Cannoli

Ingredients

• •4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
• •2 tablespoon sugar
• •1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• •3 tablespoon butter, softened
• •2 egg yolks
• •3⁄4 cup white wine
• •canola oil or shortening, for frying
• •4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• •1 1⁄2 cups powdered sugar
• •1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• •1⁄3 cup finely chopped maraschino cherry
• •1⁄4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
• •1 cup heavy whipping cream, optional

Steps

1. 1To make shells, mix flour, sugar and salt in a bowl.
2. 2Cut in butter.
3. 3Add egg yolks; stir with a fork.
4. 4Stir in wine, 1 tablespooon at a time, with a fork until dough clings together.
5. 5Form a ball with the dough and let stand for 30 minutes.
6. 6Roll dough almost paper thin, on a well-floured surface.
7. 7Using the rim of a margarita glass (about 3-4 inches across), make circle imprints into rolled dough. Using a paring knife, make sure circles are cut all the way through.
8. 8Roll each circle of dough around a metal cannoli tube, overlaping the ends and press to seal, flaring out the edges slightly.
9. 9Fry one or two at a time in hot melted shortening (about 360°F) for approximately 1 minute, turning to brown all sides.
10. 10Remove from hot grease and drain on paper towels, seam side down.
11. 11Let cool a minute or two before trying to remove metal tube.
12. 12To remove the tube hold cannoli shell down on the paper towel and carefully slide the tube out one end.
13. 13Leave cannoil shells on paper towel, seam side down to cool completely.
14. 14~NOTE~Shells can be stored in airtight containers and made several days prior to filling.
15. 15For filling, drain ricotta cheese over cheesecloth if ricotta is watery.
16. 16Combine ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until combined.
17. 17Squeeze Maraschino cherries with paper towels to remove all liquid. (If you don't squeeze them good, you will have a pink water filling!).
18. 18Stir in cherries and chocolate chips into the ricotta mixture, being careful not to over mix.
19. 19For a lighter filling, you may whip 1 cup of heavy whipping cream to form stiff peaks, and fold into filling mixture at this step.
20. 20Chill filling for about 30 minutes before piping into cooled cannoli shells.
21. 21You may garnish the cannoli by sprinkling powdered sugar on top.
22. 22Whipped cream, a cherry, and shaved chocolate can also be used to garnish the top.
23. 23Keep refrigerated until time of serving.