Best Cannoli Dip Recipe

The BEST Cannoli Dip Recipe with ricotta, mascarpone, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, vanilla, and a little orange zest. Serve this easy cannoli cream recipe with cannoli chips, fruit, or cookie wafers for the perfect dessert. My kids like to call this “Cannoli Chips & Dip” and I have to agree!

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Since you all loved my Cannoli Cookies recipe, I thought I’d share my BEST Cannoli Dip recipe with you too. Yes, I know there are many cannoli dip recipes out there. I love that this one has a little orange zest and cinnamon in it. I’m not a huge orange zest fan, but have to say, it adds a little something that puts this dip over the top! I also use mascarpone cheese for a thick creamy texture that can’t be beat.

As I mentioned in my Cannoli Cookie recipe, cannolis are different to different people. Ohhh the comments I got on those cookies. Haha! Most of you LOVED the cookies, but did get a few comments and emails how there is no “fill in the blank” in cannolis.

So again, let me stress, that cannolis are different in different parts of the country. Feel free to change the flavors a bit to make this Cannoli Dip recipe to your liking. I offer some suggestions below.

You won’t believe how easy this homemade Cannoli Dip is to make! My Mini Cannoli Dip Cups is a great way to take this dip and turn it into bite size desserts.

What is a Cannoli?

If you’re just joining us and wondering “what’s a cannoli?”, it’s an Italian pastry that is shaped in a long tube filled with a filling generally made up of ricotta cheese and powdered sugar.

An Italian cannoli may include other things such as candied fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, cinnamon, mascarpone cheese, or a wide variety of other things.

If you’re never had one, give them a try! National Cannoli Day is also June 16th, so if nothing else get one to celebrate in June!

How to Make Cannoli Dip:

This recipe for cannoli dip comes together QUICK! So easy!

Add the ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, and powdered sugar to a large bowl. Use an electric mixer (or stand mixer) and mis until smooth and creamy.

I like to use whole fat ricotta cheese and mascarpone cheese. They are THICK and will hold up well in this dip. Drain any liquid off your ricotta and if your ricotta has a lot of liquid, you could even drain the cheese. You want as little as liquid as possible. Otherwise, your dip will be too runny. I find using the ricotta right after opening, works well.

You should be able to find mascarpone cheese at many local grocery stores. Sometimes it’s with the more “specialty” cheeses. Sometimes mascarpone can be a bit pricey, so if you don’t want to spend that much money, you could substitute cream cheese.

I personally prefer the mascarpone in the cannoli dip and think it makes a huge difference. If you do use cream cheese, again, I suggest the full fat for a thicker cannoli dip.

If you want to experiment with the lower fat cheeses, my all means do, but please do but just know your dip may have a more liquid consistency. It will still taste great though!

After you have blended the cheeses and powdered sugar until they are really smooth, you can add the vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and orange zest and mix again until well combined.

A little almond extract or other extracts such as Fiori di Sicilia extract would also be great. Even different nut liqueurs such as Amaretto, Nocello, or Frangelico would be delicious!

I personally love a little fresh orange zest and cinnamon in this easy cannoli dip but you can change the flavorings a bit to your personal preference.

Once your dip is well mixed, fold in some mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate.

You could also fold in some chopped nuts like chopped pistachios, pecans, or walnuts if you like. But know, that if you’re not serving right away the nuts can get really soft. So if you’re going to add nuts, I’d suggest doing it before serving or sprinkle on top.

If you’re not serving right away, cover and refrigerate for up to a few days. I think this homemade Cannoli Dip gets better after it has sat in the fridge for at least a few hours.

What to Serve with Cannoli Dip?

I like to serve this Cannoli Dip with store-bought Cannoli Chips. You can also serve with fruit such as apple slices, broken up waffle cones or sugar ice cream cones, vanilla wafers, chocolate cookie wafers, graham crackers, or broken up store-bought cannoli pastry shells.

Really any kind of cookie or cracker would be great with this easy Cannoli Dip! My kids like to call this Cannoli Chips & Dip! Check out my what to serve with cannoli dip for even more ideas.

The Cannoli Dip is naturally gluten-free (just be sure to check all your individual ingredients…) so if you can’t have gluten-free food, try some fruit or gluten-free crackers to serve with the dip.

That’s it! Serve it right away, or like I said, cover and refrigerate.

Hope you enjoy this Best Cannoli Dip Recipe!

Tell me what you put in your Cannoli Dip! Would love to hear!

5 from 2 votes

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Best Cannoli Dip

Best Cannoli Dip, an easy homemade Cannoli Dip recipe with ricotta, mascarpone, powdered sugar, and a few other ingredients. 

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Yield 32 servings (makes about 4 cups)

Author Lisa Huff

Ingredients

• 1 (5 ounce) container Ricotta cheese drained if needed
• 1 (8 ounce) container Mascarpone cheese
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Topping (optional):

• mini chocolate chips and/or chopped nuts

Serving Suggestions:

• apple slices, graham crackers, cannoli chips, vanilla wafers, broken ice cream cones or cannoli shells, etc.

Instructions

1. Place ricotta, mascarpone, and powdered sugar in large mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer or stand mixer until smooth and well combined.

2. Mix in vanilla, orange zest, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Stir in mini chocolate chips.

3. Top with mini chocolate chips and/or chopped nuts and serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  

Recipe Notes

SNAPPY TIPS: I suggest using full fat ricotta and mascarpone cheese to make a thicker creamier dip. If your cheese has any liquid, be sure to drain.

SNAPPY SUBSTITUTIONS: Instead of mascarpone, you could substitute cream cheese.