Mini Strawberry Cannoli With Cream Filling.
I love cannolis, but they can be hard to make. Why? Because they’re so tiny! And I’m not just talking about the pastry dough, I’m talking about you, too!
You might think that it’s impossible to make a large cannoli that’s still crispy and delicious on the inside. But with these Tiny Strawberry Cannolis, all your problems are solved! They’re compact enough to fit in your handbag or purse (or even pocket), yet big enough for everyone at your next party, hosting event (even though there won’t be any room left over for ice cream).
What is Tiny Strawberry Cannolis
Tiny Strawberry Cannolis are mini cannolis made with fresh strawberries. They are filled with a cannoli shell and then topped with more fresh strawberries, creating a delicious dessert that is perfect for summertime parties!
Ingredients
- Start with fresh strawberries.
- Prepare vanilla pastry cream by combining all ingredients in a food processor until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes (or use an immersion blender).
- Pipe or spoon some of the pastry cream into each shell, then add a few chocolate chips on top of each one before spreading it out again with a cookie cutter or knife so that they’re evenly spaced out on top of your cannoli shell!
- Drizzle coconut oil over tops for extra shine and moisture! Also drizzle powdered sugar around outside edge for decoration…and don’t forget how pretty this looks served up in pretty little bowls 🙂
Directions
- Get your ingredients and equipment ready.
- A pastry bag with a small round tip (or use a resealable plastic bag). You can purchase this at the grocery store or make your own out of tapered plastic bags and scissors.
- A large bowl filled with sugar water, which is simply ground sugar mixed with water until it’s clear but not too thin. You’ll need about 1 cup per cannoli you’re making—so if you’re making 12 cannolis, you’ll want to start with 2 cups total. If you don’t have enough sugar water on hand, just add more as needed! Also note that this recipe calls for white granulated sugar instead of brown generic store brand type variety which may contain additives like corn syrup or molasses; we recommend buying organic granulated white cane sugar instead if possible (and cheap!).
Cooking Notes
To make a cannoli using a pastry bag, fill a large resealable plastic bag with ricotta cheese. Then, cut off the tip of your piping bag and insert it into one side of the plastic bag. You can use either an open flower or close, close star tip for this step.
You should be able to fill your cannolis without any issues if you keep these tips in mind:
- Use very little pressure on your piping device when filling them so that they don’t leak out too much filling at once; otherwise, you’ll end up with lots of extra holes around each one!
- Make sure there are no air pockets inside your cannoli shells before baking them—this will prevent them from rising too high during cooking time (which could lead to cracking).
Pro Tip
If you want to make these ahead of time, they can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days.
If you’re making them right before serving, the best way is to fill each cannoli with its filling and then press down on it so that it sets up nicely—that way when it does come time for eating them all at once (or individually), your cannolis will still be good!
Add, ins and Variations
You can add what you like to the cannoli filling. I recommend adding some diced strawberries and a little granulated sugar to sweeten it up, but you’re free to experiment with other add, ins if you’re feeling adventurous.
If you have leftover pastry shell, don’t throw it away! Reheat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds on each side until soft enough to mold again. Then fill with your favorite filling—cannoli cream or mascarpone cream are both delicious options!
Tiny Strawberry Cannolis is best to serve with
Tiny Strawberry Cannolis are best to serve with cream cheese frosting, whipped cream, fresh berries and chocolate syrup. For the cannoli shells we recommend Raffaello or Fior di Latte. For the filling we recommend using either ricotta cheese or mascarpone cheese (depending on what you like in your cannolis). Chocolate chips are optional but will add even more flavor and texture to your tiny strawberry cannolis!
I have a good feeling that most Italians would respond cannoli if you asked them what their favorite dessert is! Cannoli are always the first to be consumed, whether they are filled with the classic Ricotta filling, Italian Pastry Cream, or even a straightforward Mascarpone Cream.
Where are Cannoli made?
Originally from Sicily, cannoli were created in preparation for Carnival, but today they are made and consumed all throughout Italy and the rest of the globe.
Thank you for reading this post! If you enjoyed it, please share with your friends and family on social media. Have fun making these delicious cannoli cupcakes.
