Cannoli Filling (#1 And # 2)

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ricotta cheese, drained (about 4 cups)
• 4 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips (i prefer using the "mini" chips)
• 2 tablespoons candied orange peel, cut fine (optional)
• 3 fluid ounces creme de cacao (or liqueur of your choice,amaretto also works well)
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 6 cups ricotta cheese (about 3 pounds)
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, grated (optional) or 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 tablespoons finely chopped candied citron peel
• 4 tablespoons finely chopped candied orange peel
• 6 glace cherries, cut in half (for decoration) (optional)
• confectioners' sugar, for sprinkling on shells (optional)

Recipe

• 1 cannoli filling # 1: (will fill 8 large cannoli):.
• 2 cream drained ricotta until very smooth.
• 3 add chocolate chips, liqueur, orange peel and sugar; mix very well.
• 4 chill filling until needed.
• 5 using a very small spoon or pastry bag, fill cannoli shells.
• 6 refrigerate until ready to serve.
• 7 cannoli filling # 2 (will fill 10-12 cannoli):.
• 8 in a bowl, sift together the sugar, cinnamon and cocoa (if using).
• 9 mix ricotta well (until creamy) with sifted dry ingredients.
• 10 add vanilla, fruit peels and grated chocolate (if not using the cocoa); mix until all is well blended.
• 11 chill mixture until cold before filling shells.
• 12 when shells are filled, smooth the filling evenly with the end of the shell, and decorate each end with a cherry half.
• 13 lightly sprinkle the filled shells with confectioner's sugar.
• 14 keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
• 15 note: cannoli can also be filled with pasticciera cream (pastry cream) or tortoni ice cream.