Cannolicake Recipes

MARVELOUS CANNOLI CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions, using two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon and extracts; stir in chocolate. In another bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese, confectioners' sugar, milk and extracts on medium speed until creamy (do not overmix)., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup filling. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining filling over top of cake to within 1 in. of edges. Frost sides and top edge of cake with 2 cups frosting., Press almonds into sides of cake. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Refrigerate until serving.

CANNOLI CAKE ROLL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease one 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch jelly-roll pan and line with parchment paper.
• Separate the eggs. In small bowl, with mixer at high speed, beat egg yolks, vanilla, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until very thick and lemon colored, about 5 minutes. Set beaten yolk mixture aside.
• In large bowl, with clean beaters and with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt until soft peaks for. Beating at high speed, gradually sprinkle in 1/4 cup granulated sugar until sugar dissolves and whites stand in stiff peaks.
• Transfer beaten egg yolks to another large bowl. With rubber spatula, gently fold beaten egg whites into beaten egg yolks, one-third at a time. Sift and fold flour, one-third at a time, into egg mixture.
• With metal spatula, spread batter evenly in pan. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10 minutes or until top of cake springs back when lightly touched with finger.
• Meanwhile, in a cup, mix 2 tablespoons orange liqueur with 1 tablespoon water and 1 tablespoon sugar until sugar dissolves.
• Sprinkle clean cloth towel with confectioners' sugar. When cake is done, immediately invert hot cake onto towel. Carefully peel off parchment paper and discard. Brush cake with orange-liqueur mixture. Starting from a long side, roll cake with towel jelly-roll fashion. Cool cake roll, seam side down, on wire rack until completely cool, about 1 hour.
• To Make Ricotta Filling: In food processor, with knife blade attached, blend the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and cinnamon. until smooth. Transfer filling to bowl and stir in 1/4 cup of the chocolate pieces. Cover and refrigerate filling while cake cools.
• Assemble Cake: Gently unroll cooled cake. With metal spatula, spread filling over cake almost to edges. Starting from same long side, roll cake without towel. Place rolled cake, seam side down, on platter.
• To Make Frosting: In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat whipping cream and 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. With rubber spatula, fold in 2 tablespoons orange liqueur and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. With metal spatula, spread whipped-cream frosting over cake. Refrigerate cake at least 2 hours before serving. Sprinkle top of cake with chopped pistachios and chocolate pieces just before serving.

CANNOLI

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and cinnamon. Cut in the shortening until it is in pieces no larger than peas. Make a well in the center, and pour in the egg, egg yolk, Marsala wine, vinegar and water. Mix with a fork until the dough becomes stiff, then finish it by hand, kneading on a clean surface. Add a bit more water if needed to incorporate all of the dry ingredients. Knead for about 10 minutes, then cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
• Divide the cannoli dough into thirds, and flatten each one just enough to get through the pasta machine. Roll the dough through successively thinner settings until you have reached the thinnest setting. Dust lightly with flour if necessary. Place the sheet of dough on a lightly floured surface. Using a form or large glass or bowl, cut out 4 to 5 inch circles. Dust the circles with a light coating of flour. This will help you later in removing the shells from the tubes. Roll dough around cannoli tubes, sealing the edge with a bit of egg white.
• Heat the oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) in a deep-fryer or deep heavy skillet. Fry shells on the tubes a few at a time for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden. Use tongs to turn as needed. Carefully remove using the tongs, and place on a cooling rack set over paper towels. Cool just long enough that you can handle the tubes, then carefully twist the tube to remove the shell. Using a tea towel may help you get a better grip. Wash or wipe off the tubes, and use them for more shells. Cooled shells can be placed in an airtight container and kept for up to 2 months. You should only fill them immediately or up to 1 hours before serving.
• To make the filling, stir together the ricotta cheese and confectioners' sugar using a spoon. Fold in lemon zest and chocolate. Use a pastry bag to pipe into shells, filling from the center to one end, then doing the same from the other side. Dust with additional confectioners' sugar and grated chocolate for garnish when serving.

CANNOLI CAKE

Steps:

• FOR THE CAKE: Begin early in day or day ahead to make Cannoli Cake.
• Preheat oven to 375°F In small bowl, with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually sprinkle in 1/2 cup sugar, beating until sugar completely dissolves and whites stand in stiff peaks.
• In large bowl, using same beaters and with mixer at low speed, beat egg yolks, flour, baking powder, salt, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 Tablespoons water until blended. With rubber spatula, gently fold beaten egg whites into egg-yolk mixture, one-third at a time.
• Spoon batter into UNGREASED 10 inch by 3 inch springform pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until cake is golden and top springs back when lightly touched.
• Invert cake in pan on wire rack; cool completely in pan.
• FOR BRUSHING CAKE LAYERS: From oranges, grate 2 teaspoons peel (use the rest of peel for the filling) and squeeze 1/3 cup juice (IF NOT USING LIQUEUR, INCREASE JUICE TO 1/2 CUP). Stir liqueur into 1/3 cup juice; set aside.
• FOR THE FILLING: In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat ricotta, cream cheese, rest of the grated orange peel, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup semisweet-chocolate mini pieces.
• With metal spatula, loosen cake from edge of pan; remove pan side. Loosen cake from pan bottom; remove pan bottom. With serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 2 layers. Brush orange-juice mixture evenly over cut side of both layers.
• Place bottom cake layer, cut-side up, on cake plate. Spoon ricotta-cheese filling on center of cake layer. Spread some filling out to edge, leaving a center rounded to achieve a dome effect.
• Cut a small wedge out of remaining cake layer; and gently rest cake layer over filling. (Cutting wedge will allow cake layer to bend, without cracking, to fit over dome shape.).
• PREPARE VANILLA-CREAM FROSTING: In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat 3 Tablespoons margarine or butter, softened, 3 Tablespoons milk, 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth, adding more milk if necessary until mixture has an easy spreading consistency. In large bowl, using same beaters and with mixer at medium speed, beat 2 cups heavy or whipping cream until stiff peaks form; fold confectioners'-sugar mixture into whipped cream. Spread over top and down side of cake.
• In a heavy small saucepan over low heat, heat remaining 1/3 cup mini pieces, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
• Into waxed-paper cone, spoon melted chocolate. (Or, use small decorating bag with small writing tube.) With chocolate, make feather design.
• Refrigerate cake until filling is firm for easier cutting, about 3 hours.
• TO MAKE WAXED-PAPER CONE: Cut square of waxed paper; fold in half into triangle. Lay triangle on flat surface so wide side is at top. Fold left-hand corner down to center point. Take right-hand corner; wrap it completely around folded left-hand corner, forming cone. Both corners meet at center point of original triangle. Fold in these ends twice to hold together. Fill cone two thirds full; fold top over.
• MAKING FEATHER DESIGN: Piping circles on Cake: Using paper cone with tip cup to make 1/8 inch diameter hole, pipe melted chocolate on top of cake in concentric circles, starting in center and moving to edge of cake. Start with small circle in the middle of cake and go around each circle to the edge. This should be 6 circles.
• Drawing spokes towards center: Before chocolate hardens, quickly with tip of toothpick or small knife, draw lines in spoke fashion, about 1 1/2 inches apart around edge of cake; alternate direction of each spoke, first from edge to center of cake, then from center to edge.
• Completing feather design: Continue around top of cake, alternating direction of each spoke to make attractive feather design. 16 servings.
• The Good Housekeeping Book of Desserts.

HOMEMADE CANNOLI

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.

CANNOLI POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with butter and line with parchment; set aside.
• In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer, mix together the butter and sugar until well incorporated and light in color; about 2-3 minutes. Add in the ricotta and mix until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Add in the zest of one orange and stir to combine.
• In a seperate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and beat until just combined. Fold in the mini chocolate chips and pistachios.
• Pour the batter into the greased and lined pan and top with extra mini chocolate chips if desired. Bake on the center rack in oven for 65-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the loaf comes out clean. Let cool in pan for about 15 minutes, then use a knife to loosen the edges and lift out using parchment to help. Let the pound cake cool completely. Spinkle on powdered sugar if desired.

CANNOLI CAKE

Steps:

• Bake two 8-inch round cakes according to the package directions. Cool completely. Cut a parchment sheet into four 3-by-12-inch strips and set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine the butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on the lowest speed until the sugar is incorporated into the butter. Add the vanilla, increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. With the mixer running on medium high, add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
• To make the filling, remove 2 cups of the frosting and place in a medium bowl. Add the cinnamon and mini chocolate chips and stir until combined. Reserve remaining frosting.
• Using a serrated knife, trim the top of each cake to make level and straight. Line the edges of a cake stand with the parchment strips (to keep it clean when you frost and glaze the cake with chocolate). Place one cake in the center of the cake stand. Using a small offset spatula, spread the chocolate filling evenly over the top of the cake. Top with the second cake.
• With a large offset spatula, spread 3/4 cup of the reserved frosting in a thin layer on the top and sides of the cake. This is called a crumb coat. Place the cake in the freezer until the frosting is set, about 30 minutes.
• Once chilled, remove the cake from the freezer and spread with all but 1/2 cup of the remaining frosting. Smooth the sides and top of the cake using the offset spatula or a bench scraper. Return to the freezer for another 30 minutes to set the frosting.
• Meanwhile, make the ganache by placing the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a small heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until hot but not boiling. Pour over the chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.
• Remove the cake from the freezer and pour the ganache over the top. Use the back of a spoon to completely cover the top, allowing some of the chocolate to spill over the sides in a drip pattern.
• Place the remaining 1/2 cup frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip. Pipe rosettes on the chocolate around the top edge of the cake, spacing them about 1/2 inch apart. Place one end of a cannoli on each rosette, so the opposite ends meet in the center of the cake. Remove the parchment strips from beneath the cake and serve.