The Ultimate Cannoli Guide
Uncovering a Sicilian Delight
Italy has gifted the world with many wonders - whether dreaming of the Leaning Tower of Pisa or visiting the Colosseum in person. Between iconic opera compositions, tradition-rich festivities, or our favorite, Italian cuisine, Golden Cannoli brings a piece of Italy to every occasion.
Italy is a country famous for its food. Besides pizza, pasta, and gelato, the most famous Italian exports, this great nation has also brought us panna cotta, cantucci, and many more pastries. If there’s one dessert that makes you say, “Oh, this is from Italy,” however, it’s most probably the cannoli.
Cannoli are everywhere. You can find them in the bakeshop next door, on Italian restaurant menus, and even in theme parks. Golden Cannoli shells and filling are available nationwide in many local grocery stores. They’re hard not to love!
Keep reading to learn more about why this creamy, dreamy, crunchy delight has every person with a sweet tooth drooling over them.
The History of Cannoli: Where Did It Come From?
Italy has so many recipes that there are often debates about the origin of its most notable dishes. When it comes to the history of cannoli, however, we know for sure that it has its roots in the Sicilian city of Palermo, even though some specifics are up for debate.
For example, many accounts say that the creamy filling stemmed from the ancient Arab people called the Saracens, who sweetened Sicily’s palate by introducing sugar cane. It’s also said that back in the day, Sicilians referred to cannoli as “Cappeli de Turchi” or Turkish hats.
Little debate exists about the name. Cannoli, the plural of cannolo, derives from the word canna, meaning reed, cane, or rod. Early bakers used river reeds as the mold for the pastry shell, adapting the name for the treat. Nowadays, most bakeries use metal tubes to wrap the dough around to create the signature shape. At Golden Cannoli, we still do this by hand, using wooden dowels that add something unique to the flavor.
The Legends and Myths We May Never Verify
With such a popular dessert, it’s normal for people to create different stories about its beginnings.
The origins of cannoli are shrouded in colorful and suggestive legends, including tales of a ninth-century harem in Caltanissetta (when Sicily was under Arab rule), to the eleventh-century when nuns began making the erotic treats, and later, as symbols of fertility and desire during Carnival celebrations.
Is there a way to confirm that these things really happened? We’re not sure. Perhaps it’s enough to know cannoli is a delicious delicacy from Sicily!
Cannoli and the Italian Culture
An undeniable fact is that cannoli and the Italian family are inseparable. By “family,” we don’t mean just individuals who share the same bloodline, but also friends, neighbors, and even sometimes strangers. Italians have a strong sense of community, and the dessert proves that.
Historically, nuns in Palermo kept the recipes under lock and key, passing down culinary wizardry through whispers and winks over the centuries. Along with other treats, the monastery’s “dolceria,” or sweet shop, sold cannoli, making them a pivotal income source in the 14th century.
Unfortunately, in the late 1980s, only two shops in the city remained active. Fortunately, cultural heritage expert Maria Oliveri collected and published the original recipes and opened “I segreti del chiostro,” or “The Secrets of the Cloisters.” And just like that, historic, well-preserved recipes from Palermo’s cloistered monasteries became available to the public for the first time.
Cannoli Around the World
Who would’ve thought the golden tube you can’t get enough of had gone through so much to become what it is today? After centuries of evolution, cannoli now look and taste different depending on where you are in Italy and the world.
Italian regions have unique food variations because people create with what they have. If you want the most authentic cannoli, head to its home, Sicily, where the shells are crisper and slightly thicker with a mix of flour, sugar, and a bit of marsala wine or vinegar local to the region. Citrus and tang from sweetened ricotta cheese made from fresh sheep’s milk is the traditional flavor profile. I Segreti del Chiostro in the monastery of Santa Caterina still makes authentic cannoli from the original monastic recipes like the nuns who used to live and bake there.
When Italian immigrants arrived in America in the early 1900s, they brought their beloved cannoli along for the ride. With varying local ingredients, a few tweaks were inevitable as some traditional ingredients were harder to come by, resulting in changes in the shells and fillings.
Nowadays, Italian-American cannoli are often unapologetically sweet, which the original Sicilian version was not. It’s not just sprinkled powdered sugar or the inclusion of chocolate chips, either. Mascarpone or ricotta from cow’s milk, candied fruits, and nuts add to the differences.
Creativity has further transformed cannoli by adding matcha, caramel, cocoa, or coffee powder to the ricotta cheese. Now we can order matcha green tea, salted caramel and pretzels, or red velvet cannoli! Golden Cannoli’s seasonal flavors and Cannoli Chips and Dip testify to its versatility without compromising flavor or heritage.
We can view other countries’ renditions of cannoli as their way of thanking Italy for teaching them this tasty art – Sweden has a bacon and maple variety! While ingredients and palates vary, nothing compares to the “real” Italian cannoli. Still, the soul of cannoli is present in every tube that foreigners lovingly fill. The twists simply add to its unending evolution!
Anatomy of the Perfect Cannoli
No matter where cannoli is made, there’s a level of perfection that should be strived for. It’s so much more than simply putting the ingredients together and making a tube-like shape to be able to say, “I made cannoli!”
Firstly, the shell should be incredibly tender and crispy. Flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and marsala wine make that possible. When you take a bite, you should immediately hear the crunch before your teeth sink into a cloud-like interior.
Next, the filling must be nothing less than rich. Trust the ricotta cheese, sugar, and salt to take care of that — and the toppings for texture and flavor. Generally, the filling should complement the shell, not overpower it.
When you eat the perfect cannoli, balance should come to your mind. The shell and filling should be equally good but in different ways. Two things come together to become something beautiful (or, in this case, delectable). Respecting the tradition and family connection imbued within this treat gives a deeper meaning to “leave the gun, take the cannoli.”
Your Perfect Cannoli
It’s unsurprising for cannoli to show up in celebrations. Sometimes, you’ll find them plated and sprinkled in delicate powdered sugar at weddings. Other times, they’re at birthdays as bite-sized treats. They also make it onto holiday menus decked with festive food coloring and Christmas or Halloween-themed toppings.
All these options can make you wonder, what does the perfect cannoli really look and taste like? Here’s food for thought: it can be up to you. Yes, there’s an authentic blueprint (which we believe reigns supreme), but no one’s stopping you from adding your own flair.
Don’t have time to make cannoli from scratch? Try the Golden Cannoli kit and create your own at home!
Perfect Shells
At Golden Cannoli, traditional shells always come first. They’re carefully hand-rolled, which we’ve been doing since 1970, guided and inspired by the first individuals who crafted these tube-like outer layers. Mini shells can entertain the mini eaters, while bigger sizes can satisfy the biggest sweet tooth. Using our premade shells saves you from figuring out how the shells should be without sacrificing quality!
We like to adapt, knowing there are endless ways to experience cannoli. Chocolate-dipped shells can redefine “fun!” For some, there can never be “too much” chocolate, which also applies to cannoli. Whatever your preference, there’s always an option to customize your shells to match it.
Perfect Filling
Once you’ve picked your perfect shells, you need to decide on the filling. Every traditional ricotta pastry bag hints at what the Sicilians who created the pastry sought to give you: a creamy, delectable treat that will leave you wanting more.
You don’t have to stick with the traditional flavors or textures of cannoli filling, though. You can customize it to your heart’s content. If you want to try the crunch of chocolate chips, we can put them in the mix, too!
Golden Cannoli can show you what cannoli is supposed to be, but you have the liberty to turn it into something more. Focus on crafting your ideal filling while we handle the shells, or test your pastry-making skills to match our different filling flavors. However, you should always serve and consume cannoli immediately - these treats weren’t made to wait.
Elevate Your Next Gathering with Customized Cannoli
With shells and bags of filling ready to go, you and your guests can let your creativity loose. Make events extra special with a “build-your-own cannoli” station. Lay out empty shells, bags of filling, and toppings, then let your guests create the ultimate personalized cannoli.
You can start with traditional shells and ricotta filling or get chocolate-dipped shells and match them with filling mixed with chocolate chips. To make the customization even more exciting, have a bowl of crushed nuts or sprinkles handy. You can also infuse your filling with candied fruits or other flavors.
Make your cannoli spread even more special with other snacking items like fresh fruit, pretzels, cannoli chips and dip, chocolate, and nuts.
If “build-your-own cannoli” isn’t your thing (maybe you don’t have space for it, or your guests don’t have the skills to build a snack), you could do the mixing and matching yourself and surprise everyone. Have a platter of different cannoli for shell, filling, and presentation. Dip some in chocolate or pistachios, and decorate others with fresh fruits or our cannoli chips. Reminder: Everything must end up in someone’s belly before it goes soggy!
Beverage Pairings
The next best thing about cannoli is eating it with a drink that brings out its flavor. Many people opt for something sweet and light, like a classic dessert wine, to go with the flavors of cannoli. Think Marsala and Passito wines like Recioto, Amarone, and Vin Santo. For a non-alcoholic option, consider hot chocolate, sparkling water, or your favorite flavor of Italian soda.
If sweet drinks aren’t your thing, you can’t go wrong with espresso. The slight bitterness can cut through the dessert’s richness, providing a nice balance. You can also opt for decaf coffee if guests prefer something without caffeine.
Preserving and Storing Your Cannoli
Let’s say you got too excited and put out too many cannoli shells for a party. It’d be a crime to throw them away. The best thing you can do is freeze them. As long as the shells stay intact, you’re good to go for a few weeks! Wrap them in plastic and place them in air-tight containers before putting them in the freezer. The shells should be fully cool to avoid condensation that will soften them. When reheating, pop them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for five to 10 minutes.
It’s a different story for filled shells, however. Freezing will inevitably affect the creaminess of the filling, but it will at least extend its shelf life for a day or two. Ideally, only the shells will go to the oven, and refilling will follow. But if you don’t have the time or extra filling, reheating at low temperatures (275°F or 135°C) for a shorter time can save your cannoli.
Enjoy Your Sicilian Treat with Golden Cannoli
Without a doubt, cannoli are one of Italy’s most delicious and sought-after creations. Its history (including the unverified tales) and evolving looks, tastes, and textures invite everyone to take a taste and fall in love. However cannoli continue to evolve, one thing is certain: cannoli and the Italian family traditions live on.
At Golden Cannoli, we make dessert special and personal. Order traditional shells or chocolate-dipped ones, even fillings and chips! Count on our high food quality and safety standards for excellent cannoli experiences. Che bontà!