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Best Cannoli Dip Recipe
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Cannoli Dip is a creamy dessert dip made from whipped cannoli filling using real mascarpone cheese and served with chocolate chip cookies or broken waffle cones for dipping! This recipe is loaded with mini chocolate chips and is the perfect sweet treat that is no bake!
Football season is here! Have you been celebrating every weekend like I have? I personally celebrate with food like BBQ Bacon Ranch Football Cheese Ball, Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks, and Spicy Crock Pot Cheesy Hamburger Dip.
Today’s recipe is the perfect accompaniment to any tailgate or “homegate.” We’re all about homegating – where we host a watch party with all of our friends. There’s nothing like watching a game on a couch with unlimited supply of food in an air-conditioned room. I’ll take that over a tailgate anyday.
Ok now on to the recipe…
Today’s recipe is a dessert dip. Dessert dips are quickly becoming be new favorite way to feed my sweet tooth. Not only do I get to eat a sweet dip, but I also get to dip other sweet vessels into said dip. It’s a double-dose of sweetness!
I present to you my Cannoli Dip!
I’ve been obsessed with cannoli ever since we went to Boston. I loved cannoli before our trip. But that trip turned me into a full-fledged cannoli addict.
If you’ve never been to Boston, there’s a pastry shop called Mike’s Pastry in the heart of Little Italy. We went to Mike’s Pastry three different times, where I bought three cannoli each time. That means I ate nine cannoli in 3 days! NINE!
So when we returned from our trip, I knew I needed to make cannoli for myself. But I didn’t really want to go through the effort of frying cannoli shells and stuff. So what’s the next best thing??? Making a dip!
About Cannoli Dip
This cannoli dip is made just like authentic cannoli filling, except with mascarpone cheese added to help thicken it up. Mascarpone is like cream cheese, but not as sweet and tangy. I don’t recommend substituting it, though, because I think the dip will taste more like cheesecake dip than cannoli dip.
I’ve seen a few cannoli dip recipes out there and they use waffle cones as the dipping mechanism. I think these are a great substitute for cannoli shells because they have the same crunch and texture, though the flavor is slightly off.
Ingredients needed for Cannoli Dip
- Mascarpone cheese
- Whole milk ricotta cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
- Mini chocolate chips
- Chocolate chip cookies
How do I make Cannoli Dip?
Lucky for you it’s pretty easy because you are going to want this all the time!
First thing is to grab a bowl and combine all the cheeses, extracts and powdered sugar. We recommend doing this in a bowl of a stand mixer or mixing it in a mixing bowl with a hand mixer.
Whip on medium high for about 5 minutes or until thick and fluffy.
After that fold in 3 Tbsp mini chocolate chips. Place the dip in a serving bowl and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top!
See! Easy Peasy!
What do I dip in Cannoli Dip?
But what I think is an EVEN better dipping mechanism is a chocolate chip cookie. Cookies go best with milk so it just felt natural to pair it with the dairy-based dip. To be honest, this magical pairing was a complete and utter accident – chocolate chip cookies were all I had in my pantry when I made the dip for the first time.
But trust me when I say, you will not want to pair anything else with this dip. Promise.
If you must go ahead and try that broken waffle cone to compare it!
How long does Cannoli Dip last in the fridge?
Make sure to store this dessert dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Tips for Making Cannoli Dip the Perfect Dessert Dip!
- Make sure to use whole milk ricotta. In order for this dip to get whipped and creamy, you need that fat from the whole milk.
- When you first start whipping the ingredients together, they will be thin and runny, almost like melted ice cream. But trust me – you just need to keep whipping it to help fluff it up.
- We highly recommend using a hand mixer or stand mixer to get it whipped up! Whisking by hand will not achieve the same results.
- This dip is loaded with chocolate chips, but feel free to use any other cannoli toppings that you love – chopped pistachios would make an excellent addition here.
- Don’t make this dip too far in advance – the dip will collect a little bit of liquid at the bottom after a couple days. You can just stir it back in, of course, but you’ll lose the pretty presentation of chocolate chips on top.
More of my favorite dessert dips!
WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS CANNOLI DIP RECIPE BELOW:
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Try it and love it? Rate it, please!!! ?Seriously though a five-star rating below will make my day! If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Cannoli Dip Recipe
A Creamy Dessert Dip Made from Whipped Cannoli Filling Using Real Mascarpone Cheese and Served with Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese drained
- 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 4 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- chocolate chip cookies for serving
Instructions
- Combine cheeses, extracts, and powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment (or you can use a hand mixer). Whip on medium-high until thick and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Fold in 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips. Pour dip into serving bowl. Top with remaining chocolate chips. Let it set in fridge for about 1 hour and then serve with chocolate chips cookies.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Chef in Training
Nutrition
Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 7gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 59mgPotassium: 48mgSugar: 23gVitamin A: 620IUCalcium: 144mgIron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
More recipes that you’ll love:
Snickers Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Pops
Can this be made and used as a cupcake filling?
I have never tested it as a filling, if you try it let me know how it goes!
Hi! Can this dip be made ahead of time and frozen?
I haven’t tried freezing this one so I’m not sure, if you try it let me know how it goes!
Do you need to drain the ricotta?
You can but it won’t make much difference either way.
This is delicious!! Made it to go in mini cannoli shells for Xmas Eve & it works if you keep them cold. Lots leftover so we ate it with sliced apples over the next few days. I only had cream cheese not mascarpone but it was still outstanding!! I’m afraid to make it again cause I WILL eat every bit of it 😈😈
It can be a dangerously delicious dessert! I’m so glad it was a hit over the holidays for you!
This is, by far, the BEST cannoli dip I have ever tasted!! Everyone raved about it at Christmas and was so easy to prepare. Will be doing this a lot!
Awesome! I’m so glad it was a hit! Thanks for the rating and review, Monica!
Is this thick enough to put in a cannoli shells?
I’m not sure Sharron I’ve never tested that.
Tried different recipes, doesn’t taste like cannoli at all. I think to much sugar. My husband loves his Cannoli but hated the recipes I have tried. Going to try with in 1/2cup of sugar. Or just stick to real Cannoli.
WOW. This dip is amazing! It never lasts long at my house!
OH my GOODNESS!!!! This is one recipe that I’m putting right to the top of my list to make! YUMMMYYY!!!!
I’m sorry you had issues with the recipe!
What a perfect dip for parties! Pinning this for later. 🙂
Enjoy Valentina!
I’ve always wondered what was inside cannolis! This is so much easier than making cannolis and sounds like the perfect treat!
I’m all about making things easy!
This dip looks delish! And I think a chocolate chip cookie would be my favorite too! 🙂
I’m never one to say no to a Chocolate Chip Cookie!
Cannolis are great, but way to much work so I love this easy dip version!!!
I have the same thoughts about Cannolis! Love the ease of this dip!