Chocolate Anise Cannoli Recipes

CHOCOLATE CANNOLI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whip 1 egg with the sweet wine and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Gradually add the flour (you may not need it all) until it comes together into a ball of dough. Knead for a few minutes, or until smooth and silky. Wrap in plastic wrap and leave to rest for 1 hour.
• Pour the sunflower oil into a large, sturdy pan on a medium-high heat, and leave it to get to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F) on a thermometer. Meanwhile, roll the dough into a large sausage about 4 centimeters (1 1/2 inches) in diameter. Keeping the rest of the dough covered with a clean, damp tea towel, slice off a 1/2-centimeter-thick (1/4-inch-thick) disc and roll into a ball, then flatten out on a flour-dusted surface to 2 millimeters (1/16 inch) thick. Lightly dust your metal cannoli tubes with flour (or use lightly oiled dried cannelloni tubes), then wrap a circle of dough around each, sealing the edges with beaten egg. Working in batches, carefully lower into the hot oil for just 1 minute, to get lightly golden. Remove to a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain for 3 minutes, then squeeze the moulds and gently slide off the cannoli. Repeat until you've used up all the dough.
• Melt the chocolate. Pound the hazelnuts in a pestle and mortar until fine. Drain the ricotta, then blitz in a food processor with the vanilla paste, honey, cocoa and grappa until just smooth. Spoon into a piping bag with a star nozzle, and twist the bag to give tension, then pipe the filling into the cannoli. Drizzle with chocolate, sprinkle with nuts and serve.

MARVELOUS CANNOLI CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions, using two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon and extracts; stir in chocolate. In another bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese, confectioners' sugar, milk and extracts on medium speed until creamy (do not overmix)., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup filling. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining filling over top of cake to within 1 in. of edges. Frost sides and top edge of cake with 2 cups frosting., Press almonds into sides of cake. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Refrigerate until serving.