This homemade Cannoli Cake is a moist layer cake with all the classic cannoli flavors you love!
A light cinnamon cake with delicious ricotta and mascarpone cheese cannoli filling is a delicious treat ideal for special occasions and the dessert table. With a coating of mini chocolate chips and cute mini cannoli on top, this is going to be your most popular dessert cake!
Table of Contents
Why you'll love this recipe
If you love Italian cannoli, you've come to the right place. This Cannoli cake recipe is a delectable dessert that highlights all of the wonderful flavors of that Italian classic. This is undoubtedly the BEST Cannoli cake I have ever eaten!
This made from scratch cake uses basic ingredients that you will find in any supermarket to create a dessert that is deceptively light. Bake and assemble the Cannoli Cake the day before for an impressive, make ahead dessert. Then decorate with store bought, mini cannoli and lots of mini chocolate chips so there is no doubt of the flavor within!
Traditional Sicilian cannoli are filled with sweetened whipped ricotta. Usual additions are chocolate, cinnamon, candied fruit or orange zest. For extra creaminess which you'll love, the cannoli cream frosting also uses mascarpone.
Don't be scared off by the length. This Cannoli cake recipe, like my Chocolate Cake with caramel and my Raspberry Torte, has a few steps but just follow my instructions carefully for complete success!
Just like more simple desserts such as my easy vanilla cake, poached red wine pears or budino al cioccolato, this Cannoli Cake will become a firm favorite that your family and friends will ask for time and time again!
For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card bottom of the page.
Ingredients for Cake
Firstly the cake must be baked and cooled before assembly of this dessert.
This layers for this Cannoli Cake are rather light and definitely moist. The ingredients make all the difference. You'll find all the usual cake ingredients here but some may require an explanation.
- all purpose flour for structure and moisture
- cake flour for lightness and fine texture
- buttermilk combined with baking soda creates air to give your cake good volume and tenderness
- butter for flavor
- oil for moisture
Variations
- if you are in a hurry use store bought cake. I suggest you purchase a vanilla pound cake or sponge
- for a buttermilk substitute - to a measuring cup, add 1 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice. Add milk to the 1 1⁄4 cup mark, stir. Wait 5 minutes before using
- use a teaspoon of almond extract instead of cinnamon for something different
Instructions for cake
Preheat oven to 350ºF/180ºC and grease two 8-inch round deep cake pans and line the base with non stick paper then flour the sides.
- Whisk or sift together flours, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
- Beat butter, sugar and oil.
- Add eggs one at a time followed by vanilla.
- Mix in dry ingredients until just moist then add buttermilk.
- Divide amongst prepared pans.
- Bake until cooked through and golden brown.
Ingredients for frosting and assembly
- Ricotta cheese - use only full fat ricotta cheese. This recipe is not a low fat cake. It's a special occasion cake which deserves using full fat, quality ingredients.
- Mascarpone cheese - this is a thick creamy Italian cheese that is found in many supermarkets. If you can't find it, you could substitute cream cheese though the flavor will be different.
- Powdered sugar - Also known as icing sugar or confectioners sugar, it dissolves and blends quickly and easily into the ricotta cheese.
- Orange - You'll only need the orange zest. Reserve the orange for juice or cut it up for a fruit salad.
- Dark rum - I like to use rum but if you'd rather have an alcohol free cake, use orange juice.
- Cinnamon - powdered cinnamon is the perfect sweet spice to complement the cannoli cream filling.
- Cannoli shells - these are optional but add to the appeal of the cake. Fill them with reserved cannoli filling.
- Chocolate Chips - mini chocolate chips are complete adornment of this Cannoli cake.
Instructions for frosting and assembly
Next prepare the cannoli cream frosting, syrup and cake for assembly.
- In a food processor, combine ricotta, ¾ cup powdered sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon until creamy.
- Fold in mascarpone. Refrigerate until needed.
- Combine ½ cup powdered sugar with dark rum. Stir to dissolve sugar.
- Cut and level off tops of cakes and cut each cake in half horizontally making four cake layers.
Finally assemble the cannoli cake.
- Brush one cut side of each layer with rum syrup.
- Place one layer on a cake plate and spread some ricotta filling over.
- Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
- Continue layering and filling with ricotta cream and chocolate chips.
Spread the rest of the cream all over the cake and decorate with chocolate chips and filled cannoli shells.
Tips for success
Be sure to follow these important points for success.
- Use whole milk ricotta cheese and if it's not as dry and crumbly as indicated in the photo, you MUST to strain it overnight.
- Mascarpone should also be full fat and strained if not thick and creamy.
- Finely chopped candied fruit can be used in place of the orange zest.
- Cannoli shells are optional but nice and can be purchased at good Italian food stores or online.
- Have ingredients at cool room temperature. This will ensure the butter creams well and the eggs incorporate thoroughly.
- If measuring the flour with cups, stir the flour first then spoon into the cup so that it is not overpacked.
- When making the cannoli cream frosting, fold in the mascarpone because over beating will cause it to split.
- Cakes must be cold before frosting.
Frequently asked questions
To test if a cake is done, uses your senses. Smell it. The smell of baked cake should fill the kitchen. Look at it. It should be golden brown. Feel the top. It should feel springy. Finally push a skewer into the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done.
The ricotta frosting can be beaten in an electric mixer. Beat until smooth and creamy which may take as long as 5 minutes. It will never be as smooth as frosting prepared in the food processor.
It is important to use ricotta that is dry and crumbly as in the photo above. If you purchase ricotta that is soft and wet, be sure to drain it overnight in a muslin lined sieve. Also mascarpone can split and become runny if over beaten or if it gets too warm.
This recipe uses icing similar to cannoli filling consisting of full fat ricotta cheese, orange zest, cinnamon and sugar. I like to add mascarpone cheese to the filling for extra creaminess.
If you want a completely smooth exterior, you may use Italian meringue buttercream to finish the cake after filling the cake layers with cannoli cream filling.
Unfilled cake can be wrapped well and frozen for a month. However the ricotta frosting and completed cake cannot be frozen. Store completed cake in the refrigerator in an air tight container for 2-3 days.
Related recipes
Chocolate Orange Cake
Mocha Cake
Lime and Blueberry Syrup Cake
Torta Caprese - flourless chocolate almond cake
Italian Peach Cookies
Made this recipe?
Let me know if you liked it by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating and a review below. Please share a photo of your creation by tagging me on Instagram @marcellina.in.cucina!
Recipe
Cannoli Cake Recipe
Equipment
- stand mixer
- food processor
- 2 x 8 inch (20 cm) round deep cake pan
- measuring cups and spoons (or scales)
- off set spatula
- serrated knife
Ingredients
Cake
- 6 oz (1 ½ sticks or 170 grams) unsalted butter softened
- 1⅔ cup (340 grams) superfine (castor) sugar
- ¼ cup (60mls) oil see notes
- 4 eggs room temperature
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1½ cups (185 grams) all purpose flour
- 1½ cups (185 grams) cake flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ cup (300mls) buttermilk
Ricotta frosting
- 3¾ cups (2 pounds/ 900 grams) fresh ricotta use dry ricotta or must be strained overnight - see notes
- ¾ cup (90 grams) powdered (icing) sugar
- 3 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup (approx 250 grams) mascarpone cheese
Rum Syrup
- ½ cup (62 grams) powdered (icing) sugar
- ¼ cup dark rum
To assemble and decorate
- 2 cups mini chocolate chips
- 6 small cannoli shells optional
Instructions
- Before beginning this Cannoli Cake, please read the recipe fully including all the all the tips for success. Be sure to use dry ricotta!
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350ºF/180ºC. Grease two 8-inch/20cm round deep cake pans and line the base with non stick paper. Then flour the sides.
- Whisk or sift together flours, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Set aside
- In an electric mixer, beat together butter, sugar and oil for 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Scrape sides of the bowl then add eggs, one at a time until well combined. Stir in vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients. Then combine on low speed until just moistened. Add buttermilk and beat for 1 minute on medium until well combined and smooth.
- Pour evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Check at 30 minutes.
- When done the cake will come away from the side and settle down a little on the edges. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out to cool on a wire rack.
- Cool completely before filling and decorating.
Ricotta frosting
- In a food processor, combine ricotta, ¾ cup powdered sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon until creamy.
- Fold in mascarpone. Refrigerate until needed.
Rum syrup
- Combine ½ cup powdered sugar with dark rum. Stir to dissolve sugar. Set aside.
Assembly and decorating
- Cut and level off tops of cakes and cut each cake in half horizontally.
- Brush one cut side of each layer with rum glaze.
- Place one layer on a cake plate and spread 1 cup of ricotta filling evenly over the cake.
- Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips.
- Continue layering and filling with ricotta cream and chocolate chips finishing with the fourth layer of cake.
- If you are using mini cannoli, fill with a teaspoon or a piping bag and press chocolate chips onto the ends. Keep refrigerated until needed.
- Reserve ⅓ cup of ricotta cream. Then spread the rest of the cream all over the cake beginning with the sides then covering the top.
- Press more chocolate chips onto the side of the cake and arranged filled cannoli shells on top spacing apart evenly.
- Fill a piping bag fitted with a star tube with remaining ricotta cream and pipe 6 stars in between the cannoli on top of the cake.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving. See notes for preparing ahead.
Notes
- Have ingredients at cool room temperature. This will ensure the butter creams well and the eggs incorporate thoroughly.
- Use light flavored oil like sunflower or grapeseed.
- If measuring the flour with cups, stir the flour first then spoon into the cup so that it is not overpacked.
- Ricotta cheese and mascarpone cheese varies greatly from brand to brand, country to country. It's very important that both cheeses are thick, almost like cream cheese otherwise the frosting will be runny. I can't stress this enough. If you are in any doubt, drain both cheeses overnight in a muslin lined sieve. Keep them separated so that you can measure correctly when drained.
- When making the frosting, fold in the mascarpone because over beating will cause it to split.
- Taste the frosting and add more powdered sugar if you prefer it sweeter.
- Cinnamon and orange zest can be omitted if not to your taste.
- Cakes must be cold before frosting.
- use orange juice instead of rum to make it alcohol free
- substitute ¼ cup finely chopped candied fruit for the orange zest
- if you have no buttermilk try this - to a measuring cup, add 1 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice. Add milk to the 1 ½ mark, stir. Wait 5 minutes before using
- use store bought vanilla pound cake or sponge for a quick cannoli cake
Nutritional Information Per Serving
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Denise
in your variations you mention a sub for buttermilk with 1 tablespoon acid to cup then add milk to the 1 1/2 mark but the recipe itself only calls for 1 1/4 cup milk ? which is it then and if the 1 1/4 is correct do you then add less acid ?
Marcellina
Hello Denise, thanks for picking that up. The measurement is 1 1/4. I have adjusted it accordingly. There is no need to adjust the acid. It will work either way.
Miriam Casha
I have made this cake following the instructions very carefully as instructed but unfortunately the cake was a complete flop...it did not come fluffy at all.
Marcellina
Miriam, this is a flavorsome dessert cake but it isn't meant to be fluffy. Perhaps you were thinking of another recipe because I don't actually call this cake "fluffy". Many readers have made this cake and love it so I'm not sure what went wrong with yours. Please reach out to me via email so that we can trouble shoot. I'd love to help. If you're looking for a "fluffy" cake try my Pan di Spagna - it's definitely fluffy! You could possibly use it in this recipe although the weight of the filling may make the cake not so fluffy. Hope this helps!
Iolanda Goodfellow
Wonderful cake to make. Easy frosting, easy to follow. Great instructions. It’s yummy, but when all is said and done, it’s an expensive cake.
Marcellina
Glad you love the Cannoli Cake, Iolanda. It is a celebration cake though not an everyday cake so it's meant to be a bit special. Have you tried making your own ricotta? This is my recipe showing how to make ricotta cheese. It's easy too!
Kelly
I only have 9 inch pans, how should the recipe be adjusted. Thanks!
Marcellina
Kelly, I've never baked this cake in a 9 inch pan however I'm sure it's possible. I would increase the amount of ingredients because I think that the cakes would be too thin otherwise. You can increase the ingredients easily by adjusting the serving size in the recipe card. The cakes may take a bit longer to bake so you'll need to keep an eye on that. Alternatively bake the recipe as is in the larger pans (you may need to reduce the cooking time slightly). If the cakes are too thin to split, simply make a two layer cannoli cake. It will still be delicious with a thick layer of wonderful filling in the middle! Hope that helps.
Laura
I haven't made this cake yet, just getting a start on prepping. My 8 inch cake pans are only about 1.5 inches deep. Do I need to purchase new pans?
This cake is meant for a group of 6, so would a possible alternative be to half the recipe and the layers not be as thick or try in smaller pans?
Marcellina
I would line the sides of the pans with parchment paper so that it reaches above the sides of the pan. This will support the batter as it rises and (though I haven't tried it with this particular cake) I'm quite sure it would work. The pans I use are 2 inches deep so it's not that far off. Yes, it is possible to half the recipe but use smaller pans otherwise the cake will be dry and very thin. Try 6 inch pans. Again, I've never halved this cake but I think it is possible. You can adjust the servings in the recipe card and it will adjust the ingredients for you. Baking times will need to be adjusted manually. Hope that helps.
Chrissy
Would you kindly tell me the brand of ricotta cheese you use? Thank you so much! We are having it tonight for my husband‘s birthday… my ricotta was a bit too wet. Much appreciated.
Marcellina
Hello Chrissy! I use "La Casa Del Formaggio Traditional Ricotta Cheese". It's a fresh ricotta cheese with no additives. As you can see from the photos it's been drained very well. Did you drain your ricotta cheese overnight as the recipe said? This part is really important and I know it's a pain because you have to plan in advance but it sure makes a difference. The best ricotta you can buy is usually the fresh type which has a short shelf life. Other types of ricotta need draining to ensure the ricotta is very dry. You may need to buy more than you think you need because a lot of the weight is in water. I do hope your husband and your family still enjoy it!
Judy
I honestly never comment, but… I’m from NY and I don’t think you have ever tried a fantastic cannoli cake. I made this for my daughter’s birthday and I was beyond disappointed. I followed the recipe to a tee… the cake was ok… the filling was horrible!! I’m sorry!! I feel bad saying this, come to Utica,NY to try a real one!!
Marcellina
Hmmm, not sure why the filling would be "horrible" if you followed the recipe "to a tee". People who have made this cake enjoy it and love the filling. Feel free to email me to trouble shoot.
Mary Sue Melillo
Excellent recipe! Made it for a friends birthday and we brought it out to a local bar where we all we eating and celebrating. Everyone loved the cake and wanted me to make them one! One person who has been in the food industrustry 18 years said it was the best cake she has ever had! Thank you for sharing!
Marcellina
Mary Sue, I'm so glad the cake was a hit! Thank you for the wonderful feedback!
Carol
Hi Marcellina,
Cake looks absolutely delicious, can you tell me what brand of mini chocolate chips you use, I am in Sydney.
Thanks.
Marcellina
Hi Carol, you can use the Essentials Mini Dark Chocolate Chips from Woolworths. Hope that helps.
Donna
How deep a pan should I use
Marcellina
Carol, use a 2 inch (5cm) deep pan.
Katie Youngs
I didn't realize cannoli's could get any better... but apparently they can with your cannoli cake! Wow!
Marcellina
This cake is definitely a fav in our family!
Jerika
La....la....la....love is in the air and this Cannoli Cake makes it complete this coming Valentine's Day.:) Thanks much!:)
Patti
What happened???? I measured and mixed EXACTLY as the recipe stated. Both pans overflowed, never set and dripped all over my oven…the windows had to be opened and the vent put on to get rid of burning smell….????????????
Marcellina
Patti, did you use deep cake pans? If the cake batter reached to top of the pans before baking, then your pans are too small. I'd say that's what happened.
Angela
I made this for a party and now i get requests from my family for it at special occasions! Its delicious and I'm not a fan of cannoli cake lol. About how many cups of batter do you think this makes? I'm trying to figure out how to increase the amount for a larger cake.
Marcellina
Hi Angela! I don't know how many cups of batter this cake makes. However if you change the servings in the recipe card, the imperial ingredient quantities will change. For example, the cake as written, will serve 12. You can change that to say 20 and the imperial ingredient quantities will change to reflect the extra servings. Keep in mind that the size of the cake pans or the amount of cake pans will differ as will the cooking time.