I’ll show you how to make a smooth, delicious cannoli dip and turn it into a gorgeous dessert board with plenty of dippers—cookies, cones, fruit, and more. It’s simple, fun, and guaranteed to disappear fast!

If you love the sweet, creamy flavor of cannoli but don’t want to fuss with frying shells, this Cannoli Dip is your new go-to dessert!

Made with smooth ricotta, powdered sugar, and vanilla, this easy no-bake dip is light, sweet, and totally irresistible.

Serve it on a fun dessert charcuterie board with your favorite dippers like ice cream cones, graham crackers, cinnamon sugar tortillas, and fresh strawberries.

No-Bake Cannoli Dip Dessert Board

Perfect for parties, holidays, or a simple treat night at home!

How to Make Cannoli Dip (printable recipe is below)

Ingredients:

• 16 oz cup ricotta cheese (pressed through a fine mesh strainer)
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 1- 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon dry milk (optional) is best for using if not serving the day prepared, so it remains thick.
• Options: mini chocolate chips, chopped pistachios

Instructions:

1. Strain the ricotta cheese using a cheese cloth can be used, or a nylon cheesecloth
2. Then press the ricotta through a fine mesh strainer for a smooth texture and release excess moisture.
3. Mix with room temperature cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. By hand or with a mixer.
4. Spoon into a serving bowl(s) and refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. Mix in the chocolate chips or chopped pistachios or sprinkle them on top.

Dipping Ideas for Cannoli Dip

This dip goes with just about anything! Try:

• Ice cream cones – break into pieces or serve mini cones for scooping.
• Graham crackers – honey or cinnamon work great.
• Cinnamon sugar tortillas – cut into triangles and bake until crisp.
• Fresh fruit – strawberries, apple slices, or banana chunks.
• Vanilla wafers or ladyfingers – classic Italian dessert pairings.

Cannoli Dip Tips

This Italian Dessert Dip is a huge hit!!!

• Smooth texture: Straining the ricotta with cheese cloth, or paper towel, is key to that velvety texture.
• Removing as much moisture as possible, so it doesn’t weep later.
• Make ahead: Mix the dip up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate.
• Adding dry milk helps the mixture stay thick and look great, so a pool of liquid doesn’t sit on top.
• Flavor twists: Add mini chocolate chips, orange zest, lemon zest, or almond extract for a flavor boost.
• Presentation: Arrange your dip and dippers on a board for a dessert charcuterie that looks amazing and serves easily.

Q&A

Q: Can I use mascarpone or cream cheese instead of ricotta?
A: Yes! Mascarpone will give a richer, creamier flavor. Cream cheese makes it more like a cheesecake dip.

Q: How do I make it thicker?
A: Add a little more powdered sugar or mix in mascarpone cheese, add the dry milk and allow it to rehydrate and absorb the excess moisture in the ricotta cheese.

Q: Can I make this dip ahead of time?
A: Absolutely. Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir before serving.

Q: What can I serve Cannoli Dip with for a party?
A: Arrange it as part of a dessert charcuterie board with a mix of crunchy, sweet, and fresh dippers, it looks stunning, and everyone gets to customize their own bite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• No baking required
• Ready in minutes
• Crowd-pleasing and portable
• Fun to serve and totally customizable

SEO keywords: Cannoli Dip, Easy No Bake Dessert, Cannoli Dip Recipe, Dessert Charcuterie Board, Cannoli Dip with Ricotta, Italian Dessert Dip, Sweet Dip for Parties

This makes a fun to-go treat! Pack it up in a small container, keeping the dip and cones, crackers, separate so they stay dry.

More fun recipes to try, these are all chocolate!

• Chocolate Funnel Cake
• Instant Chocolate Mousse
• Homemade Chocolate Syrup
• Chocolate Cannoli Cones
• Chocolate Oatmeal
• Chocolate Gravy
• Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting
• Chocolate Espresso Pudding Pie
• Chocolate Bread Pudding
• Old Fashioned Egg Cream Chocolate Soda
• Chocolate Spaghetti

Print

How to Make a Cannoli Dip and Dessert Charcuterie Board

This amazing and simple no-bake cannoli dip is the perfect dessert!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword cheese, dip, sweet

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Diane Schmidt – createdbydiane.com

Ingredients

• 16 oz ricotta cheese
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/2-1 cup chopped pistachios (optional)
• 1 tablespoon dry milk (optional) This will help the dip stay thick without water releasing as it sits, great if you don't eat it the day you make it.

Instructions

• Strain the ricotta cheese using cheesecloth (cotton or nylon, I linked options in the post), allow it to rest 15 minutes, then squeeze out the excess liquid (about a 1/4 cup may come out)
• Then press the ricotta through a super fine mesh strainer. It should be really smooth.
• Mix the ricotta cheese with room temperature cream cheese, powdered sugar (and dry milk if using) and vanilla, mix by hand or with a mixer.
• Place the cannoli dip in a serving dish or dishes. The chocolate chips and pistachios can be mixed in or just put them on top.
• Place the mixture in the fridge or serve immediately.
• Serve with cannoli chips, graham crackers, pieces of ice cream cones, cinnamon sugar tortillas/chips, and strawberries

The post How to Make a Cannoli Dip and Dessert Charcuterie Board first appeared on Created by Diane.

There are a few ways to flavor this frosting, to get the strawberry flavor you want.

I prefer using fresh strawberries, making a thick pudding type of puree (strawberry curd) then adding it to the frosting.

I have a few other versions, so you can easily choose which strawberry flavor will work for you best.

Continue reading: Strawberry Buttercream

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Chocolate and fruit is some sort of magical combination…

sweet and tasty,

juicy and delicious

and you’ll be happy to know it’s simple to make.

The better the fruit the better the results, which means great tasting fruit will taste best…

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The post Chocolate Covered Fruit first appeared on Created by Diane.

It’s no secret cream cheese frosting is delicious, but add the great tasting flavor of real strawberry and it’s even a bigger winner!

Chocolate and strawberry together are a winning combination. I’m always looking for a simple cake and frosting combination that doesn’t take all day to make and tastes amazing. 

As with any fruit-flavored recipe, be sure the strawberries have great flavor, that will ensure a great result here.

I can’t resist the flavor of sweet strawberries, when they are in season and ripe, they taste amazing! You can usually smell them before you see them if they are ripe and delicious.

Continue reading: Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

The post Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting first appeared on Created by Diane.

Whatever way you decide to enjoy this drink, your taste buds are sure to be delighted. Use the syrup or fresh strawberries in Italian Cream Sodas, Margaritas, or use it in Strawberry Milk for an indulgent childhood treat.

Alternately for a less sweet, lower carb option, you can simply muddle whole, ripe strawberries at the bottom of the glass, skip the lemonade and use fresh lemon juice and add in the seltzer, use lemon seltzer if you’d like.

And experimentation is a good way to keep your drink index fresh and never get bored with one thing. I have many mouth-watering varieties of syrup recipes which can be added to all kinds of beverages to spice it up, like this cherry margarita which is also a great alternative this time of year. Embrace summer fruit and enjoy!

Your kitchen is your creative world, explore, and have fun! And now on to the sweet stuff.

Continue reading: How to Make Strawberry Bourbon Lemonade

The post How to Make Strawberry Bourbon Lemonade first appeared on Created by Diane.

No more orange juice only mimosas…. kick up your mimosa game with these, they’re irresistible!

Originally named after the yellow-flowered mimosa plant, the combination of sparkling wine and orange juice has been popular in Spain for centuries, eventually becoming synonymous with brunches all over the U.S. And if oranges are delicious in them, why not strawberries?

Continue reading: Strawberry Lemonade Mimosa

The post Strawberry Lemonade Mimosa first appeared on Created by Diane.

This flag cake will put smiles on everyone’s faces…

and with smaller celebrating this cake will yield 8-10 servings that are a nice size without being huge, if you want large slices you’ll get 6 slices.

I love simple recipe and this cake can be mixed with a bowl and whisk, and since it’s not huge you won’t need a few strawberries and a handful of blueberries.

The frosting on this cake is so delicious, it is made with whipped cream, but it won’t go flat or watery… it’s stabilized with a little cream cheese and OMG it gives the whipped cream a thicker texture and a cheesecake flavor that is so yummy.’

If you’re looking for a larger cake be sure to check out my Vanilla Layer Cake, it’s perfect for large gatherings, parties, great to take to the office to share. It’s 2 13×9 cakes, so plenty of cake for everyone and so delicious it’ll get rave reviews!

Continue reading: American Flag Cake

The post American Flag Cake first appeared on Created by Diane.

There are so many reasons that strawberry frosting is bound to be on top of your next dessert, the flavor, and ohhh… the gorgeous color, it compliments so many items, from vanilla baked items, chocolate items, even red velvet, and strawberry is a great flavor combination.

With so many delicious options on strawberry flavored frosting, choose which one you think will be best based on your taste preferences, how you’ll be serving it, and the texture you’re looking for.

Continue reading: Strawberry Frosting Recipes

The post Strawberry Frosting Recipes first appeared on Created by Diane.

This cake starts off with just one single layer 8″ round vanilla cake.

It’s a great size cake for when you want cake, but don’t necessarily need to have a cake sitting around for a week But it really all depends on how many servings you’ll be cutting this into. 

Since this is a single layer cake, made into a layer cake each slice will have a smaller amount of cake than a traditional 2 layer cake which I love about it.

Continue reading: Strawberry Cake

The post Strawberry Cake first appeared on Created by Diane.

Most people have heard of lemon curd… it’s often on top of tarts, at high tea for scones, and sometimes with mini meringue topped shortbread bites that we all find irresistible, right… tell me I’m not the only one!

If you haven’t had fruit curd, it’s a dessert spread, and for those of us who have had some whether it’s lemon or another flavor, we find it irresistible! 

It’s smooth and delicious and full of flavor. 

This strawberry curd is made with delicious fresh strawberries, the riper the better! Remember the better the fruit tastes the better anything you make it will be.

Continue reading: Strawberry Curd

The post Strawberry Curd first appeared on Created by Diane.