What is Cannoli Filling?

Cannoli Filling: The Basics

The base of every great cannoli filling is whole milk ricotta. While you can make cannoli without ricotta, it really won’t be the same if you use a different base. Ricotta is a thick type of fermented Italian cheese made from the milk of a sheep, goat, cow, or even water buffalo! It’s a bit similar to cottage cheese in appearance, though not in taste. It’s important to strain the ricotta before using it to get the ideal texture for your cannoli filling. For some extra zing, you can make your Cannoli filling with mascarpone as well as ricotta! Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese that’s also found in desserts like cheesecake and tiramisu. 

Cannoli Filling: Toppings & Other Ingredients

Ricotta and mascarpone make for an excellent base, but the cannoli is also defined by the wide variety of toppings you can put into the filling! Don’t be afraid to play around with your fillings, mixing and matching your favorite ingredients until you get the perfect cannoli. The most popular toppings include:

• Cinnamon
• Cocoa powder
• Powdered sugar
• Nuts, especially pistachios
• Orange or lemon zest
• Candied fruit
• Grand Marnier 
• Vanilla extract or vanilla bean
• Maraschino cherries

Discover More Italian Recipes with Salerno’s Pizza!

If you’d rather try our famous cannoli before making your own, contact us to make a reservation and come swing by! We’re conveniently located by Bolingbrook and Oak Park. We also offer catering if you want to bring the flavors of Salerno’s Pizza to your next party!