No doubt about it: Cannolis are one of the tastiest treats you can sink your teeth into. But let’s face it—they can be a bit messy to eat, with filling and shell going everywhere. That’s where these mini cannoli bites swoop in to save the day! They’re the perfect bite-sized solution to enjoying the deliciousness of a classic Italian cannoli without the fuss.
In these mini cannoli bites, we swap out the traditional cannoli shell for frozen phyllo tart shells. Then, we whip up a simple yet decadent filling using ricotta cheese, sugar, a hint of orange zest, and a splash of vanilla. Fill each little shell to the top, sprinkle with chocolate chips, pistachios, and a dusting of powdered sugar, and voilà—you’ve got yourself a taste of la dolce vita.
To make party prep a breeze, you can whip up the filling up to 2 days ahead of time. Just pop it in a bag, stash it in the fridge, and you’re all set when it’s time to assemble.
Cannoli Bites
- 24 frozen phyllo tart shells
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 15-oz. container whole-milk ricotta cheese, drained
- 3/4 cup 85 g powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Mini chocolate chips or chopped pistachios (for topping)
- Preheat your oven to 425°F. Arrange the tart shells on a baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Brush the shells with melted butter, then sprinkle them with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake the shells until they’re golden brown, which should take about 8 minutes. Let them cool down.
- While the shells are cooling, whisk together the ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, orange zest, and vanilla until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a zip-top plastic bag, seal it, and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it.
- Once the shells are cooled, arrange them on a platter. Snip off a small corner of the plastic bag and pipe the filling into each shell.
- Top the filled shells with chocolate chips or pistachios, and dust them with powdered sugar.
- Enjoy your delightful mini cannoli bites!
