Easy Mini Cannoli Cups Recipe: Sweet Italian Treats in Minutes

Crispy, delicate mini cannoli cups change traditional Italian desserts into playful, handheld delicacies that dance between classic elegance and modern simplicity.

Sweet pastry shells cradle rich, silky fillings that blend creamy textures with vibrant Mediterranean flavors.

Delicate cinnamon whispers through each bite, complementing the luxurious ricotta center.

These miniature treats balance sophisticated culinary techniques with approachable, crowd-pleasing charm.

Compact yet indulgent, they represent the perfect balance between restrained precision and bold taste profiles.

Guests will adore these petite confections that pack intense flavor into a single, memorable morsel.

Why Mini Cannoli Cups Are the Perfect Bite-Sized Dessert

• Craft Tiny Dessert Delights: These mini cannoli cups transform the classic Italian pastry into adorable, bite-sized treats perfect for parties and gatherings.
• Elevate Effortless Baking: Using pre-made pie crusts and simple ingredients, this recipe offers a quick and easy way to create impressive desserts without complex techniques.
• Customize Flavor Explosions: Versatile recipe allows personal touches like swapping zest, changing garnishes, or experimenting with different sugars to match individual taste preferences.

What You’ll Need for Mini Cannoli Cups

• Pie Crusts: Soft, flaky base for the cannoli cups with a hint of sweetness from sugar and cinnamon.
• Turbinado Sugar: Large crystal sugar that adds a crunchy texture and caramel-like sweetness.
• Ground Cinnamon: Warm spice that enhances the overall flavor profile of the pastry.

• Ricotta Cheese: Creamy, mild Italian cheese that creates a smooth and rich filling.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a silky smooth texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds additional sweetness and helps balance the ricottas texture.
• Orange or Lemon Zest: Bright citrus notes that add freshness and complexity to the filling.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides a classic sweet and aromatic flavor to the cannoli filling.

• Chocolate Chips: Optional sweet and rich topping that adds chocolate flavor and texture.
• Pistachios: Optional nutty garnish that provides a crunchy contrast to the creamy filling.
• Additional Powdered Sugar: Light dusting that adds a delicate sweet finish to the dessert.

How to Make Mini Cannoli Cups Step-by-Step

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pie Crusts

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Gently unroll pie crusts and sprinkle evenly with turbinado sugar and cinnamon. Use a rolling pin to lightly press the sugar and cinnamon into the dough.

Step 2: Shape the Pastry Cups

Cut the pie crusts into small rounds and carefully press them into mini muffin tin cups.

Step 3: Bake the Pastry Shells

Bake the pastry shells for 10 minutes or until they turn a beautiful golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.

Step 4: Create the Creamy Filling

• Ricotta cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Orange or lemon zest
• Vanilla extract

Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. Transfer the filling to a zip-top bag and snip a small corner for easy piping.

Step 5: Fill and Decorate the Cannoli Cups

• Chocolate chips
• Chopped pistachios

Dust the tops with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar. Serve immediately and enjoy these delightful mini desserts.

Helpful Tips for Making Mini Cannoli Cups

• Maximize Flavor Fusion: Gently roll sugar and cinnamon into pie crust to ensure deep, even seasoning throughout the dough.
• Perfect Crust Technique: Press pie crust rounds delicately into muffin cups, avoiding stretching to maintain even thickness and crisp edges.
• Filling Smoothness Hack: Drain ricotta cheese beforehand to remove excess moisture, creating a creamier, less watery filling.
• Temperature Control: Allow pastry cups to cool completely before piping filling to prevent soggy bottoms and maintain crisp texture.
• Elegant Finishing Touch: Use a fine-mesh sieve for even, light powdered sugar dusting, creating a professional bakery-style presentation.

Best Way to Store and Reheat Mini Cannoli Cups

• Refrigerate: Store your leftover Mini Cannoli Cups in an airtight container lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Carefully place the cups in a single layer, separating each with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Refrigerate for up to 2 days to maintain the crispy texture and creamy filling.
• Freeze: For longer storage, freeze the unfilled pastry cups and filling separately in freezer-safe containers. Thaw pastry cups at room temperature and refill just before serving to keep the crust crisp and prevent sogginess.
• Reheat: Warm the pastry cups briefly in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes to restore their crispness. Allow them to cool slightly before refilling with the ricotta mixture and toppings.

What to Serve with Mini Cannoli Cups

• Pair with Sweet Italian Dessert Wine: Sip on a chilled glass of Moscato d'Asti, its light bubbles and honey-like sweetness perfectly complement the creamy ricotta filling and crisp pastry cups.
• Match with Espresso or Cappuccino: The rich, bold coffee cuts through the sweetness of the cannoli cups, creating a balanced and classic Italian dessert experience that dances on your palate.
• Enhance with Fresh Berries: Add a side of mixed berries like raspberries or strawberries to provide a tart contrast to the creamy filling, adding a refreshing burst of flavor and a pop of color to the dessert plate.
• Accompany with Almond Biscotti: Serve these crunchy Italian cookies alongside the mini cannoli cups, allowing guests to dip and enjoy a textural contrast that elevates the entire dessert moment.

Mini Cannoli Cup Variations That Wow

• Fruit-Filled Fusion: Swap chocolate chips with fresh berries like raspberries or strawberries for a fruity summer version of mini cannoli cups.
• Nutty Mediterranean: Replace pistachios with toasted almonds or chopped hazelnuts to add a rich, crunchy texture and enhance the traditional Italian flavor profile.
• Chocolate Lover's Dream: Mix melted dark chocolate into the ricotta filling and sprinkle cocoa powder on top for an intense chocolate experience that transforms the classic recipe.
• Spiced Autumn Edition: Incorporate pumpkin puree and warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger into the ricotta mixture for a seasonal, cozy dessert that captures fall's essence.

Mini Cannoli Cups Recipe

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4.9 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 20 1x

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Description

Sicilian cannoli cups bring luxurious Italian dessert magic into bite-sized perfection. Crisp pastry shells cradle rich ricotta cream, sprinkled with chocolate chips and dusted with powdered sugar, inviting you to savor each delightful Mediterranean-inspired morsel.

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Ingredients

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Filling Ingredients:

• 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
• ½ cup (100 grams) powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons (30 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Cannoli Cup Base Ingredients:

• 1 box pie crusts (softened)
• 3 tablespoons (45 grams) turbinado sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Garnish Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (40 grams) mini chocolate chips or chopped pistachios
• Extra powdered sugar

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Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Carefully unfold the pie crusts and generously sprinkle turbinado sugar and ground cinnamon across the surface, gently rolling with a pin to embed the sweet, aromatic mixture into the dough.
2. Using a circular cookie cutter or glass rim, precisely cut rounds from the seasoned pie crusts and delicately press them into the cavities of a mini muffin tin, ensuring smooth, even placement.
3. Bake the pastry shells for approximately 10-12 minutes until they transform into a beautiful golden-brown color. Carefully remove from the oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature.
4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine smooth ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, freshly grated orange or lemon zest, and pure vanilla extract. Whisk the ingredients until the mixture becomes uniformly creamy and light.
5. Transfer the luxurious filling into a piping bag or zip-top bag, then snip a small corner to create a precise piping tip.
6. Elegantly pipe the ricotta cream into each cooled pastry shell, filling them to the brim with the fragrant mixture.
7. Enhance the mini cannoli cups by sprinkling chocolate chips or chopped pistachios on top, then dust lightly with additional powdered sugar for a delicate, professional finish.
8. Serve immediately to enjoy the optimal texture and temperature of these delightful miniature desserts.

Notes

• Craft these delightful mini cannoli cups when you crave a bite-sized Italian dessert that impresses guests without hours of complicated preparation.
• Transform ordinary pie crust into crispy, sugar-crusted shells that provide the perfect vessel for creamy ricotta filling.
• Swap traditional cannoli-making techniques for this simplified approach that delivers authentic flavors with minimal kitchen effort.
• Elevate the dessert by using fresh citrus zest and high-quality vanilla extract, which brighten the rich ricotta mixture.
• Store leftover cups loosely covered in the refrigerator for up to two days, ensuring the pastry remains crisp and filling stays creamy.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 20
• Calories: 150 kcal
• Sugar: 12g
• Sodium: 70mg
• Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 15mg