WeightWatchers Cannoli Recipe

Cannoli are one of my favorite Italian desserts. Cannoli are tube-shaped shells of fried pasta, filled with a sweet, creamy filling containing mascarpone or sweetened ricotta cheese blended with vanilla, chocolate, or other flavorings.

Don’t be scared by the many steps involved in cooking this recipe – it’s actually very easy to prepare, and the result is yummy!

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Weight Watchers Cannoli recipe

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Servings 24

Ingredients

Shells

• 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter softened
• 2 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup white wine
• shortening for frying

Filling

• 4 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries
• 1/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream optional

Instructions

• To make shells, mix flour, sugar and salt in a bowl.
• Cut in butter.
• Add egg yolks; stir with a fork.
• Stir in wine, 1 tablespooon at a time, with a fork until dough clings together.
• Form a ball with the dough and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Roll dough almost paper thin, on a well-floured surface.
• Using the rim of a margarita glass (about 3-4 inches across), make circle imprints into rolled dough.
• Using a paring knife, make sure circles are cut all the way through.
• Roll each circle of dough around a metal cannoli tube, overlaping the ends and press to seal, flaring out the edges slightly.
• Fry one or two at a time in hot melted shortening (about 360°F) for approximately 1 minute, turning to brown all sides.
• Remove from hot grease and drain on paper towels, seam side down.
• Let cool a minute or two before trying to remove metal tube.
• To remove the tube hold cannoli shell down on the paper towel and carefully slide the tube out one end.
• Leave cannoil shells on paper towel, seam side down to cool completely. (Shells can be stored in airtight containers and made several days prior to filling.)
• For filling, drain ricotta cheese over cheesecloth if ricotta is watery.
• Combine ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until combined.
• Squeeze Maraschino cherries with paper towels to remove all liquid. (If you don’t squeeze them good, you will have a pink water filling!).
• Stir in cherries and chocolate chips into the ricotta mixture, being careful not to over mix.
• For a lighter filling, you may whip 1 cup of heavy whipping cream to form stiff peaks, and fold into filling mixture at this step.
• Chill filling for about 30 minutes before piping into cooled cannoli shells.
• You may garnish the cannoli by sprinkling powdered sugar on top.
• Whipped cream, a cherry, and shaved chocolate can also be used to garnish the top.
• Keep refrigerated until time of serving.

How many Weight Watchers points in cannoli recipe?
WW POINTS per serving: 6
Nutritional information per serving: 250 calories, 11.5g fat, 0.7g fiber

Originally posted 2007-02-23 10:26:28.