Ingredients
Shells:
- 1 1/2 cups flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pea-size pieces
- 1 egg, separated
- 1/4 cup marsala
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 5 cups peanut or other neutrally flavored oil, for frying
Filling:
- 2 pounds ricotta
- 2 cups powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups mini chocolate chips, plus more for sprinkling
Directions
For the shells: In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Add in the butter and egg yolk. Pulse until the mixture looks like grated cheese. Add in the marsala and pulse. Add a few drops of water and pulse. Continue to do this until the mixture comes together in a ball. You may not need to add all of the water.
Dump the mixture out onto a clean work surface. Work the mixture gently into a ball and squish into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap until ready to use.
Place the oil in a large, wide pot and bring to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Set a cooling rack over a sheet pan.
To roll the dough out by hand, dust a work surface lightly with flour. Cut the dough in half; start with half the dough and keep the other half covered until ready to use. Roll each half out to 1/8-inch thick.
If using a pasta roller, set the pasta roller on the widest setting (number 1). Use your hands to flatten the dough as much as you can to facilitate it going through the pasta roller. Run the dough through the roller twice, dusting it with flour in between rolls if it feels sticky, and then fold in half. (When rolling out pasta dough, always hold the pasta on the tops of your hands with your palms down. If you hold it fingers up you will create stretch marks). Move the roller to the next setting (number 2) and run the dough through. Continue to run the dough through the machine, reducing the opening (or moving the setting to the next largest number) in between every roll. Stop when you get to the correct thinness, this will be around number 5 on the dial, but every machine is different and you will have to be the judge of your own thickness.
Using a pastry wheel, cut the dough into 3-inch squares. Keep the squares covered until they are ready to be fried. Repeat this process with the other half of the dough.
Beat the egg white with 2 tablespoons of water.
Wrap the first batch of dough squares around metal cannoli tubes so that the points of the square overlap to close. Brush the overlapping points with the beaten egg white to seal shut and press to secure.
Fry the dough shells in the heated oil until they are brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Use tongs to remove the shells from the oil and drain on the cooling rack. When the shells and tubes have cooled enough to handle, gently slide the metal tubes out of the shells. Repeat the process with the remaining dough squares.
For the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the ricotta, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix together until smooth and creamy. Stir in the chocolate chips and taste to make sure it is delicious. Place in a pastry bag with a large enough tip to allow the chocolate chips to pass through.
To assemble: Pipe the filling into the shells and sprinkle each end with a few more chocolate chips. Dust with powdered sugar. Do not fill them until you plan to serve them or the shells will get soggy.















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By deloresboyd
on April 17, 2013
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We are from Kentucky and our county was a dry county. I had a hard time finding Marsala and sub for Sherry. The shells came out great. Not a bit of trouble. Then we made the filling. Again we subbed. Instead of using the ricotta we used cream cheese mixed with powered sugar. This was our first time to make these and I think it would have taken longer if we had not had a pasta machine and a food processor. Myself i have none of these but my sister does. So we get together and make different things when we can. These are great. Good job Anne.
By icysilk
on January 22, 2013
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This was my first time making cannolis from scratch. The shells turned out better than expected. I didn't have a pasta roller so I hand rolled it and learned after the first three that the dough needs to be rolled thinner than you think because the cannoli's poof out when they fry. I used my deep fryer and it made maintaining the frying temp easy. The shells had a wonderful flavor and so did the filling. The only thing that I deviated from the recipe was that the filling called for 2 lbs of ricotta and the big container that I had was only 1 lb 14 oz. I didn't feel like going to the store to make up the 2 oz. With that said the filling still turned out great using the other proportions. Actually, maybe that is why my filling wasn't as runny as the previous posts had issues with. I also refridgerated the filling first before piping it in the shells since I wasn't serving them until the following day or two. So it was a good consistency for me. This recipe is a keeper.
By skrize
on December 30, 2012
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Just made these today. The shells were easy to make with the pasta roller. Filling seemed a little loose but tasty. My husband didnt care for the cinnamon. He likes his cannoli's without added cinnamon. I'll add a bit of cinnamon next time only.
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