Cannoli Layer Cake | Life, Love, and Sugar

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This Cannoli Layer Cake is a lightweight, moist cinnamon cake layered with cannoli filling, chocolate chips and mascarpone frosting! All one of the best parts of cannoli in a single irresistible cake!

Why You’ll Love This Cannoli Layer Cake

I’ve been making this cannoli layer cake for years and it stays one among my favorites. I just lately up to date the recipe to make it even higher. I made a decision to vary the cake layers to my newer moist vanilla cake recipe. It makes use of complete eggs, as a substitute of egg whites, so that you aren’t losing the yolks, and it’s additionally a lighter cake. I additionally diminished the filling and added some mini chocolate chips and made the frosting a bit thicker and extra sturdy to carry the cake collectively higher.

This cake was wonderful earlier than so belief me after I say it’s merely irresistible now! Listed here are a number of the reason why:

• All one of the best parts of cannoli. Cannoli as a taste for desserts and different desserts all the time surprises me. It looks as if a taste that’s so gentle and primarily composed of a bit of cinnamon and a few sorts of cheese could be pretty boring – and but each cannoli dessert I make I completely fall in love with. They’re something however boring and this cannoli layer cake isn’t any exception.
• Mild & evenly candy. Mascarpone cheese has simply turn into one among my favourite issues to make use of in desserts. The flavour is extremely gentle, however so darn good and simply candy sufficient. I used it for each the filling and the frosting on this cake.
• Absolute showstopper. This cake actually is phenomenal. It takes a bit of time and finesse to work with the smooth filling and frosting, but it surely’s completely value it. You gained’t wish to share a single crumb with anybody. It’s so lovely as soon as assembled and doesn’t actually require any particular adorning abilities both.

Recipe Substances

Right here’s a run-down of the whole lot you’ll must make this cake. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card under for the precise measurements.

Cannoli Filling

• Ricotta cheese – Ricotta is a should in relation to any cannoli filling. It would be best to pressure it.
• Mascarpone cheese – I take advantage of mine straight out of the fridge, however you could possibly additionally let it sit out for 5-10 minutes. You simply don’t need it to get too heat. It’ll flip watery at that time and you’ll’t actually put it aside.
• Powdered sugar – Sweetens and helps to stabilize the filling.
• Mini chocolate chips

Cake Layers

• All-purpose flour – Make sure to measure it correctly. I all the time advocate a meals scale, however the spoon and stage technique may even work.
• Baking powder & baking soda – Utilizing each helps to offer the cake a lightweight and tender crumb.
• Floor cinnamon – Provides only a bit of heat to the cake layers, which properly compliments the filling.
• Salt – Enhances the flavors already current. With out a little salt, your cake will probably be bland.
• Unsalted butter – You may use salted butter, however you’d wish to pass over the added salt.
• Vegetable oil – Helps maintain the cake further moist.
• Sugar – This cake makes use of each white and brown sugar for one of the best texture and taste.
• Vanilla extract
• Eggs – It’s greatest to make use of room temperature eggs when making as they incorporate into the batter extra simply, which helps stop over mixing. Make sure to use massive eggs, not medium or further massive.
• Milk – I sometimes use 2% however complete milk works too.
• Bitter cream – Bitter cream provides a bit of additional moisture to the cake.

Buttercream

• Unsalted butter – At room temperature.
• Mascarpone cheese – Once more, the mascarpone shouldn’t get too heat or it’ll turn into watery.
• Powdered sugar – Helps to sweeten, add quantity and stabilize the buttercream.
• Vanilla extract
• Mini chocolate chips

How To Make Cannoli Layer Cake

As a result of the filling and frosting for this cake are made with ricotta and mascarpone cheeses and on the softer facet, you’ll must pay cautious consideration to the method of constructing the cake. There’s a little bit of ready concerned at a few factors to verify issues are agency. It’s value each second, although! Yow will discover the printable model of the directions within the recipe card under.

Pressure the Ricotta

• Pressure the ricotta. Line a big strainer with two layers of cheesecloth. Add the ricotta and canopy with extra cheesecloth. Place the strainer in a bowl with a minimum of 1-2 inches on the backside of the bowl and place one thing heavy on high of the cheesecloth to assist squeeze out the liquid. Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours.

Make the Filling

• Make the filling. Combine the strained ricotta, mascarpone, and powdered sugar on low pace till effectively mixed. You may also combine it by hand with a spatula. It is a thinner filling and you do not need to over combine it.
• Chill. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours. (For those who begin making the cake layers now, it’ll be prepared when the desserts have cooled.)

Make the Cake

• Prep. Line three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles within the backside. Grease the edges and preheat the oven to 350F.
• Make the batter. Mix the dry substances and put aside. Beat collectively the butter, oil, sugars, and vanilla till gentle in coloration and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one, mixing till largely mixed after every and scraping down the edges of the bowl as wanted.
• Mix. Combine in half of the dry substances till largely mixed then slowly add within the milk and bitter cream. Add the remaining dry substances, mixing till effectively mixed and easy.
• Bake. Divide the batter evenly between the ready cake pans. Bake for 20-24 minutes, till a toothpick inserted within the middle comes out with a number of crumbs.
• Cool. Take away the desserts from the oven. Enable to chill for 2-3 minutes then take away to cooling racks to chill utterly.

Make the Buttercream

• Beat the mascarpone. Beat the mascarpone and butter simply till easy. Don’t overmix or the mascarpone will turn into too skinny and watery.
• Add the powdered sugar. Add the powdered sugar in two elements, mixing till mixed and easy. It could look a bit separated however it’ll come collectively as you add extra. Gently stir within the vanilla extract.

Construct the Cake

• Prep the desserts. Use a big serrated knife to take away the domes from the tops of the desserts so that they’re utterly flat.
• Assemble. Place the primary cake on a serving plate. Pipe a dam of frosting across the edge then fill with 1/2 of the filling. Add the second layer of cake, one other dam of frosting, and the remaining filling contained in the dam. Add the ultimate layer of cake on high then add a skinny crumb coat of frosting to the surface of the cake.
• Chill. Refrigerate the cake for 1-2 hours, till agency and durable (Or you may as well pop it within the freezer for half-hour). Place the remaining frosting within the fridge as effectively however take away it about 20 minutes earlier than persevering with.
• Embellish. Frost the surface of the cake with the rest of the frosting. End by urgent some mini chocolate chips alongside the underside. Pipe the remaining frosting on the highest edge. I used Ateco tip 847. Refrigerate till able to serve.

Ideas for Success

Listed here are a number of ideas for making this gorgeous cannoli layer cake.

• Pressure the ricotta effectively. This actually isn’t one thing you wish to skip, or your filling might be too skinny. I love to do it the evening earlier than to save lots of time. I often get a number of tablespoons of liquid after straining it.
• Combine the mascarpone with care. The massive factor you must watch out of when utilizing mascarpone cheese is that you simply don’t wish to over-mix it or combine it at a excessive pace. The bottom pace you’ve got is greatest. It simply will get watery should you aren’t cautious or it will get too heat.
• Can I take advantage of much less powdered sugar? The buttercream makes use of 8 ½ cups of powdered sugar. You possibly can add much less powdered sugar to the frosting in order that there isn’t a lot sugar, however you gained’t find yourself with as a lot frosting and it gained’t be as thick. You want it thick sufficient for the dam to remain in place and maintain the filling in place. I extremely advocate utilizing the complete quantity of powdered sugar.
• Thicken the filling. The filling is on the thinner facet. I didn’t add an excessive amount of powdered sugar to the filling as a result of I just like the style of the cheeses, however you could possibly add extra to thicken it additional should you’d like.
• Chill the filling. It’s necessary to make the filling forward of time and permit it to relax for a number of hours earlier than utilizing it within the recipe, to permit it thicken a bit.
• Refrigerate the assembled cake. As soon as the cake layers are assembled, remember to give it time to relax and set. In any other case, the layers can slide in every single place as you attempt to frost the surface. For those who’re in a rush, you’ll be able to freeze it for about half-hour.

Correct Storage

Preserve the cannoli layer refrigerated till able to serve. It must be saved well-covered or in an hermetic container, corresponding to this cake provider. It’s greatest when loved inside 3-4 days.

To freeze the cake, flash freeze for 1-2 hours, then wrap effectively. Thaw within the fridge earlier than serving. You may also slice the cake and freeze the person slices. Wrap them individually or retailer them in an hermetic container.

Extra Cannoli Desserts To Strive

This recipe was up to date September 30, 2024 based mostly on reader suggestions. For the unique model, obtain this recipe PDF.

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Recipe

Cannoli Layer Cake

• 
  Prep Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• 
  Cooling/Chilling Time: 7 hours
• 
  Prepare dinner Time: 20 minutes
• 
  Complete Time: 8 hours 45 minutes
• 
  Yield: 12-14 Servings
• 
  Class: Dessert
• 
  Technique: Oven
• 
  Delicacies: American

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Description

This Cannoli Layer Cake is a lightweight, moist cinnamon cake layered with cannoli filling, chocolate chips and mascarpone frosting! All one of the best parts of cannoli in a single irresistible cake!

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Substances

Cannoli Filling

• 3/4 cups (189g/6 oz) ricotta cheese
• 3/4 cups (170g/6 oz) mascarpone cheese*
• 1 1/3 cups (154g) powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup (43g) mini chocolate chips

Cake Layers

• 2 1/2 cups (325g) all-purpose flour (measured correctly)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp floor cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (112g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
• 1 cup (207g) sugar
• 1/2 cup (112g) gentle brown sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 4 massive eggs
• 1/2 cup (120ml) milk
• 3/4 cup (173g) bitter cream

Buttercream

• 1 cup (280g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 12 oz (339g) mascarpone cheese, cool, however not chilly*
• 8–9 cups (920g-1035g) powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (169g) mini chocolate chips

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Directions

Pressure the ricotta

1. Line a big strainer with two layers of cheesecloth and put the ricotta cheese on high. Cowl the highest of the cheese with cheesecloth or some plastic wrap. Put the strainer on high of a bowl with a minimum of an inch or two of house between the underside of the strainer and the underside of the bowl for liquid to empty to. You possibly can put one thing heavy on high the cheese and cheesecloth to assist squeeze out liquid, should you’d like. Put within the fridge and let the ricotta pressure for a minimum of 4 hours, or in a single day. I ended up with about 2 tablespoons of liquid being faraway from my cheese.

Make the filling

1. Add the strained ricotta, mascarpone cheese and powdered sugar to a mixer bowl and blend on low pace simply till effectively mixed. Don’t over combine or combine on a excessive pace or the mascarpone cheese can turn into skinny and watery. You possibly can even stir all of it collectively by hand with a spatula, simply to make sure you don’t over combine it. Take into account that this can be a thinner filling.
2. Place the filling within the fridge to agency up a bit, about 2-3 hours. For those who make the cake layers whereas this chills, it must be good to make use of when the desserts have absolutely cooled.

Make the Cake

1. Put together three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles within the backside and grease the edges. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
2. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium sized bowl and put aside.
3. Add the butter, oil, sugars and vanilla extract to a big mixer bowl and beat collectively till gentle in coloration and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Don’t skimp on the creaming time.
4. Add the eggs one by one, mixing till largely mixed after every. Scrape down the edges of the bowl as wanted to make sure all substances are effectively included.
5. Add half of the dry substances to the batter and blend till largely mixed.
6. Slowly add the milk and bitter cream combine till effectively mixed. The batter might look a bit of curdled, however that’s okay.
7. Add the remaining dry substances and blend till effectively mixed and easy. Scrape down the edges of the bowl as wanted to make sure all substances are effectively included. Don’t over combine the batter.
8. Divide the batter evenly between the desserts pans and bake for 20-24 minutes, or till a toothpick comes out with a number of crumbs.
9. Take away the desserts from the oven and permit to chill for about 2-3 minutes, then take away to cooling racks to chill utterly.

Make the buttercream

1. Add the butter and mascarpone cheese to a big mixing bowl and simply beat till easy. You don’t wish to over combine the mascarpone cheese or it could actually turn into skinny and watery.
2. Add the powdered sugar in two elements and blend till effectively mixed and easy, once more being cautious to not over combine. As you add the powdered sugar, it might begin to look a bit of separated, however will come collectively as you add extra powdered sugar. Simply don’t over combine it.
3. Add the vanilla extract and gently stir to mix.

Construct the cake

1. To place the cake collectively, use a big serrated knife to take away the domes from the highest of the desserts in order that they’re flat. These desserts don’t have a big dome, however I like to verify they’re utterly flat.
2. Place the primary cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake spherical.
3. Pipe a dam of frosting across the fringe of the cake after which fill it with 1/2 of the filling.
4. Add the second layer of cake, one other dam of frosting and the remaining filling contained in the dam.
5. Add the ultimate layer of cake on high after which add a skinny crumb coat of frosting to the surface of the cake. Refrigerate the cake till agency and durable, about 1-2 hours (you’ll be able to pace the method up by placing the cake within the freezer for about half-hour, should you’d like). Set the rest of the frosting within the fridge whereas the cake companies up and take it out about 20 minutes earlier than you’re able to proceed, so it could actually soften a bit.
6. Frost the surface of the cake with the rest of the frosting, then end it off by urgent some mini chocolate chips onto the surface of the cake, alongside the underside.
7. Pipe the remaining frosting alongside the highest fringe of the cake. I used Ateco tip 847.
8. Refrigerate cake till able to serve. Retailer effectively coated or in an hermetic cake provider. Cake is greatest if eaten inside 3-4 days.

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Notes

Mascarpone cheese: I take advantage of mine straight out of the fridge, however you could possibly additionally let it sit out for 5-10 minutes. You simply don’t need it to get too heat. It’ll flip watery at that time and you’ll’t actually put it aside.

Powdered sugar: The buttercream makes use of 8 ½ cups of powdered sugar. You possibly can add much less powdered sugar to the frosting in order that there isn’t a lot sugar, however you gained’t find yourself with as a lot frosting and it gained’t be as thick. You want it thick sufficient for the dam to remain in place and maintain the filling in place. I extremely advocate utilizing the complete quantity of powdered sugar.

Filling: The filling is on the thinner facet. I didn’t add an excessive amount of powdered sugar to the filling as a result of I just like the style of the cheeses, however you could possibly add extra to thicken it additional, should you’d like.

Diet

• Serving Dimension: 1 Slice
• Energy: 763
• Sugar: 58.6 g
• Sodium: 156.4 mg
• Fats: 45.9 g
• Carbohydrates: 79.5 g
• Protein: 13.4 g
• Ldl cholesterol: 105.8 mg