Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling

Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling Recipe - Vegetarian Italian Cuisine

Region / culture: Italy | Preparation time: 30 minutes | Cooking time: 15 minutes | Servings: 6 |

Vegetarian diet

Introduction

Indulge in the delicious combination of creamy peanut butter mousse and crispy cannoli shells with this recipe for Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling. This sweet treat is perfect for satisfying your dessert cravings and impressing your guests with its unique flavors and textures.

History

Cannoli is a traditional Italian dessert that consists of fried pastry shells filled with a sweet and creamy filling. The origins of cannoli can be traced back to Sicily, where it is believed to have been introduced by the Arabs during their rule of the island. Over the years, cannoli has become a popular dessert in Italian cuisine, with various fillings and flavors being created to suit different tastes.

Ingredients

Peanut butter mousse

3 cups soymilk
12 oz (340 g) cocoa butter, chopped into pieces
0.75 cup + 2 tbsp organic sugar
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
0.5 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter
3 tbsp maple syrup

Cannoli shells

2 tbsp peanuts
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
0.25 tsp salt
0.75 cup organic sugar
0.25 cup + 1 tsp canola or grapeseed oil
0.25 tsp egg replacer powder
0.13 tsp guar gum
0.5 cup water
0.5 cup soymilk
1 tbsp maple syrup
1.5 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cannoli

1 batch peanut butter mousse
2 blood oranges, segmented and juice reserved
2 tbsp agave
2 tbsp cacao nibs for garnish

How to prepare

Peanut butter mousse

Place 1 cup of soymilk in a 2 cup measuring cup.
Add cocoa butter until the contents reach 1.75 cups.
Fill the bottom of a double boiler with water and bring it to a simmer over low heat.
Place the soymilk-cocoa butter mixture, remaining soymilk, sugar, and vanilla in the top half of the double boiler, making sure the water does not touch the top half.
Stir until the mixture is melted and heated through.
Let it cool to a maximum of 100°F (38°C) — a very important step.
When cool, beat for 2 minutes.
Add peanut butter and maple syrup, mixing well.
Pour the mixture into a container and let it cool at room temperature for 15 minutes.
Refrigerate overnight to firm.

Cannoli shells

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
Toast peanuts in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, until lightly browned.
Grind the peanuts in a food processor for about 30 seconds, or until coarsely chopped.
Sift together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and sugar.
Brush a sheet pan with 1 tsp of oil and line it with a sheet of parchment paper.
Place egg replacer, guar gum, water, 0.25 cup of oil, soymilk, maple syrup, and vanilla in a blender.
Process on high for about 1 minute, or until thoroughly emulsified.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth.
Using an offset metal spatula, spread about 0.5 tsp of batter in a circle on the parchment, 2 to 3 inches in diameter and about 0.06 inch thick.
Repeat with the remaining batter until the sheet pan holds 4 to 6 shells.
Sprinkle the shells with ground peanuts and bake for about 7 minutes.
Rotate the tray and bake for 3 or 4 more minutes, or until the cannoli shells look dry but are still malleable.
Using a metal spatula, loosen the shells from the sheet pan.

Cannoli

To assemble the shells, wearing oven mitts, wrap the first shell around the handle of a whisk and hold it for 2 or 3 seconds, or until set.
Slide the shaped shell off the whisk handle and set it aside to cool.
Repeat with the remaining shells, working quickly before the shells harden.
If the shells become too firm, place them back in the oven for 2 minutes at a time.
Place the Peanut butter Mousse in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe the mousse into each cannoli shell.
To serve, toss blood orange segments, reserved blood orange juice, and agave in a bowl.
Distribute the mixture evenly between six dessert plates.
Place two cannolis on each plate and sprinkle with cacao nibs.

Variations

Substitute almond butter or cashew butter for the peanut butter in the mousse for a different flavor profile.
Add chopped nuts or chocolate chips to the mousse for added texture and flavor.
Drizzle melted chocolate over the filled cannoli shells for an extra indulgent touch.

Cooking Tips & Tricks

Make sure to let the peanut butter mousse cool to the right temperature before refrigerating it, as this will help it firm up properly.

- When shaping the cannoli shells, work quickly to prevent them from hardening too much before you can shape them.

- To achieve the perfect crispy texture for the cannoli shells, bake them until they look dry but are still malleable.

- Use a pastry bag fitted with a star tip to easily pipe the peanut butter mousse into the cannoli shells for a professional finish.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling as a decadent dessert after a meal or as a sweet treat for a special occasion. Pair it with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk for a delightful combination.

Cooking Techniques

Toasting the peanuts adds a rich, nutty flavor to the cannoli shells.

- Emulsifying the wet ingredients in a blender helps create a smooth batter for the cannoli shells.

- Shaping the cannoli shells around a whisk handle helps create the classic tube shape for filling.

Ingredient Substitutions

Use dairy milk instead of soymilk for a traditional mousse texture.

- Replace the egg replacer powder with a flaxseed egg for a vegan-friendly alternative.

- Swap out the canola or grapeseed oil for coconut oil for a different flavor profile.

Make Ahead Tips

The peanut butter mousse can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 3 days before assembling the cannoli.

- The cannoli shells can be baked ahead of time and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days before filling.

Presentation Ideas

Arrange the filled cannoli on a platter and dust with powdered sugar for a decorative touch. - Garnish the cannoli with fresh berries or mint leaves for a pop of color. - Serve the cannoli on individual dessert plates with a drizzle of chocolate sauce for an elegant presentation.

Pairing Recommendations

Pair the Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling with a glass of dessert wine or a cup of espresso for a sophisticated finish.

- Serve the cannoli alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for a decadent dessert experience.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Store any leftover cannoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

- To reheat the cannoli, place them in a preheated oven at 350°F (177°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until warmed through.

Nutrition Information

Calories per serving

380

Carbohydrates

- Total Carbohydrates: 45g

- Dietary Fiber: 3g

- Sugars: 22g

Fats

- Total Fat: 18g

- Saturated Fat: 6g

- Trans Fat: 0g

Proteins

- Protein: 7g

Vitamins and minerals

Vitamin A: 2%

- Vitamin C: 6%

- Calcium: 8%

- Iron: 10%

Alergens

Contains peanuts and soy

Summary

This Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling recipe is a delicious dessert option that is rich in carbohydrates and fats, with a moderate amount of protein. It also provides essential vitamins and minerals, making it a satisfying treat for any occasion.

Summary

Enjoy the delightful combination of crispy cannoli shells and creamy peanut butter mousse with this recipe for Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling. This sweet treat is perfect for satisfying your dessert cravings and impressing your guests with its unique flavors and textures.

How did I get this recipe?

I can still recall the sense of amazement I felt when I first saw this recipe for Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling. It was many years ago when I was just a young girl, eager to learn the art of cooking from my grandmother.

I had always loved spending time in the kitchen with her, watching as she effortlessly whipped up delicious meals and treats. She had a way of making everything look so easy, and I was determined to one day be able to do the same.

One day, while rummaging through her old recipe box, I stumbled upon a faded, yellowed card with the words "Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling" scrawled across the top. Intrigued, I asked my grandmother where she had gotten the recipe from.

She smiled and told me that she had learned how to make cannoli from her own grandmother, who had immigrated to America from Italy many years ago. Over the years, she had experimented with different fillings and flavors, eventually settling on a peanut butter filling that had become a family favorite.

Excited to learn how to make this unique dessert, my grandmother and I set to work gathering the ingredients we would need. The dough for the cannoli shells was simple enough to make, a mixture of flour, sugar, butter, and water that we rolled out thin and cut into circles. We carefully wrapped the dough around metal cannoli forms and fried them until they were golden brown and crispy.

While the shells cooled, we prepared the filling. The peanut butter filling was a creamy mixture of peanut butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a touch of vanilla extract. It was sweet and rich, with just the right amount of nutty flavor to complement the crispy shells.

Once the shells had cooled completely, we carefully filled them with the peanut butter mixture, using a pastry bag to pipe it into each one. The finished cannoli were a sight to behold, with their golden brown shells and creamy peanut butter filling peeking out from each end.

As we sat down to enjoy our creations, my grandmother told me stories of her own childhood and the traditions that had been passed down through generations. She spoke of the importance of family and the joy that came from sharing meals together.

That day, as I savored the delicious cannoli with peanut butter filling, I knew that I had not only learned a new recipe, but had also gained a deeper appreciation for the art of cooking and the traditions that bind us together.

Since that day, I have made the recipe for Cannoli with Peanut Butter Filling many times, always thinking of my grandmother and the memories we shared in the kitchen. It has become a beloved treat in our family, a reminder of the love and laughter that comes from sharing a meal with those we hold dear.

And so, as I pass this recipe on to future generations, I hope that they too will feel the sense of amazement and wonder that I felt that day in my grandmother's kitchen, learning to make something truly special.