This easy cannoli filling is full of fresh ingredients including ricotta, and mascarpone cheese and the top of the cake is even brushed with a little Marsala wine just like the popular bakery Italian cannoli pastry.
There are many other ingredients found in the original style cannoli you can add but we made this a delicate taste without all the candied fruits but added a dash of cinnamon to the filling and it's perfect for our taste.
If you're not familiar with the popular cannoli, the pastry is tubular in form and filled with a creamy ricotta filling and sweetened (you may want to try our Homemade Ricotta sometime)
Although we make everything from scratch (like our marble cake and filling) you can also use your favorite cake mix in a pinch by just using our topping. as the cannoli filling can be used in cupcakes, sheet cakes, and a filling for layer cakes.
Scroll down to our recipe card for the printable instructions and make your next birthday cake or special party event a huge hit with this decadent Italian-filled cake.
Cannoli History
The traditional cannoli originated in the Sicilian city of Palermo.
It has been believed that the filling originated from the Saracens, which were ancient Arabic people when they brought sugar cane to the region.
The Sicilians as Cappeli de Turchi or Turkish hats made these pastry desserts. The little tube-like flaky pastry is an essential part of Sicilian cuisine.
For many years, pastry chefs made used the filling for many other desserts including cakes, and cream puffs, and became a specialty in many Italian bakeries across the globe.
Feel free to adapt the filling to your preference and version you've had, ours is simple to make, creamy, and full of cannoli flavor.
If you're a cannoli lover here are a few of our favorites to try: Best Cannoli Pie, Cannoli Mousse.
Ingredients You Will Need:
- milk
- Ricotta whole milk
- vanilla
- cinnamon
- salt
- sugar
- mini chocolate chips
- heavy cream
- Optional garnish: use a cake Marble Cake Mix or Use our homemade from scratch recipe below
Tips and Suggestions
- brush the cake while warm with butter and marsala wine with mini chocolate chips
- add candied fruits of chopped maraschino cherries blotted dry to the filling
- whole strawberries make a very nice presentation on birthday cakes
- fill the middle of cupcakes instead of a whole cake
- make a layer cake
- use only real heavy cream for the topping
- drizzle the whipped cream with hot fudge sauce and pistachios recipe for warmed hot fudge sauce!
Garnishing Suggestions
- mini chips
- toasted slivered almonds
- pizzelle cookies crumbled
- almond-flavored cookies crushed
- hot fudge
- chopped kit kat bars
- crushed cinnamon graham crackers
- pistachios chopped
- maraschino cherries
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Best Cannoli Cake Ever
Don't wait to try this delicious cake for someone special, it's truly the best ever.
Get creative and change cake flavors, make cupcakes, use a mix, just try this Italian creamy dreamy filling, it's a great choice for any party.
Let me know how you like it, we love your comments!
Cannoli Cake
Yield: 14
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 40 MinTotal time: 55 Min
Our cannoli filled marlbe cake has all the flavors of the original pastry with a creamy filling and delicious whip Perfect for hosting any special party or event.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 - 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon. baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon. baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of almond extract
- 1 1/4 cups milk, half and half sour milk, or buttermilk
- 1 cup of mini chocolate chip
- 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- After the cake is cooked brush with:
- 1/4 cup marsala wine mixed with 1 tablespoon of butter on top
- Note: While this cake is baking make the cannoli filling and refrigerate it.
- Cannoli filling.
- 2 cups whole milk Ricotta drained using a coffee filter or cheesecloth
- 2 tablespoons of mascarpone cheese at room temperature (or use full-fat cream cheese)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
- Topping:
- 1 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease or (line with parchment paper) a spring form pan, a 13 x 9 sheet cake pan, or two 8-inch pans using the same method.
- Mix the butter, and sugar together until light.
- Add flour, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and milk.
- Beat till smooth, around three minutes, split batter into two bowls.
- Add the unsweetened cocoa powder to one bowl and mix until blended.
- Start with a small amount of vanilla cake batter on the bottom, add a dollop of chocolate batter in the center, and swirl around with a knife (for the marble effect).
- Do not stir.
- Bake at 350 degrees for around 40 minutes till done, test with a toothpick if it comes out clean in the center.
- When the cake comes out of the oven sprinkle with mini chips.
- As notated above brush the top of the hot cake with melted butter and marsala wine.
- Cannoli Filling Topping:
- Spread cannoli filling over cooled cake, this can be used in layers or on top of a whole cooled cake.
- For the whipped cream, beat the cream with sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- Top the entire cake with whipped cream.
- Optional: garnish with strawberries or other fresh fruit. and more mini chocolate chips
- Garnish Option: toasted almonds sliced
Notes
Garnishing Suggestions
- mini chips
- toasted slivered almonds
- pizzelle cookies crumbled
- almond-flavored cookies crushed
- hot fudge
- chopped kit kat bars
- crushed cinnamon graham crackers
- pistachios chopped
- maraschino cherries
Tips and Suggestions
- brush the cake while warm with butter and marsala wine with mini chocolate chips
- add candied fruits of chopped maraschino cherries blotted dry to the filling
- whole strawberries make a very nice presentation on birthday cakes
- fill the middle of cupcakes instead of a whole cake
- make a layer cake
- use only real heavy cream for the topping
- drizzle the whipped cream with hot fudge sauce and pistachios
Nutrition Facts
Calories
504.02Fat (grams)
25.49Sat. Fat (grams)
14.78Carbs (grams)
62.53Fiber (grams)
1.84Net carbs
60.69Sugar (grams)
33.11Protein (grams)
6.32Sodium (milligrams)
301.63Cholesterol (grams)
81.94Pin this for later:
Some Other Recipes You May Like
Cannoli Tarts
Cannoli Stuffed French Toast
St. Joseph's Day Pastry
Cannoli Filled Chocolate Cake
Cannoli Cupcakes
Italian Cannoli New York Style Recipe