This easy Cannoli Dip captures the flavor of an authentic Italian bakery using just five ingredients. Thick, creamy, and ready in 10 minutes, it’s a perfect dessert dip to share—or keep all to yourself.
You will love this Cannoli Dip Recipe with Mascarpone
If you love cannoli filling but want a faster, shareable option, this Cannoli Dip is for you. It skips cream cheese in favor of mascarpone and whole milk ricotta for an authentic, delicate flavor. The result is a lightly sweet, vanilla-forward dip studded with mini chocolate chips—rich but not overpowering.
This recipe comes together in about 10 minutes with only five main ingredients. It’s ideal for last-minute gatherings, dessert boards, or as an easy indulgence after dinner.
Rebecca’s Recipe Review
Taste: Lightly sweet with a mild vanilla profile.
Texture: Thick and creamy.
Ease: 4/10 (simple steps but requires draining the ricotta)
Pros: Authentic Italian flavor in minutes using common ingredients.
Cons: Ricotta needs draining first, though that’s a quick step.
Would I Make This Again? Yes!
Cannoli Dip Recipe Ingredients
This quick dip uses just five main ingredients:
- Whole milk ricotta cheese
- Mascarpone cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Mini chocolate chips
Optional add-ins: lemon or orange zest for brightness, or chopped pistachios for texture and color.
Easy Variations
- To make the dip sweeter, fold in up to 1/2 cup additional powdered sugar. Don’t add more than that or the sugar will dominate the flavor.
- For a lighter, smoother texture, gently fold in 1/2 cup of whipped heavy cream after mixing the base. The photos show the dip without whipped cream.
How To Make Cannoli Dip
- Drain the ricotta: spread it thinly across four layers of paper towels, then cover with four more layers and press gently to remove excess moisture. Depending on your towels, you may need to repeat this step once.
- Combine the drained ricotta, softened mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Mix until smooth and creamy, then fold in the mini chocolate chips.
- If desired, fold in 1/2 cup of whipped heavy cream for a lighter texture.
- Serve with fresh fruit, cookies, graham crackers, waffle cones, cannoli shells, or vanilla wafers.
How To Serve Cannoli Dip
Arrange a variety platter for dipping: strawberries, graham crackers, broken waffle cones or cannoli shells, vanilla wafers, or biscotti all pair well. Offering several dippers creates a fun, crowd-pleasing presentation.
How to store leftover Sweet Cannoli Dip
Store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. The dip will firm up when chilled; bring it to room temperature for 15 minutes and rebeat with a hand mixer to restore a creamy consistency before serving.
More crowd-pleasing dip recipes
- Brownie S’mores Dip – Skillet-baked brownie batter topped with chocolate and toasted marshmallows.
- Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip – Rich, cheesy, and garlicky, ideal for parties.
- Caramel Apple Pie Dip – Apple chunks in a warm caramel and brown sugar sauce.
- Pepperoni Pizza Dip – Savory, cheesy, and perfect for bread or crackers.
- German Chocolate Cake Batter Dip – Three-ingredient dip ready in under five minutes.
Cannoli Dip with Mascarpone
Ingredients
- 1½ cups whole milk ricotta cheese about 1 (15 oz.) container
- 8 ounces mascarpone cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy cream whipped, optional
Instructions
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Spread the ricotta thinly over four layers of paper towels. Cover with four more layers and press gently to remove excess moisture. Repeat if the ricotta remains too wet.
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Scrape the drained ricotta into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Add mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Mix until smooth, then fold in the mini chocolate chips.
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Optional: fold in 1/2 cup whipped heavy cream for a lighter texture.
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Serve immediately with your preferred dippers.
Notes
- Paper towels are more effective than cheesecloth for draining ricotta because they absorb moisture across the surface instead of trapping it inside.
- The recipe calls for more vanilla than some versions—this balances and smooths the flavor. Reduce it if you prefer a subtler vanilla note.
- Mascarpone is closer to traditional cannoli filling than cream cheese and has a milder, more authentic flavor.
- Chill the dip for up to one week. It will firm up when cold—bring to room temperature and rebeat with a mixer to soften before serving.
- Although ingredient volumes add up to about 4½ cups, draining the ricotta reduces volume; the final yield is roughly 4 cups of dip.
- To sweeten further, add up to 1/2 cup more powdered sugar. More than that may overwhelm the filling’s balance.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
Share your results on Instagram @sugarandsoulco and tag the account to show how your dip turned out. Enjoy!