Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Not Italian Cannoli

I am not sure when the idea came to us, but one day we got the brilliant idea to use waffle cones as cannoli shells. If you haven't ever had a cannoli, you are missing out on a great Italian dessert!! Our local deli makes the most delicious ones daily.
 I used my favorite waffle cone recipe with about 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. You only need about a tablespoon and a half of batter in the waffle maker for each shell. This will make about  15 mini sized ones.
Cook until a medium brown in color (more cooking = crispy shells) and roll while hot around a form.
 Since this was an experimental batch we weren't quite ready to invest in cannoli forms. So we dug through our kitchen utensils and found a whisk and the handle to the waffle cone form that were perfect sizes!
 After the shells are nicely cooled, it is time to fill them.
 I mixed 2 cups ricotta cheese with 3/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla for the filling. Mix thoroughly and chill. The easiest way to get the filling in is to use a pastry bag or plastic bag with the corner cut off. Fill first end, getting the middle filled also, then turn around and fill the other end. Dip ends in mini chocolate chip (or pistachios, walnuts, sprinkles) and dust with powdered sugar.
The only trouble I had with these, was keeping the shells crisp. There was an hour interval between making and eating and in that time they got soggy. (it was also a very very humid night!) Next time I think I will fill and eat right away!
Yum!

8 comments:

  1. You are kidding! These look fantastic. So did you use a regular waffle iron? or is this something special? I JUST gave my waffle iron to Goodwill. (It went with the teddy bears.) I hadn't used it in over a year, so... And then I see this post!

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    1. Oh, sorry I didn't clarify that. I used my waffle cone maker, which is a waffle maker with tiny tiny waffle marks.

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  2. Oh girls those look so good! Yummy!

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    1. They were so pictureque! That was before they got soggy. I wonder if I used a different recipe for the shells.......

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  3. Oh, I would like to give these a try--as soon as a waffle maker like that shows up in my house =). My mom used to buy cannoli's from a deli nearby when I was a little girl. She grew up in MA and is from an Italian family. I'm sure the humidity made them soggy.
    Susan McIntyre

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    1. The waffle cone maker is from Target and very in-expensive.
      The cannoli's are really easy to make, once you have the shells. And those are fairly easy to make, just a little time consuming.

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  4. They look yummy sister! great pictures! I wish I could of had some but not very allergy friendly.......:(

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