This cannoli dip recipe is the perfect treat! Ricotta cheese, cream cheese, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips create a rich, creamy, and sweet treat in only 15 minutes.
Cannoli Dip Overview
I cannot express just how much I love this no-bake easy cannoli dip! Because it uses only 5 ingredients it's really easy to make. First, drain the Ricotta, then use a hand mixer to blend with cream cheese, add sugar and vanilla extract, add chocolate chips then serve!
This dip recipe is named after the filling used in the popular Italian Cannoli pastry. This recipe has received many popular reviews on Pinterest, including "So yummy! 10/10" and "I made this last year. It was a huge hit. Making it again this year". I love this recipe because it's simple, easy and delicious! The perfect crowd-pleaser if you ask me!
Recipe Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese - softened at room temperature - or mascarpone cheese (see notes)
- 1 cup confectioners sugar - aks powdered icing sugar
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup mini chocolate chips
- 10 butter waffle cookies - for dipping (or any other cracker/cookie/fruit that you prefer)
How To Make Creamy Cannoli Dip
Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
STEP 1: Add 1 cup ricotta cheese to a strainer lined with a few paper towels (you can also use cheesecloth or a coffee filter). Gently press into the paper towel and let it sit for at least 30 minutes to remove excess liquid.
STEP 2: Add the strained 1 cup ricotta cheese and 8 oz cream cheese to a bowl. Use an electric mixer to blend until smooth and creamy.
STEP 3: Add in 1 cup confectioners sugar and 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend for 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
STEP 4: Fold in ⅔ cup chocolate chips with a spatula.
STEP 5: Scoop into a serving bowl and top with more chocolate chips and a sprinkle of confectioners sugar. Serve with butter waffle cookies, graham crackers or fresh fruit.
Variations
- Marscapone cheese can be substituted for cream cheese.
- Almond extract will add a different flavor than vanilla extract, but the result will be just as dreamy!
- For a traditional take, add chopped pistachios on top or mix them throughout.
- Try adding 1 tablespoon of orange zest or lemon zest and sprinkle on top for a citrus flavor.
- In place of butter waffle cookies try sliced fruit such as strawberries, kiwis, melons, bananas, oranges, dragon fruit, apples, or pears. Waffle cones broken into chips, graham crackers or these chocolate pizzelle cookies will also work nicely for dipping.
Recipe Tips
- For a fluffier texture, mix all the ingredients for a full 2 minutes before folding in the chocolate chips.
- Choose fresh whole-milk ricotta cheese for best results. You will need to drain as much liquid as possible from the ricotta so that the dip isn’t too runny.
- I recommend using Philadelphia cream cheese because it will produce the creamiest results. If you want this dip to be more authentic, you can swap the cream cheese for mascarpone cheese in the same amount.
- You can make this ahead of time, but after 2 days, the mixture will begin to separate and will need to be remixed. I suggest making this recipe an hour or two before you plan to serve, then letting it chill in the fridge until you're ready to dip!
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerate - You can refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days. After that, the dip will start to become runny.
- Freeze - It’s not a good idea to freeze this dip recipe. Once thawed, it will have a chalky and grainy texture from the dairy ingredients.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links) - Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- Ultra Power Hand Mixer – I prefer to bake with a hand mixer instead of a stand mixer as it takes up a lot less space and is much more affordable. This Kitchenaid mixer is the one that I have and I love it!
- Stackable Mixing Bowls – Each of these three stackable bowls are used often in our kitchen. They’re easy to grip and pour, the silicone ring on the bottom keeps them from slipping, and they’re quite durable.
- Magnetic Measuring Spoons – Quality measuring spoons are an underrated kitchen tool. These spoons are magnetic, stainless steel, very strong, they sit flat on the table without spilling, and are labeled in metric and imperial.
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Cannoli Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature - or marscapone cheese (see notes)
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup mini chocolate chips
- 10 butter waffle cookies - for dipping
Instructions
- Add 1 cup ricotta cheese to a strainer lined with a few paper towels (you can also use cheesecloth or a coffee filter). Gently press into the paper towel and let it sit for at least 30 minutes to remove excess liquid.
- Add the strained 1 cup ricotta cheese and 8 oz cream cheese to a bowl. Use an electric mixer to blend until smooth and creamy.
- Add in 1 cup confectioners sugar and 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend for 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in ⅔ cup chocolate chips with a spatula.
- Scoop into a serving bowl and top with more chocolate chips and a sprinkle of confectioners sugar. Serve with butter waffle cookies, graham crackers, or fresh fruit.
Recipe Notes:
- Cream cheese needs to be softened to room temperature for a few hours before making this recipe. I cannot be cold, or you will not get the same smooth creamy results.
- I recommend using Philadelphia cream cheese for the creamiest results. If you want this dip to be more authentic, you can swap the cream cheese for mascarpone cheese in the same amount.
- You can make this ahead of time, but after 2 days, the mixture will begin to separate. I suggest making this recipe on the day of serving. Let chill 1-2 hours before serving.
- Butter waffle cookies are what I used in the photos. They’re the perfect dipping cookie! You can also use broken waffle cones, cannoli chips, pizzelle cookies, graham crackers, cookies or fresh fruit like strawberries, grapes, or sliced melon.
Nutrition Info
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.
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