Dreamy No-Bake Cannoli Pie Recipe: A Sweet Italian Delight

Sweet, creamy cannoli filling nestled in a crisp graham cracker crust creates a no-bake cannoli pie that sings with Italian dessert magic.

Ricotta cheese blends seamlessly with mascarpone for a luxurious texture that melts on your tongue.

The classic Sicilian flavors dance through each silky bite, promising a dessert that feels both elegant and comforting.

Chocolate chips add delightful bursts of richness throughout the pie smooth surface.

This no-fuss dessert comes together in minutes, perfect for summer gatherings or spontaneous sweet cravings.

Chilled and decadent, the pie delivers authentic cannoli taste without turning on the oven.

You’ll fall in love with every forkful of this dreamy, creamy masterpiece.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 455 kcal

Servings: 9

Ingredients in a No-Bake Cannoli Pie

• Vanilla Wafer Cookies: Provides sweet, crumbly foundation with delicate vanilla essence that complements the pie's rich filling.
• Pistachios: Adds nutty crunch and distinctive green color, creating textural contrast and gourmet visual appeal.
• Granulated Sugar: Enhances cookie mixture's sweetness and helps bind crumb crust ingredients together.
• Unsalted Butter: Melts and acts as binding agent, ensuring crust holds its shape and creates rich, golden texture.

• Heavy Cream: Whips into luxurious, airy base that provides lightness and voluminous texture to the filling.
• Mascarpone or Cream Cheese: Delivers smooth, silky consistency with tangy undertone, mimicking traditional cannoli cream.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens filling while ensuring ultra-smooth, lump-free texture.
• Ricotta Cheese: Introduces classic cannoli flavor profile, creating authentic Italian dessert experience.
• Orange Zest: Infuses bright, citrusy note that cuts through richness and adds sophisticated aromatic dimension.

Tools to Assemble Cannoli Pie Easily

• Food processor: Essential for crushing wafers and nuts into fine crumbs.
• Pie plate: Needed to shape and hold the crust and filling.
• Mixing bowls: Used for combining ingredients and whipping cream.
• Whisk or electric mixer: Perfect for whipping cream to stiff peaks.
• Rubber spatula: Helpful for folding cream into ricotta mixture and smoothing the top.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Zester: Great for getting fresh orange zest.
• Plastic wrap: Useful for covering pie while chilling.

Putting Together a No-Bake Cannoli Dessert

• Crispy Cookie Base

Crush those delightful wafers and nutty pistachios into a fine mixture. Blend with melted butter and press firmly into a pie dish. Chill in the refrigerator to create a solid, crunchy foundation.

• Creamy Sicilian Filling

Whip fresh cream until it stands tall and proud. In another bowl, blend smooth mascarpone with ricotta, adding a sprinkle of sugar and bright orange zest. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture, creating a cloud-like texture that whispers of Italian dessert traditions.

• Chilling and Setting

Pour the luscious filling into the prepared crust, spreading it evenly with a gentle touch. Slide the pie into the refrigerator and let it rest and mingle for several hours. The flavors will dance and blend, transforming into a cool, dreamy dessert that promises pure indulgence.

Tips for Sweetening and Filling Cannoli Pie

• Swap out traditional pistachios with toasted almonds or hazelnuts for a different nutty crunch in your crust, adding depth and warmth to each delightful bite.
• Experiment with different citrus zests like lemon or tangerine instead of orange to create unique flavor profiles that dance on your taste buds.
• This pie can be prepared up to 2 days in advance, making it perfect for stress-free entertaining and allowing flavors to meld beautifully in the refrigerator.
• Before serving, sprinkle mini chocolate chips, dust with powdered sugar, or add a drizzle of melted dark chocolate on top to elevate the visual appeal and add extra decadence to your cannoli pie.

Serving Suggestions for This Creamy Treat

• Sicilian Sunset Plating: Dust the chilled pie with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh pistachio pieces for an elegant, authentic touch that honors traditional cannoli flavor profiles.
• Chocolate Lover's Twist: Drizzle melted dark chocolate over each slice and sprinkle mini chocolate chips around the edges to add decadent richness and extra textural contrast.
• Citrus Zesty Finish: Top individual servings with thin orange or lemon zest curls and a light sprinkle of ground cinnamon to enhance the pie's bright, Mediterranean-inspired notes and create a refreshing presentation.
• Whipped Cream Dream: Add delicate dollops of fresh whipped cream on the side of each slice, garnished with a single candied orange peel for an extra layer of sophisticated sweetness.

Saving No-Bake Cannoli Pie for Later

• Quick Chill Strategy: Refrigerate the pie for a minimum of 4 hours to allow flavors to meld and texture to set perfectly. The longer it chills, the more delicious and firm the filling becomes.
• Advance Prep Magic: Craft this dessert 1-2 days before serving, giving you stress-free entertaining and enhanced flavor development. Wrap the pie carefully with plastic wrap to protect its delicate surface.
• Smart Storage Solution: Keep the cannoli pie refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Cover tightly to prevent absorbing other refrigerator odors and maintain its pristine texture.
• Freezing Friendly Tip: Slice and wrap individual portions in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for a convenient make-ahead dessert option that tastes freshly made.

Heavenly Cannoli Pie Recipe

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• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Sicilian dessert lovers will adore this no-bake cannoli pie recipe that combines creamy ricotta filling with crisp pastry shell. Cannoli’s classic flavors come together effortlessly, offering you a delightful sweet experience without turning on the oven.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup (227 grams) ricotta cheese
• 8 oz mascarpone or cream cheese
• ¾ cup (170 grams or 6 fl oz) heavy cream, cold
• 1 cup (170 grams or 5 ½ cups) vanilla wafer cookies
• ½ cup (100 grams) powdered sugar
• 6 tbsps (90 grams) unsalted butter
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (50 grams) shelled and unsalted pistachios
• 1 tbsp orange zest

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Instructions

1. Crust Preparation: Pulverize graham crackers and pistachios into fine, uniform crumbs using a food processor. Combine with sugar and melted butter, mixing until the texture resembles damp sand.
2. Crust Setting: Transfer the crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie dish, pressing firmly and evenly to create a compact base. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to solidify.
3. Filling Creation: Blend mascarpone, ricotta, powdered sugar, and orange zest in a large bowl, whisking until achieving a silky, homogeneous consistency.
4. Cream Integration: Whip heavy cream in a chilled bowl until forming stiff, glossy peaks using an electric mixer. Tenderly fold the whipped cream into the ricotta mixture, preserving its airy volume.
5. Assembling and Chilling: Transfer the creamy filling into the prepared crust, smoothing the surface with an offset spatula. Encase with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-8 hours, allowing the filling to set and flavors to harmonize.
6. Final Presentation: Prior to serving, embellish with additional chopped pistachios and a delicate sprinkle of powdered sugar, creating an elegant and inviting dessert.

Notes

• Crust Compression Technique: Press graham cracker and pistachio mixture firmly and evenly to create a stable, compact base that won’t crumble when slicing.
• Cheese Mixing Precision: Whisk mascarpone and ricotta thoroughly to eliminate lumps, ensuring a silky-smooth filling texture that captures authentic cannoli essence.
• Whipped Cream Folding Method: Incorporate whipped cream gently using a spatula, maintaining its airy structure to prevent deflation and preserve the light, creamy consistency.
• Chilling Strategy: Allow pie to set for minimum 4 hours or overnight, which allows flavors to develop and filling to achieve optimal firmness for clean, beautiful slices.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: None
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 455
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg