Cannoli Cookies

on
Thursday, March 5, 2009


Cannoli Cookies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup very finely chopped salted pistachios, toasted*
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup ricotta cheese
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghiradelli)
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together pistachios, butter and granulated sugar, until creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in ricotta, egg, vanilla and orange zest until well combined, about 30 seconds. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture until just combined; chill dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Form dough into 1-inch balls, place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart, and flatten to a 1/4-inch thickness using palms of hands. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown around edges; cool for 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

When cool, heat chocolate in the microwave, in a small bowl, with about a tablespoon of shortening (if desired - it helps thin the chocolate) for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 20-30 seconds, until melted.

Dip halves of cookies into chocolate and allow to dry on wire racks. When dry, sift confectioners' sugar over the tops of both sides.

*To toast pistachios, place in a small bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and microwave an additional 30 seconds or until golden and fragrant.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies
48 comments on "Cannoli Cookies"
  1. great cookie - and you are moving mountains lately if you are going to be on top chef...way to go...

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  2. Okay I love cannolis.... but OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS GIRL, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ON TOP CHEF?!!?!?!?!??! Can you send me a Facebook message to say hello, please?? Thanks :-)

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  3. ohhh. those sound amazingly good!!

    oh my gosh! if you're going to be on the next season of top chef, i'm going to pee my pants with excitement!! i'll bet you are! you're totally going to win!!!!

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  4. The cookies look amazing and all I can think is a good ricotta ice cream to put in the middle of 2 to make a sammie! BUT what I'm really curious about is the big news! Top Chef?! Tell, tell tell!

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  5. These cookies sound good, but I'm more interested in your big announcement! Top Chef is one of my favorite shows! Hmmm...

    :o)

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  6. What?!? You can't leave us with a cliffhanger like that!!

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  7. Oh, you go girl? Need my vote? Say no more.....

    Your cookies looks & sound good. Love cannolis, its actually the first thing I learned to make waaaay back when, like when I was in high school! :-)
    ~ingrid

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  8. First off, I love reading your posts, and you inspired me to start my own blog!

    These cookies look amazing. There's a never-ending debate in Boston whether the cannolis from Mike's or Modern Pastry are the best in the North End, and I bet your cookies would top them both.

    Can't wait to hear your news!

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  9. Excitement! The cookies look great, I love cannoli.

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  10. You're killing me. Not only the suspense for your announcement, but the fact that now nothing but a cannoli cookie for breakfast will do, and I have no ricotta in the house. Torture. Seriously, it made me de-lurk and write this commment! :)

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  11. Top Chef?! I don't want to speculate, but that would be SCHWEET. I'll be sure to make these for my cannoli-loving little sister when I go home for Spring break :D

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  12. I love these cookies! I emailed them to my mom... hopefully, they will appear at easter. I don't have as much time to bake as I would like! :)

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  13. Ooo, I am so excited to make these. My dad has two favorite desserts: cheesecake and cannoli. But, since he lives on the other side of the country, I can't send him either in the mail (without some major hassle and likely some dry ice burns). So I am super thrilled that you posted this delicious-looking recipe. I can't wait to make these and send them to him!!

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  14. You have us guessing Emiline. I wish all the best for you!!!

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  15. I love cannoli (cannolis?). I love cookies, so how could these be anything but fantastic?

    Obviously, your news is something like they needed a dynamo replacement for Padma at the last minute and you're jetting off to a secret location to get with Tom and the others. Am I right?

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  16. Have to make these for my DH. They sound wonderful!

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  17. Very cool idea for cookies. You stuck another recipe in my head.

    So are you on Top Chef? Well, if FN couldn't be good enough to give you top slot, I think Top Chef should!

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  18. Ooh - I love love love cannolis and I'm bookmarking your recipe right now to make asap.
    Thank you!!!
    Michelle
    http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/

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  19. OH MY GOSH!!!!!I am so excited for you! Can't wait to hear your news...
    oh and yummy cookies.

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  20. MMMMMM....Your cookies look so delicious!! Thanks for the comments on my foodblog, well appreciated!! Wow!! are you going to be on top chef??? That would be so cool!!!! Well done!!! In Belgium, we can see all the top chefs on TV!!! You rock!!

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  21. I forgot to tell you. I read a post of yours probably about a month ago about how you had a cannoli somewhere and I thought to myself, "hmm...I have never even heard of those. I need to find one ASAP!". So that night, my husband took me on a date, and we were at this cute little mom and pop pizza joint, and they sold homemade canollis! So I bought one, and it was UH-MAZING. I give you full credit for bringing me to the light!

    Anyway, I need to make those cookies.

    And OMG! I can't wait to hear more about this Top Chef bizzzness.

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  22. these cookies look awesome! I d like to try these. Eager to hear your news . I m curious. :) If you re going to be on top chef wish Ill be able to see it :)

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  23. I LOVE cannoli anything...I will have to make these soon. Can't wait to hear the surprise....!!!

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  24. Those are beautiful! I love anything that reminds me of tea time...and those remind me of tea time...

    NAOmni

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  25. cookies look great... I bet your news will be greater :)

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  26. Cannoli's are my favorite, and I'm so glad you've created a cookie to match. Top Chef? No way! If this surprise is you being on Top Chef, I am so jealous. And I hope you win!

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  27. I am SO not going to sleep tonight! You better tell us tomorrow.
    Will help in anyway I can--just don't ask the impossible!! I can shave my head...etc, but you ain't getting one of my kids.

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  28. Sorry if your announcement upstaged your cookies a teeny bit. They are super cool!

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  29. yum yum, love me some cannolis and i must try these cookies!!

    oh what a cliffhanger... i'm on the edge of my seat :)

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  30. YOU GO GIRL!!!! I can't believe it, I know your gonnq win and get the money to go to school!!! AWESOME!!!!

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  31. These look beautiful! Thnx for sharing :-)

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  32. The suspense is killing me! Cannoli cookies look great!

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  33. Yeah...are you gonna be on top chef??? That is awesome if you are. Of course the cookies are good, they have "emily's originality' written all over 'em :D.

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  34. These look so good! And you left quite the teaser! I can't wait to hear the announcement!!!

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  35. Ooooh, I'm so excited to hear your announcement!

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  36. I LOVE Top Chef!!!!!! Oh man, now you've got me SO curious! You are so "evil" for the teaser.

    Cindy

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  37. You're such a tease, Em. :-) Can't wait to hear your news. I'll be back. Cookies look fantasmaglorious.

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  38. These are gorgeous and sound delicious!

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  39. Great cookies! This melt chocolate covering the cookies is mouth watering!

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  40. These cookies look sensational and I'll bet they taste as good too. Can't wait for your announcement, especially if it's to do with Top Chef.

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  41. if you're thinking of trying out for top chef, do it. if i'm way off base, oh well--you should still do it. :)

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  42. Wow, these sound delicious! I will have to try them. The regular cannoli is hard to master because of the shell. This looks like it will take some time but your recipe is explained well.

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  43. Not only do they sound good but they are amazing!!!!!!!! I made them for the holidays and everyone loved them including me.

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