Whip up a bowl of easy Cannoli Dip for your next party! This sweet and creamy dip is studded with chocolate chips and is perfect for sharing!
Why We Love this recipe for Cannoli Dip
- Cannoli Dip has all the Italian flavors you love without having to worry about filling the shells.
- A creamy dreamy mixture of ricotta and mascarpone is a party favorite. Since this dip last 3-4 days in the fridge, it’s a great make-ahead option and a lifesaver during the holidays.
- The best part Pick your favorite dippers and have fun! I’m talking cookies, ice cream cones, and all kinds of fun treats!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Cannoli Dip
CHEESE: To make the cannoli filling, you’ll need ricotta cheese and mascarpone cheese. I like to add the mascarpone to give this dip a silky mouthfeel and to up the creaminess factor.
PANTRY: You’ll need powdered sugar to sweeten the cheeses (like you would do for cheesecake) and some vanilla for flavor.
ADD-INS: We’re making chocolate chip cannoli filling so mini chocolate chips are the name of the game. I like the minis better than the regular-sized chips because they disperse more evenly in the dip, which means you get a little in every bite. I like to add chopped pistachios on top of the dip, but you could mix them in too.
How to Make Cannoli Dip
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 Add the ricotta, mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a mixing bowl. Stir or use a hand mixer to blend everything together until it’s combined and smooth. Using a rubber spatula, stir the mini chocolate chips into the cannoli filling.
STEP 2 Using a rubber spatula, stir the mini chocolate chips into the cannoli filling.
STEP 3 If you want to get fancy, melt some chocolate and dip the rim of your dip bowl in the chocolate. Then dip the rim into chopped pistachios and let the chocolate set. Once the chocolate is hardened you can transfer the dip to the bowl, sprinkle some more chocolate chips and pistachios on top, and dig in!
Tips & Tricks
- If you want to make this cannoli dip without ricotta, you could use small curd cottage cheese as a substitute. The taste of the dip will be different, but cottage cheese is the closest option to ricotta. Be sure to wring all the excess moisture from the cottage cheese before using it!
- If you don’t have mascarpone cheese available, you can get away with substituting cream cheese or using all ricotta cheese. I prefer a blend, but it’s nice to have options.
- Want to change up the nuts? Slivered almonds and hazelnuts are both great options. Or you can skip adding nuts altogether. Toffee bits are a fun option to try too.
Cannoli Dip Recipe FAQ
What is cannoli filling made of?
Traditional cannoli filling is made from ricotta cheese and sugar. More modern recipes include mascarpone cheese as well. From there you can add in nuts, chocolate, or other tasty bits if desired.
How long does cannoli dip last in the fridge?
Cannoli dip will last 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
What to dip in cannoli dip
There are lots of options you can use for dippers in this cannoli dip. I like to keep things on the sweeter side, but choose whatever you like.
Other Recipes You May like
- Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
- S’mores Dessert Board
- Irish Cream Pistachio Fudge
- Hazelnut & Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
- Saltine Cracker Toffee
Cannoli Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips plus more for garnish
- Pistachios shelled and chopped, for garnish
Dipping Options
- Cannoli Shells broken into pieces
- Pizzelle cookies
- Mini stroopwaffles
- Ice cream cones broken into pieces
- Nilla wafers
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta, powdered sugar, mascarpone cheese, and vanilla until well combined and smooth.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold in the mini chocolate chips.
- Transfer the dip into a bowl and top with additional chocolate chips and chopped pistachios. (see note) Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until ready to serve.
- Serve chilled with your favorite cookies for dipping.
Notes
- You can swap out the pistachios for slivered almonds or your favorite kind of nut.
- If you want some extra presentation points, dip the rim of the serving bowl into some melted chocolate and then into chopped pistachios.
- You don’t have to chill this dip. It’s ready to eat as soon as it’s mixed, but I think the flavor gets better if you let it sit for a little bit.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
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