Cannoli Bites Recipes

Steps:

• For the shell dough: In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar and salt. Work the butter pieces into the flour with your fingers until the mixture becomes coarse and sandy. Add the egg yolk and the white wine and mix until it becomes a smooth dough. Spread a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface and place the dough in the center. Wrap the plastic loosely around it and press the dough to fill the gap. Flattening the dough will mean less rolling later. Let it rest in the fridge for a few minutes while you make the filling.
• For the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk the ricotta until smooth. Sift in the powdered sugar, cinnamon and allspice. Mix to blend. In a separate bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment), beat the heavy cream until fairly stiff. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the cream into the ricotta mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips. Lightly zest the exterior of the lemon and stir it into the ricotta. Refrigerate for a half hour to an hour.
• To roll and fry the shells: In a medium pot with a heavy bottom, heat the canola oil to 360 degrees F. Meanwhile, sift an even layer of flour on a flat surface. Flour a rolling pin. Roll the dough until it is very thin (about 1/8-inch thick). Cut the dough into fourths and work in small batches. Use any glass or small bowl that has a 3-to-4-inch diameter. Cut rounds, tracing around each one to assure the dough has been fully cut. You should have about 24 circles. Wrap each circle around a cannoli mold. Use a little of the egg wash on the edge of each round to seal it shut and to assure it won't slide or fall off the mold before pressing it closed over the mold. Flare the edges out slightly from the mold. Flaring will allow the oil to penetrate each cannoli shell as they fry. Use a pair of tongs to hold the edge of the mold as you submerge and fry the shell in the oil until crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oil, and holding the mold in one had with your tongs, gently grip the shell in your other hand with a kitchen towel and carefully slide it off the mold. Set aside to cool. Repeat with all of the circles.
• To fill the cannolis: Just before serving, use a pastry bag without a tip to pipe the ricotta into the cannoli molds. Fill the cannoli shells from both ends so the cream runs through the whole shell. Dust with powdered sugar. Powdered sugar gives that little extra sweetness and added texture to the exterior. It also makes me feel like I have a professional bakery touch in my own home. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Equipment:.
• Mini muffin tin.
• Rolling pin.
• Cooling rack and baking sheet.
• Pastry bag and large star tip.
• Directions:.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir to combine the ricotta, mascarpone, vanilla extract and powdered sugar until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and refrigerate until ready to use.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll thawed pie dough into a thin round. Use a 2 1/2 -inch round cutter to cut out circles. Press rounds into the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased mini muffin tin. Spray the pie dough lightly with cooking spray and bake until golden and crisp, about 12-15 minutes. Let cool completely.
• In a small bowl, microwave to melt 1 cup mini chocolate chips with vegetable oil, stirring to combine well. Working one at a time, dip the cooled pie shells into the chocolate, coating the top rim and letting excess drip off. Transfer to a wire rack fitted over a sheet tray and sprinkle edges with pistachios or sprinkles. Leave a few with plain chocolate. Let chocolate dry, about 15-20 minutes.
• Fill shells with cannoli filling, piping into a star shape, and top with pistachios, sprinkles and mini chocolate chips.