip! If you don’t have cannoli tubes (or forms) and don’t want to buy some, you can easily make your own with aluminum foil. Just create the shape of the tube with the foil and wrap the shell around. Easy and it totally works!

Cannoli Recipe Ingredients

There are only 5 ingredients in the shell and 5 ingredients in the filling. The churro coating is optional in this cannoli recipe, but delicious. You can find the full, printable recipe in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need:

Cannoli Shell Ingredients

• all purpose flour – the base of the cannoli shells.
• granulated sugar – for a touch of sweetness.
• salted butter – if using salted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• egg – the egg will be separated.
• marsala wine – can substitute white wine or white grape juice.

Cannoli Filling Ingredients

• heavy whipping cream – gives the filling a light and airy texture
• ricotta cheese – gives the cannoli filling recipe it’s signature texture and creaminess.
• vanilla extract – provides flavor and balance to the filling.
• ground cinnamon
• mini chocolate chips

Churro Coating

• butter
• granulated sugar
• ground cinnamon

How To Make Cannolis

The first step to making cannolis is making the shell. This can be done three different ways: fried (traditional method), air fryer, or baked. I am going to give you instructions for all three methods so you can pick which works best for you. You can find the full, printable recipe in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Cannoli Dough

1. Add flour, sugar and butter to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse together until the mixture forms small pea-sized pieces.
2. Pulse in the egg yolk and marsala wine just a ball of dough forms.
3. Tightly wrap with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
4. Roll out on a lightly floured surface until about ⅛ to 1/16” thick.
5. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out 3 inch circles. Gather leftover dough and roll out again to get as many cannolis as you can.
6. In a small bowl, beat egg white until nice and loose. Set aside.

Air Fryer Cannoli Instructions

To make your cannoli shells in the air fryer:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
2. Lightly spray a cannoli tube with nonstick spray and loosely wrap a dough circle around it. Brush one end of the dough with egg white and press the other end on top, sealing it together on one side. Repeat with remaining dough.
3. Place in the air fryer and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the shells are firm and crisp.
4. Remove from the molds and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Deep Frying Instructions (Traditional Method)

To fry your shells:

1. Heat oil in a dutch oven or large pot to 350°F.
2. Spray a cannoli tube with nonstick spray and wrap a dough circle around it. Brush one end of the dough with egg white and press the other end on top, sealing it together on one side.
3. Fry until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
4. Transfer shells to a rack to let cool completely before filling.

Baking Instructions

To bake your shells:

1. Lightly spray a cannoli tube with nonstick spray and loosely wrap a dough circle around it. Brush one end of the dough with egg white and press the other end on top, sealing it together on one side.
2. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes at 350°F or until golden brown.
3. Remove the cannolis from the molds and allow to cool completely on a wire rack before filling.

Cannoli Filling

1. Strain ricotta (allow time for this) if very wet or spread ricotta on paper towels to absorb excess moisture. I like to do a layer of paper towels on the bottom and another layer on top of the ricotta and gently press to release any extra moisture.
2. Whisk the heavy whipping cream on high speed until stiff peaks form.
3. Fold in the strained ricotta, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and mini chocolate chips.
4. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag and set aside in the fridge until ready to use.

Churro Coating and Assembly

This step is totally optional but delicious – try it at least once!

1. Melt butter in a large bowl. Combine cinnamon and sugar in another large bowl.
2. Brush the outside of the pastries with melted butter and then roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
3. Use the piping bag with a tip to fill the cannolis. Sprinkle the ends with crushed pistachios or additional mini chocolate chips and serve immediately.

Cannoli Recipe FAQs

Variations To Try

• Dip the shells in chocolate before filling.
• Add a bit of orange zest to the cannoli filling.
• Place filled cannolis on serving tray and dust with cocoa powder or powdered sugar prior to serving.
• Use store bought shells for a time saving shortcut.

More Sweet Cinnamon Recipes

1. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Butter
2. Maple Cinnamon Glazed Peanut Butter Cookies
3. Cinnamon Bread
4. The BEST Snickerdoodle Recipe
5. Cranberry Almond Breakfast Cookies

How To Make Churro Cannolis