Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (2024)

By Gretchen 23 Comments

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Look no further~ the best vegan cannoli recipe has arrived!

I know I’m tooting my horn pretty loud over this one but trust me you will agree once you taste these!

Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (1)

Right off the bat I know I will be getting some flack for not using a traditional fried dough cannoli shell.

But this cinnamon-orange laced vegan ricotta cream stuffed into the most delicate honey lace cookie is a total win!

Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (2)

I promise you, this is the best Vegan Cannoli Recipe you will ever see, make or taste.

Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (3)

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Notes for Success:

You will notice in the ingredients below I have Tofutti brand listed for the ricotta and the cream cheese *Not sponsored

However I have since started making my own vegan ricotta and it is much better, easier and cheaper!
However if you prefer to use a store bought ricotta you will need 1½ cups

As for the vegan cream cheese you use whatever brand you like the most or even a homemade recipe will work fine since this is not a baked recipe

If you decide to make the Brandy Snap Cookies for the cannoli shell versus a fried dough recipe,
You will have to purchase a silicone baking mat as that is the only way to bake this type of cookie, parchment paper will not work here.
Metal Cannoli Tubes are also necessary to form the shells

It is important to note that these cookie shells will go soggy very quickly so this is not something you can fill ahead of time.
Brandy snap cannoli shells must be filled ala minute~ just before serving as they get soggy very quickly!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR HOW TO MAKE THIS VEGAN CANNOLI RECIPE

Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (4)

Yield: 10 Cannoli

Vegan Cannoli Recipe

Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (5)

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time7 minutes

Total Time5 minutes

Ingredients

For the Brandy Snap Cannoli Shells

  • Vegan Butter 3 Tablespoons (42g)
  • Dark Corn Syrup 3 Tablespoons (60g)
  • Light Brown Sugar 5 teaspoons
  • Salt pinch
  • Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon (5ml)
  • All Purpose Flour 5 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon

For the Cannoli Cream Filling

  • 1 Package Firm Tofu drained not pressed (approx 12 ounces)
  • OR Store Bought Ricotta Cheese 1½ cup (375g)
  • Vegan Cream Cheese 1 cup (226g)
  • Confectioners Sugar ½ cup + 2 Tablespoons (75g)
  • Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon (5ml)
  • Orange Zest ½ teaspoon
  • Ground Cinnamon ½ teaspoon
  • Shaved Chocolate *optional

Instructions

  1. First to make the brandy snap mix.
  2. In a small sauce pot melt the vegan butter, remove from the heat and add the light brown sugar, corn syrup, pinch of salt and vanilla extract, stir well to combine
  3. Add the flour and whisk smooth
  4. (Store in the refrigerator while you preheat the oven to 375°F)
  5. Not only because you only have 4 cannoli tubes, but because the cookies cool fast and forming them has to be equally fast, you will only want to make 4 cookies at a time.
  6. Spread 1 heaping teaspoon of the batter onto a silicone mat and spread it with a small spatula to the best round shape you can get.
  7. You can set up multiple sheet pans with the batter, but bake 1 sheet pan with cookies on it at a time.
  8. Bake for exactly 7 minutes, they will get bubbly all over the surface and start to turn a slightly darker color
  9. Remove from the oven and let cool just until you can get a small spatula under the cookie and immediately wrap it around a metal cannoli tube and let cool the rest of the way on the tube.
  10. *If the cookies cool too fast while you are trying to roll them, you can always place the pan back into the oven to get it hot again and attempt to roll it once more.
  11. Prepare the cannoli cream by first lightly pressing any excess water out of your tofu block and then whiz it up in a food processor until it is smooth and resembles the texture of ricotta cheese! That's it! Instant Vegan Ricotta for your recipes!
  12. Next in a large mixing bowl combine the vegan cream cheese, cinnamon, sifted confectioners sugar, orange zest and vanilla extract together and paddle it smooth by hand with a large spoon or spatula.
  13. Fold in the vegan ricotta cheese.
  14. Fill the brandy snap cannoli shells and then dip the ends in shaved chocolate *optional.
  15. Serve immediately see additional notes for serving and storage

Notes

The brandy snap cannoli shells can be made up to 1 week in advance and kept at room temperature in a sealed, airtight container to keep them from getting soft

The cannoli cream recipe will stay fresh for up to 10 days in the refrigerator in a covered container, fill shells just before serving.

Once you fill the shells with the cream, they will start to break down and get soggy especially at room temperature. You can refrigerate filled cannoli to prolong the breakdown, but it is always best to serve and eat cannoli as soon as they have been filled

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (6)Saundra

    Gretchen you are amazing, thank you for the recipe.

    Reply

  2. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (7)Karen

    This looks amazing. It would be my holy grail too as I’ve always loved cannolis. One question. Have you made it with another vegan ricotta (homemade)? I’ve read such bad reviews about it.

    Reply

    • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (8)Gretchen

      I have not made homemade ricotta yet, but I am planning to launch an entire course for Homemade Pantry items (includiong butter, cream cheese, ricotta, ect…) this to go along with my Vegan Baking Mastery Egg Replacers course CLICK HERE to stay in the loop!

      Reply

      • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (9)Caroline

        I was wondering if Kite Hill almond ricotta could be substituted for the tofu ricotta?

        Reply

        • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (10)Gretchen

          Yes, you can use whatever brand you like best. However! I used Kite Hill (*thinking the more money I spend the better it will be!) I was so wrong, at least in my opinion, the Kite Hill was better for Lasagna (CLICK HERE FOR MORE), definitely had a strange taste going on for this cannoli recipe! SO back to the Tofutti I went! Or now I just make my own Ricotta like I did here for my awesome Italian Cheesecake!

          Reply

          • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (11)Caroline

            Good to know! Thanks

    • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (12)Stacey McRae

      Hello,
      I wanted to find out if you were using vegan sugar? Regular sugar has bone char, so not vegan.
      Best,
      Stacey

      Reply

    • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (14)Gretchen

      oooh good idea!

      Reply

  3. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (15)Sunita

    Finally no lard/pork fat recipe. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
    Thank you so much

    Reply

  4. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (16)Nancy

    I can’t find Tofutti Ricotta cheese anywhere only Kite Hill brand and you stated that brand didn’t work for this recipe. What other options do I have. Went to 3 different stores, imcluding Whole Foods and no luck. Not even listed on Amazon either.

    Reply

    • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (17)Gretchen

      Wow really? Hmm, I have gotten it at Shop Rite and Wegmans. I used the Kite Hill when I first started testing this recipe (thinking it’s so expensive! It’s going to be amazing!) And no, it’s not. Not for this. As I mentioned I LOVE Kite Hill for my lasagna, but not for my baking. I suspect they use too much acid in theirs compared to the toffuti (which on first taste straight out of the jar doesn’t really wow me, but again in the recipes it’s the best)
      You can of course use your own almond ricotta (as some people do make their own)
      I have always used ricotta (well.. Impastada) before I was vegan – but some people use mascarpone so if you went that route- you can use all vegan cream cheese instead. However I really never liked the mascarpone cannoli. But I guess it is all personal preference

      Reply

  5. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (18)Jennifer

    I am looking for a vegan cannoli filling to use for a cake.. trying to make a vegan cannoli cake. Do you think this would work as a cake filling?

    Reply

    • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (19)Gretchen

      YES! Click here for my cannoli roll cake

      Reply

  6. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (20)Tara

    Can you clarify specifically why you don’t like Kite Hill ricotta for cannolis? You said it was awful in the video, but that you use it for lasagna. In a comment above, you said something about the acid. I am making cannoli for Valentine’s Day and can’t find Tofutti ricotta anywhere.

    Reply

    • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (21)Gretchen

      It’s just the taste that I found to be off putting in sweet recipes. For savory though- excellent. The best. So I can only attribute it to the acid they are using in the Kite Hill. Of course “taste” is subjective and everyone is different, but I think if you taste the Kite Hill directly out of the package, you would see what I mean. Its delicious don’t get me wrong, but not for sweet recipes (in my opinion).

      Reply

  7. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (22)Cannoli Pie

    This is awesome! Wow! All the best in this round!

    Reply

  8. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (23)Cannoli Pie

    The Vegan Cannoli Recipe is too gooe you have shared very useful informations i just book mark it ..

    Reply

  9. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (24)Anna

    I wouldn’t trying this recipe did everything it said but my shells still burned!, will not be making this recipe again.

    Reply

  10. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (25)rachel

    hi gretchen, thank you for this recipe. i have made it several times, a few with success… a few not so much. but my batter never looks as thin as yours was in the video. i wonder if the measurements in recipe are correct? you are able to pour and smear your batter, my batter is thick and i have to try to spread it but because it’s thick and greasy, it doesn’t spread well. it’s been a nightmare to make, even the successful times, though amazingly delicious. i’m wondering why your shell batter is sooooo much tinnier than mine despite measuring everything accurately and making multiple times? HALP

    Reply

    • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (26)Gretchen

      Hmm I am not so sure except that something must be different. I know this recipe is correct because I have made it several times. Perhaps your corn syrup is SUPER VISCOUS? Or the flour you are using is differnt?

      Reply

  11. Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (27)Caitlyn

    Is light corn syrup OK or is there a difference? I almost never use it, so didn’t want to buy the dark if not necessary. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (28)Gretchen

      Yes light would be totally fine! *sorry for the late reply!**

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Vegan Cannoli Recipe - Gretchen's Vegan Bakery (2024)

FAQs

What brand of ricotta is best for cannoli filling? ›

THE BEST RICOTTA CHEESE:

A huge component of this Homemade Cannoli Cream is, of course, the delicious Galbani® Ricotta Cheese. This rich and creamy cheese can be found in your local market's dairy aisle and is the perfect cheese to use for a delicious and rich cannoli cream.

How do I make my cannoli filling thicker? ›

Add 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Heat in microwave 45 seconds, stir until smooth texture and add to the filling. Whisk with mixer for 3–4 minutes until the filling begins to thicken and become fluffy. The cornstarch will not thicken unless heated.

Is cannoli filling supposed to be grainy? ›

Ricotta cheese, the traditional cannoli filling, can be grainy due to its mixture of curds and whey. The moisture content in ricotta can make the gritty, grainy feel stand out.

Is mascarpone or ricotta better for cannoli? ›

Some say using ricotta is the best. And others say using mascarpone is the best. The mascarpone filling recipe is easier. But mascarpone is more expensive and sometimes tough to find (especially if you don't live in a city.)

What is the creamiest ricotta cheese? ›

Galbani® Double Cream Ricotta has twice the cream of regular whole milk ricotta and all the delicious taste and texture you expect plus it is made with 4 simple ingredients. The perfect ricotta to eat on its own as a decadent snack, to make extra rich desserts, and to make your regular hot ricotta dishes even better.

Why is my cannoli filling not firm? ›

Okay, so you've made this recipe and something has gone terribly wrong. Your cannoli cream is a runny mess. My recommendation at this point is to add about ¼ to ½ cup of heavy whipping cream and an additional 1 - 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Beat with a hand mixer on medium until it thickens up.

What is traditional cannoli filling made of? ›

Traditionally, cannoli filling is a sweet, simple filling made with ricotta cheese and powdered sugar. We also use vanilla and a hint of cinnamon in our cannoli filling recipe.

Why is my cannoli dip runny? ›

In short, the main reason Cannoli Dip is runny is skipping or shortcutting the process of straining the ricotta cheese. The cheese should be strained to the point it holds its shape, usually 1-2 hours in a fine mesh sieve with a heavy object placed over top to press out excess liquid.

What can I substitute for cannoli shells? ›

This creative cannoli recipe uses rolled up Pizzelle cookies (the flat, waffle-like cookies that are cooked in a press similar to a waffle iron) as a crispy shell for the cannoli. As long as you have a pizzelle iron, these pizzelle shells are much easier to make and handle than traditional cannoli shells.

Why don t my cannoli shells have bubbles? ›

Oil that is too cool will cook the dough in place without bubbling it up. It results in a shell that is crunchy and hard, not crispy and light. Oil that is too hot can burn your shells, but it can also create too much steam too quickly and puff up the shells in a bad way.

What is a Roman cannoli? ›

The Cannolo, or little tube, is Italy's best-known Sicilian pastry dish. It consists of a fried tube-shaped shell and is filled with a sweet cheese cream filling. Cannoli are a truly timeless dessert that will usher you back into the heart of ancient Sicily.

What oil is best for cannoli? ›

If you can find enough leaf lard to deep fry, go for it! But my favorite alternative is refined coconut oil. Like lard, it's solid at room temperature and liquid when warm.

What is a substitute for ricotta cheese in cannolis? ›

Mascarpone: Another Italian cheese, mascarpone makes a great ricotta substitute. However, since mascarpone is more tart and flavorful, you should only use it in dishes with other strong flavors.

What is a substitute for ricotta in cannolis? ›

What is the best ricotta cheese substitute?
  1. Cottage Cheese.
  2. Cream Cheese.
  3. Mascarpone.
  4. Greek Yogurt.
  5. Queso Fresco.
  6. Sour Cream.
  7. Fresh Goat Cheese.
  8. Feta Cheese.
Mar 22, 2023

What is the difference between traditional and extra smooth ricotta? ›

Traditional Ricotta has the classic slightly grainy texture that many enjoy for use in pasta and dips. Extra Smooth Ricotta has a more creamy texture making it perfect for more delicate pastries and desserts or simply spread on bread or a bagel with fruit, jam or honey.

Is Trader Joe's ricotta good? ›

It's definitely not what we expected, but it's quite good for what it is. And it's a little on the pricey side, but all gourmet cheeses tend to be that way. Four stars from Sonia.

What is the difference between ricotta and Italian ricotta? ›

In the United States, American ricotta is almost always made of cow's milk whey, as opposed to Italian ricotta which is typically made from the whey of sheep, cow, goat, or Italian water buffalo milk.

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