Mega Twinkannoli Recipes

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

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.

MEGA TWINKANNOLI

Steps:

• Strain the ricotta over a bowl with a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Place in fridge overnight.
• Remove the ricotta from the fridge and & place in a food processor with blade attachment. Pulse in a food processor until the cheese is smooth.
• In a standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whisk ½ cup whipping cream on high until stiff peaks form. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
• Add ricotta to standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment (no need to clean out bowl or whisk for this step) add both zests, vanilla, cinnamon and ½ cup of powdered sugar until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Gently fold in the cream into the cheese mixture, careful to not collapse the cream. Place in fridge for about 1 hour.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours before filling cakes.
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Set oven rack to middle position.
• Spray two (9"L 3.5"W 2"D) loaf pans with cooking spray and dust with flour. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, cake flour baking powder, cinnamon, salt, cream of tartar and set aside.
• In a small pan, heat the milk and butter on low until the butter is melted. Remove the pan from the stove and whisk in the vanilla, orange zest and lemon zest.
• Separate the egg whites and yolks.
• In a standing mixer with a fitted whisk, beat the whites on high speed until the mixture becomes foamy.
• Gradually add the cream of tartar, and 6 tablespoons of sugar. Continue to beat until soft peaks form.
• Remove whites from bowl of standing mixer and set aside. In the mixer bowl, combine the egg yolks and 6 tablespoons of sugar. Beat on medium high until mixture is a light yellow color and thick. Combine whites to the yolks but do not mix.
• Sprinkle the dry mixture over the egg whites. Mix on low for about 10 seconds, or until blended. Do not over mix- this will deflate the eggs.
• Create a well in the center of the batter and add the melted butter mixture. With a rubber spatula, fold gently until thoroughly combined.
• Fill the two loaf pans about ¾ of the way high and place the loaves on a sheet pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating halfway, until the tops are golden and after inserting a toothpick comes out clean of crumbs or batter. Let cool completely.
• Once cool, remove the cakes from the pans. With bottom side down, create 4-6 puncture marks on the topside of the cake along the center with a rounded piping tip. Be sure to create space in the cakes for the filling.
• With a pastry bag fitted with a rounded tip, fill the cakes with the ricotta mixture until a bit billows out. After filling the cakes, flip them upside down to resemble authentic twinkies.
• Slice and serve!

CANNOLI ALLA SICILIANA (SICILIAN CANNOLI)

Steps:

• Beat ricotta cheese and 1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar together in a bowl until smooth. Stir in mixed peel and chocolate. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours.
• Mix flour, Marsala wine, butter, sugar, and vinegar together in a bowl to make cannoli dough. Wrap in plastic wrap; let rest for 30 minutes.
• Knead dough on a lightly floured work surface until smooth. Roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into twenty 4-inch squares. Wrap each square around a metal tubular mold, overlapping ends and dabbing with warm water to seal.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Lower some cannoli molds into the hot oil; cook until shells are golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining cannoli molds. Cool briefly; twist molds carefully to remove shells. Let shells cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• Fill cooled cannoli shells with ricotta filling using a spoon or piping bag. Arrange cannoli on a serving platter. Garnish with pistachios; sprinkle 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar on top.

CANNOLI III

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Blend in the shortening and egg white. Add the red wine one tablespoon at a time until the mixture forms a ball. Knead the dough enough to bring it together. Cover and let rest for half an hour.
• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Divide dough into 2 parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 4 inch long ovals. Place a cannoli tube onto the oval lengthwise and roll up with edges overlapping; seal with a dab of egg white.
• Fry cannoli shells 2 or 3 at a time in the hot oil. When golden brown, remove from the oil to drain on paper towels. Remove tubes.
• To make the filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese and confectioners' sugar. Fold in the vanilla, chocolate chips and candied orange peel. Chill for at least half an hour before filling shells. Drain off any excess liquid. Fill cooled shells and smooth off the filling at the edges. Keep refrigerated until serving.

SUMMER CANNOLI

Steps:

• 1. Wrap the ricotta in a few damp paper towels and squeeze it over the sink for 30 seconds.
• 2. Whisk it in a large bowl until smooth.
• 3. Add the mascarpone, sugar, vanilla, and orange zest and whisk until fully incorporated.
• 4. Fold in the pistachios (if using).
• 5. Cut the pound cake into 1/2-inch slices and toast them in a toaster oven, or in a regular oven at 375°F for about 2 minutes a side.
• 6. Top each slice with a dollop of the cream, then sprinkle with the berries.