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Irresistibly easy and scrumptious bite-sized cannoli cups made with store-bought pie crusts and a creamy ricotta filling; perfect for parties and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 container (15 oz) whole-milk ricotta cheese, drained
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange or lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 box refrigerated pie crusts (2 count), softened as directed on box
  • 3 tablespoons turbinado (raw) sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped pistachios
  • Additional powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Lightly flour your workspace and unroll the softened refrigerated pie crusts.
  3. Evenly sprinkle turbinado sugar and ground cinnamon over the crusts and roll a rolling pin gently to press the sugar and spice into the dough.
  4. Use a 2½-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter to cut out circles; re-roll scraps and cut more until you have about 48 rounds.
  5. Gently press each circle into the cups of an ungreased mini muffin pan (place the pan on a baking sheet for easier handling).
  6. Bake about 10 minutes or until the cups turn golden brown; cool in the pan about 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  7. Drain the ricotta very well using cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve (chill several hours or overnight if needed).
  8. In a large bowl, beat the drained ricotta with powdered sugar, granulated sugar, finely grated orange or lemon zest, and vanilla extract on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
  9. Spoon the filling into a large zip-top bag or piping bag, seal, and chill until ready to assemble.
  10. Optional: dip the top edges of the cooled cups in melted chocolate and let set before filling.
  11. Snip a small corner of the bag and pipe about 1 tablespoon of filling into each cooled cup.
  12. Top each filled cup with miniature chocolate chips or chopped pistachios and dust with additional powdered sugar.

Notes

Ensure ricotta is well drained (several hours or overnight) to avoid excess moisture in filling., Press the turbinado sugar mixture well into the dough for a crunchy topping., Bake until cups are golden brown to avoid dryness or brittleness., Cool cups completely before removing to maintain shape and prevent cracking., Fill cups just before serving to keep shells crisp; filled cups soften over time., Use a zip-top bag with a snipped corner if you don’t have a piping bag., Optional: dipping cup edges in melted chocolate before or after baking adds decadence., You can substitute almond extract for vanilla extract or add orange liqueur for flavor variations., Mix mascarpone cheese with ricotta for extra creamy filling., Use mini tart shells or phyllo cups as an alternative shell., Toppings like chopped pistachios, shredded coconut, mini M&Ms, sprinkles, or chocolate drizzle are great for variety., Store baked shells at room temperature in airtight container for 2–3 days., Keep ricotta filling refrigerated for 3–4 days., Filled cups should be refrigerated and consumed within 24 hours as shells soften over time., Reheat empty shells in 325–350°F oven for 3–5 minutes to refresh crispiness.

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