Cannoli Cream With Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Parfait Recipes

CHOCOLATE-PISTACHIO CANNOLI

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted. Put the pistachios in another bowl. Dip both ends of each cannoli shell in the chocolate, then into the pistachios. Arrange on a baking sheet and refrigerate.
• Beat the ricotta, confectioners' sugar, tangerine zest and juice, and the cinnamon in a bowl with a mixer until fluffy, about 10 minutes. Add the heavy cream and continue to beat until creamy, 1 to 2 more minutes. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Transfer the filling to a pastry bag and pipe into the prepared shells from both ends. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

CANNOLI FILLED WITH PISTACHIO RICOTTA

Steps:

• Soak the dried cranberries in the amaretto in a small bowl for 30 minutes.
• Combine the ricotta and sugar in a small bowl and whip until smooth. Add the mascarpone and stir to incorporate. Be careful not to overmix, or the mascarpone might separate. Fold in the pistachios and dried cranberries with their soaking liquid.
• Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip and pipe the mixtrue into the cannoli shells. If you don't have a pastry bag, put the filling into a plastic bag, snip off 1 corner, and squeeze the filling out into the pastry shells. (Do this close to serving time so the shells won't lose their crispness.) Refrigerate until serving time.
• To serve, dust with confectioners' sugar, using a sieve. Serve chilled.
• Prepare a sanitizing solution of 1 quart of water and 1 tablespoon of household bleach.
• Rinse a large stainless steel or enameled stockpot or soup pot with the sanitizing solution and pour the milk and cream into the pot. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring as necessary with a sanitized spoon so the milk doesn't scorch on the bottom of the pot. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the lemon juice. Continue stirring slowly until the milk curdles and white curds float to the top. Remove from the heat and cover. Wait for 5 minutes while the curds solidify slightly and become firmer.
• Rinse a colander and a large piece of muslin or several layers of cheesecloth in the sanitizing solution. Wring out the cloth to release the excess water. Line the colander with the cloth and set the colander in the sink or over a large bowl.
• Using a sanitized perforated spoon, gently ladle the curds into the colander. Let the whey drain for 30 minutes, or until the ricotta is still moist but fairly dry.
• After about 15 minutes, lift the edges of the cloth toward the center of the colander to loosen the cheese from the cloth and facilitate draining. If the ricotta is still too liquid and runny in texture after 30 minutes, gather the edges of the cloth together using 1 hand, wrap a piece of kitchen string around the gathered cloth to form a bag, and tie it closed. Hang the bag containing the cheese from the faucet or the handle of a kitchen cabinet door and allow the excess whey to drip from the bag into the sink or a bowl.
• If adding salt, transfer the ricotta to a sanitized bowl and stir in the salt. Place the ricotta in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Use within 5 days.
• Yield: 3 1/4 cups
• Cut the egg roll wrappers into circles 4 inches in diameter. Roll the wrappers around mold or pieces of aluminum tubing that are 1-inch in diameter and 4 1/2 to 5 inches in length. Moisten the overlapped flap of dough with water to seal each wrapper.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet until hot but not smoking, about 350 degrees F. Add the shells, still on the tubing, and fry, turning with tongs as necessary, until golden brown and cripsy on all sides. Remove immediately, using tongs, and stand the tubing on end on paper towels to drain. When cool, slip the cannoli shells off of the tubing.
• Yield: 8 large or 12 mini cannoli shells

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND PISTACHIO PARFAIT

Steps:

• Combine cream and chocolate in a medium saucepan, sir over low heat until smooth.
• Beat the eggs, the egg yolks in a small bowl with an electric mixer until thick and creamy; with the motor operating, gradually beat hot chocolate mixture into egg mixture.
• Transfer parfait mixture to a large bowl, cover, refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until mixture thickens slightly.
• Meanwhile. cut 8 30cm squares of baking paper; fold each paper square into a triangle; then roll one point over to meet the centre point.
• Twist the second point over to meet the other two points and form a cone shape.
• Staple or tape the paper cones securely to ensure that they hold their shape. Stand each cone, upright in a tall glass, place glasses on a tray.
• beat the extra cream in a small bowl of an electric mixer until soft peaks form; fold the extra cream, liqueur and nuts into the parfait mixture.
• Divide the mixture between the cones.
• Cover the cones loosely with plastic wrap; freeze; overnight.
• BERRY COMPOTE:.
• Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan; stir over low heat until all the sugar has dissolved.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Place the parfaits on individual serving dishes; carefully remove and discard the paper from each.
• Serve with Berry Compote.

PISTACHIO CANNOLI CAKE

Steps:

• Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans. Line pans with parchment; butter parchment. Dust with flour, tapping out excess. In a food processor, finely grind pistachios. Remove and reserve 1/4 cup ground pistachios, then add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to processor and pulse to combine.
• Beat butter with granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add orange-flower water; beat to combine. Beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time, thoroughly combining after each addition and scraping down bowl as needed. Add pistachio mixture in three batches, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with pistachio mixture.
• Divide batter evenly between cake pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating pans once, until tops spring back when lightly touched, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack; let cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack; remove parchment and let cool 1 hour. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Filling: Meanwhile, combine ricotta and cream in bowl of food processor; process until smooth. Add salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and confectioners' sugar; process to combine. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in chopped chocolate and orange peel. Refrigerate in an airtight container at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• Cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers. Stack on a cardboard cake round or a plate; brush edges with melted chocolate, then pat some of reserved ground pistachios onto chocolate. Separate, then refrigerate in a single layer until set, 10 minutes. Place one cake layer on a cake stand, bottom-side down; spread 1 1/2 cups filling evenly over top, then place second layer on top. Repeat with remaining filling and cakes, finishing with a cake layer, bottom-side up. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and remaining reserved ground pistachios.

CANNOLI CREAM PARFAITS

Steps:

• Mix ricotta cheese, sugar, orange zest and juice in large bowl until well blended.
• Add whipped topping, chocolate chips, apricots and raisins; stir gently until well blended. Cover. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 6 hours.
• Layer one half each of the cheese mixture and wafers in four dessert dishes; repeat layers.

CHERRY, CHOCOLATE, AND PISTACHIO ZUCCOTTO

Steps:

• Line a large bowl with plastic wrap to make a mold.
• Slice 1/2 inch off the top and bottom of the panettone. Cut another horizontal slice off the top. Slice remaining panettone vertically; cut each vertical slice in half.
• Mix ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, pistachio nuts, candied fruit, sugar, and dark chocolate together to make the filling. Mix in cherries to create a marbled effect.
• Lay the top panettone slice in the bottom of the mold. Sprinkle vin santo on top. Arrange vertical halves around the side of the bowl, overlapping slightly if needed. Sprinkle with more vin santo. Spoon 1/2 the ricotta mixture into the center, smoothing into corners using the back of a spoon. Lay second panettone slice on top; sprinkle with vin santo. Add remaining ricotta mixture, again smoothing down with the spoon. Cover with the bottom slice. Drizzle more vin santo and reserved cherry syrup on top.
• Cover with plastic wrap and place a plate on top. Add bags of beans to press down on zuccotto. Refrigerate until set, 8 hours to overnight.
• Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 15-second intervals, stirring after each melting, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Invert zuccotto onto a serving plate and peel off plastic wrap. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top.