Cannoli Cupcakes

Cannoli Cupcakes

Ingredients:

~Vanilla Cupcakes~
2 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream

~Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cream~
16 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese (strained in a cheesecloth overnight)
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

~Fresh Whipped Cream~***
2 cups heavy cream
1 package white chocolate or dark chocolate pudding mix

***Note: This is what I used but not what I recommend. Once it was mixed it had a consistency of a thick mousse and it was so incredibly hard to pipe. I would never use this portion of the recipe again.

~Garnish~
Mini semisweet chocolate chips

What To Do:

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
In a large bowl beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
Add the oil and vanilla; mix batter.
Add sour cream; mix batter.
Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well blended.

Preheat your oven to 350. Line cupcake pan with 24 liners.
Fill each well until 3/4 full and bake for 15-18 minutes.
Cool completely.

Next, make your cannoli cream filling: Beat ricotta, confectioners sugar and vanilla in a bowl on medium until light and fluffy. Stir in chocolate chips.

To make the whipped cream mix the heavy cream and pudding mix until cream is whipped. Again, take note that I did not like this portion of the recipe. It tasted ok, but it was a pain to get it onto my cupcakes. When I do this recipe again, I would try to find a white chocolate or dark chocolate whipped frosting recipe.

To assemble your cupcakes: Use a small knife or a cupcake corer to remove a small cylinder from the center of the cupcake. Fill with cannoli cream. From your cylinder cut the top-most portion off and use that to top off the cannoli cream center.

Pipe your whipped cream (or whichever frosting you choose). Top with chocolate chips.

Even though I didn't like the frosting, I did like these cupcakes. They tasted incredibly rich and I was told by geniune Italians that they tasted like Cannoli's. They were easy to make, too, so give them a shot. Enjoy!