Mini Cannoli Cream Cupsyummmmm Recipes

Steps:

• For cups: preheat oven 425 degrees. unroll pie crust on lightly floured surface and sprinkle the tops with the natural sugar and cinnamon. lightly roll over it with rolling pin so that the sugar and cinnamon are pressed into the dough.
• with a 2.5 or 3" round biscuit cookie cutter, cut circles and press them inside an ungreased mini muffin pan to create the pastry cup.
• bake 10 minutes or until cups are golden.remove from oven and allow to cool. once cool, they can be filled.
• for filling: in a large bowl with an electric mixer combine all ingredients except the choc chips and mix well till creamy. place filling in a 1 gal plastic storage bag and chill while you make the cups.
• remove filling from fridge, cut the bottom of corner of bag and pipe a little less then a tablespoon into the cannoli cups. sprinkle with mini choc chips and dust with powdered sugar.
• tips: for a thicker filling, you can strain the ricotta in cheese cloth place in a bowl and covered overnite.
• filling can be made a day or two ahead of time and kept in fridge.
• a variation in the cannolie cream that works well is 1/4 teaspoon almond or orange extract.
• other toppings that go well are chopped toasted almonds, choc sprinkles, candied orange pieces, chopped candied red cherries as well as a sprinkle of cinnamon.
• (i didnt have natural sugar when making these so i just used combo reg sugar and cinnamon).

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer combine all ingredients for the filling except the chocolate chips and mix well until creamy. Place the filling in a 1-gallon plastic storage bag and chill while you make the cups. Filling may seem thin but will firm up slightly when it's refrigerated. 2. Heat oven to 425°F. Unroll the pie crusts onto a lightly floured surface and sprinkle the top of each crust with the natural sugar and the cinnamon. Lightly roll over it with a rolling pin so that sugar and cinnamon are pressed into the dough. 3. With a 2 1/2-3 inch round biscuit cutter or cookie cutter, cut out circles and lightly press them inside an ungreased mini muffin or mini cupcake pan to create a pastry cup. 4. Bake for about 10 minutes or until cups are golden. Remove from oven and allow cups to cool. Once cups are cool they can be removed from tin and filled. Remove filling from refrigerator, cut one of the bottom corners off the bag and pipe a little less than a tablespoon of filling into the cooled cannoli cups. 5. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, dust with powdered sugar and serve. Tips: Cups should be filled shortly before they are eaten so the don't get soggy. If you wish to make them ahead of time, you can make the cups and the cream and keep them separate. Once you are ready to eat, you can fill, decorate and serve.

Steps:

• For cannoli cream, in a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, sugar, and vanilla.
• In a small chilled bowl, beat the whipping cream with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (do not over-beat.)
• By hand, gently stir the whipped cream and about half of the chocolate pieces into the ricotta mixture. (If desired, mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead; refrigerate, covered.).
• To serve, divide strawberries among 8 dessert dishes.
• Spoon cannoli cream over the berries.
• Sprinkle with remaining chocolate pieces.