The Best Cannoli Dip Recipe

If you love the creamy, dreamy filling inside a classic cannoli, you’re going to swoon over this easy cannoli dip recipe. With just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep, you can whip up a bowl of sweet, fluffy cannoli cream dip that tastes like it came straight from your favorite Italian bakery. Perfect for parties, holidays, game day gatherings, or any time you need a quick and crowd-pleasing no bake dessert dip!

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make the best ever dip with ricotta and mascarpone or cream cheese, share my pro tips for the creamiest texture, and give you tons of fun flavor variations to try. Plus, I’ve got a whole list of tasty dippers to serve with your cannoli cream dip. Let’s get dipping!

What Is Cannoli Dip?

It is essentially the traditional ricotta filling from a cannoli, but served as a scoop-able dip instead of piped into a crunchy shell. It’s made with ricotta cheese, mascarpone, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and mini chocolate chips, all whipped together into a light, fluffy, and totally dippable treat.

Since you are here and love Italian recipes, check out this Vanilla Bean Italian Meringue Buttercream or this Super Easy Tiramisu Recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Only requires 5 simple ingredients
• Comes together in just 10 minutes
• No baking or cooking needed
• Can be made ahead for easy entertaining
• Perfect for parties, potlucks, and holiday gatherings
• Kids and adults both love it!

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy recipe:

• Whole milk ricotta cheese: Drain it well (more on this below) – this forms the base of the dip.
• Cream cheese or mascarpone cheese: Gives the dip that authentic rich, slightly tangy cannoli flavor and silky texture.
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens the dip without making it grainy.
• Pure vanilla extract: For that classic cannoli taste.
• Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips: The signature mix-in that makes it a true cannoli experience!

Ingredient Substitutions

• Dairy-free: Use dairy-free ricotta and cream cheese substitutes to make a vegan dip.
• Cream cheese: You can use cream cheese in place of mascarpone if needed. The flavor will be tangier and the texture a bit denser.
• Part-skim ricotta: I prefer whole milk ricotta for the creamiest dip, but part-skim will work if you want to lighten it up a bit.
• Dark or white chocolate chips: Swap the semi-sweet minis for dark chocolate, white chocolate, or a mix.
• Sugar-free powdered sugar: Use a monk fruit/erythritol blend like Swerve to make a no-sugar-added dip.

How to Make Cannoli Dip

1. Drain the ricotta: This is optional but if you want your dip to be extra thick, scoop-able dip vs. a little thinner, make sure to do this. Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth or paper towels, add the ricotta, and let drain in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours.
2. Beat the cheeses: In a large bowl, beat the drained ricotta, cream cheese or mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, 3-5 minutes.

3. Fold in chocolate chips: Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated. Don’t overmix.
4. Chill and serve: Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and chill for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Just before serving, sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top. Serve with your favorite dippers and enjoy!

Cannoli Dip Variations

Love mix-ins? Here are some tasty variations on this basic cannoli cream dip:

• Chocolate cannoli dip: Beat in 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder along with the powdered sugar.
• Pumpkin cannoli dip: Add 1/2 cup pumpkin puree and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Perfect for fall!
• Pistachio cannoli dip: Fold 1/2 cup chopped pistachios into the dip and sprinkle more on top for garnish.
• Orange zest cannoli dip: Stir in 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest for a bright Sicilian twist.
• Espresso cannoli dip: Add 1-2 teaspoons espresso powder to boost the flavor.
• Cinnamon chip cannoli dip: Replace the chocolate chips with cinnamon baking chips.

What to Serve with Cannoli Dip

The only thing that makes cannoli dip better is having lots of fun dippers to scoop it up with! Try these:

• Broken waffle cones or waffle cone chips for that classic cannoli crunch
• Cannoli shell chips made from broken up unfilled cannoli shells
• Pizzelle cookies for a traditional Italian pairing
• Graham crackers or vanilla wafers to mimic the pastry shell
• Crunchy biscotti for dunking
• Fresh strawberries or apple slices for a fruity contrast
• Pretzels for a sweet and salty combo
• Zeppole or other fried Italian dough balls

Storage Suggestions

Can You Make Cannoli Dip Ahead of Time?

Yes! This no bake cannoli dip is the perfect make-ahead party dessert. You can prep it up to 2 days in advance. Just store it covered in the fridge, then give it a good stir before serving to fluff it back up.

How Long Does it Last?

Your leftover cannoli cream dip will keep well for 3-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze This Dip?

I don’t recommend freezing cannoli dip, as the texture of the ricotta changes when frozen and thawed. For best results, enjoy it within a few days of making it.

Frequently asked questions – FAQ

Whip up a batch of this crazy easy 5 ingredient cannoli dip with ricotta for your next party and watch it disappear! With its fluffy texture and sweet chocolate chip-studded flavor, this no bake cannoli dip recipe is impossible to resist. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a rating and a comment to let me know how it turned out for you.