Florentine Cookie Cannoli’s: A Crunchy, Creamy Fusion of Italian Elegance

Florentine Cookie Cannoli’s are a masterful dessert that combines two beloved Italian classics: the lace-thin caramelized Florentine cookie and the rich, silky ricotta cannoli filling. This recipe isn’t just a dessert—it’s a conversation starter, a showstopper, and the perfect example of Italian innovation at its finest.

Perfect for dinner parties, special holidays, or anytime you’re craving something sweet and sophisticated, Florentine Cannoli will elevate your baking repertoire. These dainty dessert rolls are crispy, buttery, nutty on the outside, and creamy, light, and flavorful on the inside. In short? They’re everything you want in a dessert.

Whether you’ve come across the Crowded Kitchen Florentine Cannoli on social media or are simply looking for an easy baking recipe that screams “elegant indulgence,” this guide has everything you need to bring these delicious treats to life.

🥄 What Are Florentine Cookie Cannoli’s?

At their core, Florentine Cookie Cannoli’s are a modern hybrid. Imagine the refined texture and nutty sweetness of a classic Florentine cookie shaped into a delicate tube, then filled with a traditional cannoli cream—rich, smooth ricotta whipped with sugar, chocolate chips, and citrus zest.

• Florentine cookies hail from Italy and are traditionally made with almonds, butter, sugar, and honey. The result is a thin, lacy, toffee-like cookie that’s crisp and caramelized.
• Cannoli originated in Sicily and are typically made by deep-frying pastry dough into tubes and filling them with a lightly sweetened ricotta cream.

By merging these two iconic elements, this recipe produces something entirely fresh—a crunchy outer cookie with a creamy, cool interior that’s bound to impress.

💡 Why You’ll Fall in Love With This Florentine Cannoli Recipe

• No frying involved – Forget oil splatters! The Florentine shells are baked.
• Gourmet presentation – Guests will think you picked them up from a high-end patisserie.
• Flavor and texture contrast – The crispy almond cookie contrasts beautifully with the smooth ricotta filling.
• Customizable and creative – Switch out the nuts, flavor the cream differently, or decorate them to match any occasion.
• Great for gifting – These hold up well and are perfect for dessert boxes, party platters, or edible gifts.

🍪 Ingredients: What You’ll Need

Florentine Cookie Shells:

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• ⅔ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup finely chopped blanched almonds (can substitute pistachios or hazelnuts)
• 1 tablespoon orange zest (optional but recommended)
• 1 colher de chá de pura essência de baunilha
• Pinch of sea salt

Traditional Cannoli Filling:

• 1 ½ cups whole milk ricotta cheese, well-drained
• ½ cup mascarpone cheese (adds creaminess and body)
• ½ cup powdered sugar, sifted
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

Optional Decorations:

• Melted dark or white chocolate
• Chopped pistachios or almonds
• Powdered sugar for dusting
• Candied orange peel

🔪 Equipment Checklist

• Heavy-bottom saucepan
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk or electric mixer
• Baking sheet
• Silicone mat or parchment paper
• Offset spatula
• Cannoli molds or wooden spoon handles
• Cooling rack
• Pastry bag (or zip-top bag with corner snipped)

🧁 Step-by-Step Florentine Cannoli Instructions

Step 1: Drain the Ricotta

This is crucial! Place the ricotta in a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth over a bowl and let it drain for several hours, or overnight if possible. This ensures a thick, non-runny filling.

Step 2: Make the Cannoli Filling

1. In a mixing bowl, beat together the ricotta and mascarpone until smooth.
2. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and citrus zest. Beat until light and fluffy.
3. Fold in mini chocolate chips and refrigerate until ready to pipe.

Tip: Want a firmer filling? Add 2 tablespoons of whipped cream cheese or cornstarch if your ricotta is still slightly wet.

Step 3: Prepare the Florentine Cookie Batter

1. In a small saucepan, melt butter, brown sugar, and honey over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth.
2. Remove from heat and stir in flour, almonds, vanilla, orange zest, and salt. The mixture will be thick and glossy.

Step 4: Bake and Shape the Cookies

1. Pré-aqueça o forno a A 350°C (175°C) and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat.
2. Drop 1 teaspoon of batter per cookie, spacing them 3–4 inches apart. Flatten them gently with a spoon.
3. Bake for 6–8 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.
4. Let sit for about 30 seconds until firm enough to lift but still pliable.
5. Carefully wrap each cookie around a cannoli mold or spoon handle. Hold until set, then cool completely on a wire rack.

Dica Profissional: Only bake 4–5 cookies at a time—these harden quickly and must be shaped while still warm.

Step 5: Fill and Garnish

1. Transfer the chilled cannoli cream to a pastry bag.
2. Pipe filling into both ends of each cookie tube.
3. Garnish with chopped nuts, dipped ends, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Opcional: Drizzle with chocolate or add edible gold leaf for special occasions.

🍴 Serving Suggestions

Florentine Cookie Cannoli’s are versatile and luxurious enough to serve in various ways:

• As part of an Italian dessert board with biscotti, panna cotta, and espresso.
• On elegant dessert platters for showers, weddings, or holiday feasts.
• As the perfect bite-sized finale for a tasting menu dinner.
• Alongside coffee or dessert wine, like a glass of Vin Santo or Moscato.

🥄 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

• Unfilled shells can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Filled cannoli are best eaten the same day, but can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
• Do not freeze filled cannoli—the texture of the ricotta changes.

For stress-free hosting: Bake and shape your Florentine cookies ahead of time, prep your filling the day before, and assemble just before serving.

🧠 Expert Tips for Success

• Work quickly with the cookies. Once they’re cool, they’ll crack if bent.
• Use silicone mats instead of parchment to help the cookies spread and release easily.
• Try almond flour instead of chopped nuts for a finer, lace-like texture.
• Infuse the filling with flavored extracts like almond, hazelnut, or even espresso.
• Keep hands cool when shaping—use food-safe gloves if necessary.

🌿 Recipe Variations to Try

Take your Florentine Cannoli to the next level with these exciting twists:

✨ Chocolate Florentine Cannoli

• Add 1 tbsp cocoa powder to the cookie mix.
• Dip entire shell in chocolate before filling.

✨ Pistachio Rose Cannoli

• Replace almonds with pistachios.
• Add rosewater to the cream and garnish with rose petals.

✨ Limoncello Cannoli

• Add 2 teaspoons of limoncello liqueur to the filling.
• Use lemon zest instead of orange.

✨ Salted Caramel & Hazelnut

• Use chopped hazelnuts for the cookie base.
• Add a swirl of salted caramel into the ricotta filling.

✨ Dairy-Free Option

• Use coconut cream or vegan ricotta in place of traditional ricotta and mascarpone.

📚 A Brief History of the Stars

Florentines

Florentine cookies are often credited to Florence, Italy, but their exact origin is debatable. What is clear is that they gained fame in European patisseries for their nutty, caramelized crispness—often enjoyed with tea or chocolate.

Cannoli

Cannoli, meaning “little tubes,” trace back to Sicily, where they were traditionally made during Carnevale. Today, they’re a year-round staple of Italian pastry shops, often filled with sweetened ricotta, candied fruits, or chocolate.

Bringing these two traditions together honors both history and creativity—making Florentine Cannoli the perfect marriage of Northern and Southern Italian sweetness.

🌍 Why Florentine Cookie Cannoli’s Deserve a Spot in Every Kitchen

This recipe is the epitome of easy baking recipes desserts lovers will treasure: no frying, no fuss, and maximum flavor. It’s approachable yet elegant—ideal for beginner bakers who want to impress, or for experienced dessert lovers who crave something unique.

Whether you discovered it via a food blog, TikTok trend, or were inspired by Crowded Kitchen’s Florentine Cannoli, now’s your moment to make this stunner your own.

📝 Final Thoughts

Florentine Cookie Cannoli’s are more than a dessert—they’re an experience. With each bite, you get the buttery crunch of a caramel-almond shell and the cool, citrus-kissed creaminess of cannoli filling. The textures, the flavors, the presentation—everything works in harmony to bring joy to every occasion.

So grab your apron, heat that oven, and create a batch of these unforgettable Italian fusion treats. They’re destined to be the centerpiece of your dessert table.