Cannoli Ice Cream
All the flavors of your favorite Italian pastry in a frozen treat. Ricotta. Toasted pistachios. Chocolate. Even chunks of cannoli shells.
Last weekend, our good friends M&M came to visit from Boston. After getting stuck in DC and missing their connection, they finally made it and we had a great time. We did a lot of just hanging out, catching up, hit up the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the US (right here in Cincinnati), and of course Hubby showed off his grilling skills and we ate delicious food. I always enjoy indulging visitors with some of their favorite treats while they’re in town. What can I say, nothing says you love someone like baking for them.
I knew I wanted to make some ice cream, because let’s face it, I’ve been obsessed with ice cream this year. Lucky for me, the he-portion of M&M will eat anything. And for the she-portion, well I had made these cannoli cupcakes for her bridal shower back in 2011, so I knew cannoli ice cream would be a hit for her. As an added bonus, Hubby loves cannolis. It’s the one dessert I refuse to make for him at home. He hasn’t had a good one since we moved, because let’s face it, the cannolis in the North End are tough to compete with.
I, on the other hand, can’t eat cannolis. Well just the filling. It’s the ricotta. My lactose intolerance rears it’s ugly head when it comes to ricotta. In all honestly, they weren’t my favorite before I was lactose intolerant anyways. But I aim to please, so I decided to whip up this cannoli ice cream.
I didn’t taste it, but I think M ate some for every meal while she was in town. I know she had it for a late night snack after we went to Oktoberfest and she also had a small bowl for breakfast one morning. On top of that, Hubby finished the rest off in a couple days, so I’m taking that all to mean that it was good.
So if you have a friend or loved one who likes cannolis, I’m confident they will enjoy this ice cream. I know I enjoyed making it for some of my favorite people.
Two Years Ago: Fall Bruschetta and Blueberry Lemonade
Three Years Ago: Double Fudge Brownies
Six Years Ago: Mussels and Strawberry Filled Cupcakes
Cannoli Ice Cream
All the flavors of your favorite Italian pastry in a frozen treat. Ricotta. Toasted pistachios. Chocolate. Even chunks of cannoli shells.
Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup whole milk
3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp light corn syrup
1 (15 oz) container whole milk ricotta or equal amount fresh
4 oz cream cheese, diced into small cubes
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup cannoli shell pieces
3 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup unsalted, roasted pistachios, chopped
Directions:
In a blender combine heavy cream, milk, sugar and corn syrup and blend mixture on low speed until sugar has dissolved, about 1 minute.
Add in ricotta, cream cheese and vanilla bean seeds and blend mixture until well pureed.
Transfer to an airtight container and freeze 1 hour, stirring once halfway through freezing.
Transfer mixture to an ice cream maker and process according to manufactures directions. Add in cannoli shell pieces, chocolate and pistachios during last few minutes of processing. Transfer to airtight container and freeze until semi-firm.
Recipe adapted from Cooking Classy
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Dark chocolate truffles in cookie form? Um, YES!!! I’ll take a dozen for myself and another dozen for later, please.
Wow – these sound good! and I truly do not understand how people can just “not be into chocolate!” It is my favorite!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:26 pm
Yea, I really don’t get it either. Oh well, more for me!
Oh wow, chocolate truffle cookies sound divine! These look ridiculously good! Love that they’re salted too!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:27 pm
I have been sprinkling salt on all of my cookies recently. It makes them much more adult and less super-sweet.
Yum these look divine!
I’m always in need of a chocolate fix! I have several friends that claim they are not chocolate people, yet I find whenever I make something chocolate + salt, they are all over it!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:28 pm
I definitely find that people who claim they aren’t chocolate people rarely say no to any homemade baked goods. Chocolate or otherwise.
Oh my! These look divine 🙂 I’d love to make these babies soon!
these look amazing!! and how thick that batter is 🙂 love the sea salt!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:29 pm
The batter was basically ganache. You could have just made truffles from it directly.
I love any and all things dark chocolate. These look so decadent!
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you’re working with?
I’m having some minor security problems with my latest blog and I’d like to find something
more safeguarded. Do you have any suggestions?
beantownbaker — June 10th, 2013 @ 12:56 pm
I use WordPress
Wow! Those look so perfectly decadent! I’m practically drooling on my screen 😉
Just made these. Worried I didn’t bake them long enough… however they still tasted divine. Waiting to get the verdict from my husband on them.
beantownbaker — June 10th, 2013 @ 12:11 pm
I think underbaking these sounds like a great idea. I might have to do that next time.
Since I’m trying this recipe for the first time, can I halve the entire recipe?
beantownbaker — June 10th, 2013 @ 12:12 pm
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I didn’t see this comment until now! I don’t see why you couldn’t make a half batch of these cookies. Did you try it? How did they turn out?
These are the most amazing chocolate cookies I have ever made. Everyone with whom I have shared them have gone absolutly nuts and want the recipe. I do not wet my hands when rolling the cookies into balls—too messy. I just let my hands get sticky and rinse and dry them after making several balls. This is one of the best recipes on Pinterest.
beantownbaker — June 10th, 2013 @ 12:13 pm
Thanks for the kind words! So glad you enjoy these cookies. I was wondering if getting my hands wet actually helped with the messiness very much. Next time I’ll be sure to just go at it without dealing with the water.
Hey! I tried halving the recipe…but it melted while in the oven. Became runny & all of them just stuck together 🙁
I tried just one batch. Anything I can do to fix the remaining batter?
beantownbaker — June 18th, 2013 @ 4:01 pm
Interesting… How did you account for half of an egg? And is your baking powder past it’s expiration date?
Ohh! Looks like I’ve added a lil too much egg. Damn! Any way I can fix the batter? Add more flour perhaps? Plz help!
beantownbaker — June 19th, 2013 @ 7:12 am
I’d add a little more flour to see if you can balance out the extra amount of egg in there.
I added 1/4 cup more flour & a teensy bit of baking powder to my messed up batter & they came out wonderfully! They’re so gooey & yumm that my husband & son (who never eats chocolate!) finished six cookies at one go!
Amazing recipe!! Thank you so much for your help, I appreciate it !
beantownbaker — June 20th, 2013 @ 7:00 am
Oh GOOD! So glad you were able to make them work. Aren’t they divine?
U bet! They are sinfully delicious! Sent some in my son’s snack pack & I have mommies calling for these cookies!
I’m officially ur No.1 fan now! 🙂
beantownbaker — June 20th, 2013 @ 7:18 am
Aww Thanks! 🙂
Hi, I was wondering if I could put them in the freezer instead of the fridge for a shorter period of time? If so, how long should I put them in the freezer for instead of the fridge?
beantownbaker — June 27th, 2013 @ 8:06 am
Hm. You could definitely try it. I would think it’s still going to need an hour or so in the freezer since you want it to set up pretty well. Let me know how it turns out if you do.