Cannoli Cake, an easy from scratch Italian cake with cannoli filling. This homemade cannoli cake is full of easy to find ingredients including ricotta, mascarpone, orange zest, and mini chocolate chips or change it up to your family's personal taste!
Prep time: PT60M
Cook time: PT25M
Total time: PT85M
Rating
4.63 stars (123 reviews)
Keywords
Christmas dessert, homemade cannoli cake recipe, Italian cake
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon fresh orange zest
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup milk
10 ounces ricotta cheese (drained overnight if needed (see notes below))
16 ounces mascarpone cheese (drained overnight if needed (see notes below))
3 cups powdered sugar ((possibly more if needed))
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
10 ounces mini chocolate chips
Categories
Dessert
Cuisine
Italian
Steps
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter and flour 2 9-inch round baking pans (or can substitute 8-inch round baking pans).
Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt in medium mixing bowl until well combined.
Beat together butter and granulated sugar in large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Then beat in fresh orange zest and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract until well combined.
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk into the butter and sugar mixture, beating after each addition until just combined.
Pour cake batter into prepared pans, spread to form even layers. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean. (If using 8 inch pans, baking time will be about 30-35 minutes.)
Cool cakes slightly then remove from pans and finish cooling completely on wire racks. When cakes are completely cool, split each layer in half horizontally with a long serrated knife to form 4 layers.
For frosting, beat together ricotta and mascarpone in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Beat in powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, orange juice, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
To assemble cake, place one layer on cake dish. Top with frosting then sprinkle about 2-3 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips on top. Repeat with remaining layers. Frost outside of cake and add remaining chocolate chips to outside of cake or as desired. Use remaining frosting to decorate or pipe as desired. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 608 kcal
Carbohydrates: 71 g
Protein: 9 g
Fat: 32 g
Saturated Fat: 19 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 98 mg
Sodium: 231 mg
Sugar: 52 g
Reviews
Moira on 2026-05-02 (5 stars): Hi Lisa,
I have two versions of your Cannoli Cake recipe. The first is from my ISDA newsletter. I did a web search and found your website. The recipe from the ISDA newsletter has a separate filling and butter cream frosting. Did you change the recipe? There’s no ricotta in the frosting, only in the filling. That was the only difference and I made it as the ISDA recipe was printed. I was delicious. I was just curious if you originally made it that way.
Alice on 2025-11-26 (5 stars): This came out amazing!!
Jack on 2025-10-22 (5 stars): came out great, Made it my own. Coated the side with crushed cannoli shells and topped with pistachios and chocolate chips
Marcela Colamonici on 2025-09-19 (5 stars): Absolutely love this recipe have made over 12x for family and parties celebration
Anna Joyner on 2025-04-13 (4 stars): I've made this 3 times, trying for accuracy and it still is very dry and I never overbake. We do LOVE the frosting, however! So light! I opted for a different vanilla cake recipe this time to go with this frosting. I'm sure the problem lies in the brand of ingredients or maybe it would help to label in grams versus cups?
Pamela Dean on 2024-10-24 (5 stars): I have made this cake following the recipe exactly as written, four times now, and every time it comes out PERFECT. Friends are begging for it! I’ve even made it in cupcake form and put cute little cannolis on top.❤️
Annette Lethin on 2024-09-25 (5 stars): Fabulous! It was a big hit with everyone!!!!’
Pat Hartzel on 2024-05-05 (5 stars): You probably over mixed your chesses. If you over beat them with a electric mixer, they will get watery. Adding extra powder sugar will not help.
