Irresistible Cannoli Cookie Cups Recipe: Sweet Treats Made Fun

Sweet cannoli cookie cups bring a delightful twist to traditional Italian desserts.

Crispy pastry shells cradle a luxurious ricotta filling that melts in your mouth.

Delicate textures and rich flavors combine in each bite-sized treat.

Creamy centers burst with hints of vanilla and a sprinkle of chocolate chips.

Crafted with simple ingredients, these miniature desserts impress without complicated techniques.

Small enough to enjoy in one or two bites, they make perfect party snacks.

Grab a plate and let the magic of these mini cannoli cups sweep you into a world of pure deliciousness.

Cannoli Cookie Cups Insights

• Delightfully Customizable: Easily adapt the recipe by swapping chocolate chips for pistachios, candied orange peel, or other mix-ins to match personal taste preferences.
• Quick Family Dessert: Perfect for busy households wanting a crowd-pleasing treat that requires minimal preparation and delivers maximum flavor excitement.
• No-Fuss Baking Experience: Straightforward steps make this recipe approachable for bakers of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned home cooks wanting a fun dessert project.
• Crowd-Pleasing Presentation: Impressive cookie cups with creamy filling create a stunning dessert that looks professionally made but comes together with simple techniques.

Ingredients for Cannoli Cookie Cups

• Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps bind the cookie dough together.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Add sweetness and contribute to the cookie's texture and color.
• Eggs: Act as a binding agent and help create a soft, chewy cookie cup.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile of the cookie base.
• All-Purpose Flour: Forms the primary structure of the cookie cups.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and creates a light texture.
• Salt: Balances and enhances the sweetness of the cookie.

• Ricotta Cheese: Creates a creamy and smooth base for the traditional cannoli filling.
• Mascarpone Cheese: Adds richness and a luxurious texture to the filling.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the filling and helps create a smooth consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides additional depth of flavor to the filling.

• Chocolate Chips, Mini Chocolate Chips: Add texture and bursts of chocolate flavor throughout the cookie cups and filling.
• Melted Chocolate: Offers an optional decorative and tasty drizzle on top of the filled cookie cups.

How to Assemble Cannoli Cookie Cups

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to 350°F. Coat the muffin pan with a generous layer of baking spray so nothing sticks.

Step 2: Create Cookie Dough Magic

• Melted butter
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar

Blend these ingredients with a hand mixer until silky smooth. Crack in the eggs and splash of vanilla extract.

Mix thoroughly.

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Salt

Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.

Fold in chocolate chips with a gentle touch.

Step 3: Shape the Cookie Vessels

Scoop cookie dough into muffin cups using an ice cream scooper.

Press down gently to create little cavities that will become delicious cups.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the muffin pan into the oven.

Bake for 16-20 minutes until edges turn a gorgeous golden brown. Let the cups cool in the pan for 25-30 minutes.

Step 5: Whip Up Creamy Filling

• Strained ricotta cheese
• Mascarpone cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

Blend until ultra-creamy. Gently fold in mini chocolate chips.

Chill in the refrigerator.

Step 6: Assemble and Decorate

Carefully remove cookie cups from the pan.

Fill a piping bag with the cannoli mixture. Pipe filling into each cup generously.

Sprinkle with extra mini chocolate chips and drizzle melted chocolate on top for a stunning finish.

Tips for Perfect Cannoli Cookie Cups

• Generously spray muffin pan with baking spray, ensuring every nook and cranny is covered for easy cookie cup removal.
• Mix wet and dry ingredients gradually on low speed to prevent overmixing, which can make cookie cups tough and dense.
• Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to gently press down the center of each cookie dough portion, forming an even and deep cup shape.
• Strain ricotta cheese beforehand to remove excess moisture, resulting in a thick and creamy cannoli filling that won't become runny.
• Chill cookie cups for 30 minutes before filling to maintain their crisp texture and prevent the filling from melting too quickly.

Flavor Options for Cannoli Cookie Cups

• Gluten-Free Variation: Replace all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free baking blend for those with wheat sensitivities. Ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
• Vegan Cannoli Cups: Swap butter with coconut oil, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, and replace ricotta with cashew cream. Choose dairy-free chocolate chips for a completely plant-based version.
• Nutty Chocolate Alternative: Substitute chocolate chips with chopped pistachios or almonds for a crunchy texture. Add ground nuts to the cookie dough for extra flavor and richness.
• Low-Sugar Option: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia in place of granulated sugar. Select reduced-sugar chocolate chips and minimize powdered sugar in the filling to create a lighter dessert for health-conscious individuals.

Pairing Suggestions for Cannoli Cookie Cups

• Rich Sicilian Nero d'Avola provides a perfect counterpoint to the sweet cannoli cookie cups, balancing the dessert's creamy texture with its robust fruit notes.
• Strong Italian espresso cuts through the richness of the mascarpone and chocolate chips, creating a classic Mediterranean dessert experience that awakens the palate.
• Creamy amaretto liqueur echoes the vanilla and cheese flavors, offering a smooth, almond-kissed finish that enhances the cookie cup's delicate sweetness.

Storage Advice for Cannoli Cookie Cups

• Store filled cookie cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep them separated with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Preserve empty cookie cups in a sealed freezer bag for 2-3 weeks. Thaw at room temperature before filling to maintain crispy texture.
• Warm cookie cups in the oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to restore crispness. Avoid microwaving to prevent soggy bottoms.
• Keep cannoli filling separately in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Stir well before piping into cookie cups to restore creamy consistency.

FAQs

• Can I use low-fat ricotta for the filling?

Using low-fat ricotta might change the texture and richness of the cannoli filling. For the best results, stick with whole milk ricotta to maintain the traditional creamy consistency.

• Do I need any special equipment to make these cookie cups?

You’ll need a muffin pan and an ice cream scoop for best results. A hand mixer helps, but you can mix ingredients by hand if needed. A piping bag or zip-top bag works great for filling the cups.

• How can I prevent the cookie cups from sticking?

Generously spray the muffin pan with baking spray before adding the dough. This ensures easy removal and prevents the cups from breaking when you take them out.

Cannoli Cookie Cups Recipe

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4.7 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Crispy cannoli cookie cups bring Italian dessert magic straight to your kitchen table. Sweet ricotta filling nestled in buttery cookie shells creates a delightful twist on classic cannoli that you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Cups:

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Sweeteners:

• 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 cup (250 grams) packed brown sugar

Dry Ingredients:

• 3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (130 grams) chocolate chips

Cannoli Filling:

Main Dairy Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups (340 grams) whole milk ricotta cheese, strained
• 8 ounces (226 grams) mascarpone cheese

Sweeteners and Flavoring:

• 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Additional Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup (130 grams) mini chocolate chips

Optional Toppings:

• Mini chocolate chips for garnish
• 4 ounces (113 grams) melted chocolate bar for drizzling

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously coat a muffin pan with baking spray to ensure easy cookie cup removal.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine melted butter with granulated and brown sugars, blending until smooth and uniform using a hand mixer.
3. Incorporate eggs and vanilla extract into the sugar mixture, mixing thoroughly until well integrated.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt, then gradually fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture on low speed.
5. Gently fold chocolate chips into the completed cookie dough using a spatula, ensuring even distribution.
6. Utilize a medium-sized ice cream scoop to portion dough into muffin cups, pressing gently to create cup-shaped cavities.
7. Bake for 16-20 minutes until edges turn golden brown, allowing the cookie cups to develop a crisp exterior.
8. Remove from oven and let cookie cups cool completely within the muffin pan for 25-30 minutes to set their shape.
9. Prepare the filling by whipping ricotta, mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency.
10. Fold mini chocolate chips into the cheese mixture, then refrigerate until ready to use.
11. Carefully extract cooled cookie cups from the pan and pipe the chilled cannoli filling into each cup’s center.
12. Garnish with additional mini chocolate chips and optional melted chocolate drizzle for an elegant finishing touch.

Notes

• Grease muffin pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and ensure easy cookie cup removal.
• Use room temperature ingredients like eggs and butter for smoother, more consistent cookie dough mixing.
• Adjust baking time carefully, watching edges turn golden brown without over-browning the cookie cups.
• Consider making filling ahead and refrigerating to enhance flavor and allow ingredients to meld together.
• Replace traditional ricotta with low-fat version or Greek yogurt for lighter, healthier cannoli filling option.
• Create gluten-free variation by substituting all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free blend.
• Experiment with flavor variations by adding orange zest, cinnamon, or different chocolate chip types to filling.
• Store filled cookie cups in refrigerator for maximum freshness, consuming within 2-3 days for best taste and texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 236 kcal
• Sugar: 17 g
• Sodium: 77 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 38 mg