I just posted my Chocolate Potato Truffles Recipe and was pleasantly surprised to find the texture of the filling to be very similar to the traditional ricotta cannoli filling, but this filling contains walnuts. What a great alternative cannoli filling this has made! Often you add chopped pistachio nuts at the ends of the cannoli, therefore I used chopped walnuts on these. The walnuts in the filling make a good substitute for the chopped chocolate in the traditional cannoli filling, but you can also use chocolate if you wish. I have recently used chocolate mousse as a filling on Easter and everyone really enjoyed it. My husband loved it and I know the rest of my family will go crazy over this one. I am going to send the photo below to my sister just to make her drool.
You can create all sorts of variations to this filing. You can use the traditional pistachios or candied cherries for the ends. You can also use chocolate shavings. The walnuts provide a sweetness and texture that is indescribable.
I list the recipe below:
Ingredients
Filling:
- 1 -1/2 cups left over mashed potatoes
- 1 stick butter or (You probably can make this dairy free using a little Smart Balance shortening.)
- 1 teaspoon spoonable stevia
- 1/4 cup blue agave syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup +2 Tablespoons cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Outside Coating
- extra unsweetened cocoa powder, chopped walnuts or melted chocolate for coating
Optional additions to filling:
Instead of walnuts you can use:
- shredded coconut
- chopped pecans
- candied cherries for filling (if you wish a healthier version try Amarena Italian Cherries – candied in Amarena (sour black cherry) syrup, not the typical artificial ingredients.)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except walnuts into electric mixing bowl.
- Beat on a low speed at first to prevent the cocoa powder from flying all over. Then increase a little bit at a time until creamy. If your butter has not been softened this may take awhile.
- Fold in walnuts with spatula.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- With a butter knife push the filling into one side of the cannoli shell and then turn it around and fill the other side.
- Roll in chopped walnuts or your favorite garnish.
Hints
Do not fill the cannoli shells until you are ready to serve or the shell become soggy.
Dust the shell with powdered sugar, if desired.
You’ll find the gluten-free cannoli shell recipe here: http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/cannoli-shells
will hopefull try this holiday season