Traditional Flavorings

The original recipe for cannoli cream contained mascarpone cheese. As Italians came to the United States, however, this ingredient was harder to come by, so chefs used ricotta cheese as an alternative. The cheese is mixed with confectioner’s sugar to sweeten it; you can also use vanilla pieces of candied citrus peel or orange flower water to flavor this traditional filling. Classically, pieces of chocolate or maraschino cherries garnished the open ends of the pastry.

Chocolate and Nuts

You can dip plain cannoli in chocolate for a decadent twist. You can also adorn the outside of your cannoli with chocolate sprinkles, pieces or shavings. White chocolate is another delicious possibility. Or, you can mix coffee into chocolate cream for a mocha-flavored cannoli. Chocolate and nuts are another luscious pairing. Though chopped pistachio nuts are one of the traditional cannoli fillings, other nuts that work well when mixed with cannoli cream are almonds or hazelnuts. Peanut butter paired with a chocolate shell is a tasty combination, or, using a hazelnut spread is also delicious when you blend it into ricotta or marscapone.

Fruit and Liqueurs

Orange liqueur works deliciously in cannoli cream, and its orange flavor compliments a variety of other fruits, chocolate and nuts. You can mix chopped cherries or strawberries into cannoli cream for a tasty fruit filling. These flavors pair decadently with a chocolate or plain shell with chocolate-dipped edges. Raisins soaked in rum and mixed into ricotta or mascarpone is another luscious cannoli filling. Mix key lime and sweetened condensed milk to your ricotta filling will give your cannoli an exotic, tropical taste.

Non-Traditional Flavorings

The basic cannoli shell is quite minimal and as a result, it is truly a blank slate for any number of tasty creations. You can mix pureed pumpkin with spice into ricotta for a festive holiday cannoli. Baked apple with cinnamon is another tasty filling option. Other unusual filling flavors that are possible include dulce de leche, and peanut butter and jelly. You can enhance the flavor of the dough by adding chocolate, vanilla, marsala wine or any number of spices or essences to achieve a wide variety of flavors. Experiment with your favorite combination to find the perfect flavoring for your cannoli cream.