These tasty Cannoli Stuffed Strawberries are healthy twist on a classic cannoli!
Hi friends!
I always get so sad during early winter when the berries at the grocery store are expensive and not that tasty. It's like a berry drought and as a fruit-lover it's a rough time of year! When the juicy Florida strawberries return to the stores in February, March and April I get giddy like a schoolgirl and buy pint after pint. I'll bring them up to my nose and just take in the fragrance before even eating them.
Many moons ago I posted a Classic Strawberry Cannoli recipe using those fresh berries.... but since them I've been brainstorming a good way to get that flavor I crave in a slightly healthier package. Enter these delightful berries stuffed with a creamy and slightly sweet ricotta cannoli filling. I call them Cannoli Stuffed Strawberries and you've got to give them a try!
These Cannoli Stuffed Strawberries are also low-carb and gluten-free!
Ever since I went to Italy, I've been full-on obsessed with cannoli. If I see them on the menu at a real Italian place, I have a hard time saying no. The crispy shell and creamy, sweet ricotta cheese get me every time.
Some healthier desserts feel like you are missing out... but not with these Cannoli Stuffed Strawberries! The sweet berry is in some ways even better than that fried cookie shell.
Now for the sake of full disclosure, there is a little bit of real powdered sugar in this. But just a little.... it's just enough to give you the sweetness you normally get with a ricotta filling.
The strawberries pair perfectly with the creamy filling. You can either go with low-fat ricotta or full fat... depending on your views on that sort of thing! The full fat is a lot richer and the low cal is less calories... both are fabulous. Top them with mini chocolate chips and pistachios, which are classicly Italian.
With berry season in full swing, these are the perfect little spring or summer treat. Can't you just imagine these at a Memorial Day or 4th of July party?
I hope you'll give these Cannoli Stuffed Strawberries a try!
Cannoli Stuffed Strawberries recipe
Ingredients
- 1 dozen large strawberries
- 1 cup part skim or full fat ricotta
- 1 ½ tablespoons powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 3-4 drops lemon juice
Toppings:
- mini dark chocolate chips & crushed pistachios
Instructions
- Prepare the berries by cutting the bottom off of the strawberry just enough so it will stand up on it's own. Cut the top off of the berry and carve out the middle.
- Mix the ricotta, powdered sugar, almond extract and lemon juice in a bowl.
- Put ricotta mixture in a piping bag or zipper bag with the corner cut off.
- Pipe ricotta mixture into berries.
- Top with the chocolate and pistachios.
Notes
Nutrition
Also try these strawberry recipes...
- Strawberry Cannoli
- Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats
- Strawberry Mint Nice Cream
- Strawberry Basil Smoothie
- Strawberry Salsa
Like these Cannoli Stuffed Strawberries? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board!
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by! I'll be back tomorrow with a weekly recap.
Your turn!
Do you like healthier desserts or would you rather just have the classic one?
Ellie says
Such a cute and delicious idea!
Pam Greer says
I meant to rate these! They look and sound amazing!
Pam Greer says
This is genius!! I have a couple of cartons of strawberries in the fridge and I can't wait to try it!
Brian Jones says
I'm not much of a dessert eater so cannoli are usually the sort of thing I would avoid, these however are the perfect mid-afternoon nibble, a big tray after a BBQ would be the perfect finish!
Claudia says
Yum, gorgeous idea! Totally love it.
Thanks for sharing! Claudia
Caroline says
I've seen these before and always thought they were a nice idea - in fact I'd probably prefer them to actual cannoli as I love strawberries.
Heidi says
These look great! Just wondering what you use to carve out the strawberries.
Thank you
JulieWunder says
I just used a really small knife, but you could also try this---> https://amzn.to/2JMpixK strawberry huller if you didn't trust your knife skills! I hope you enjoy them.
Erinn says
YUM! I love cannolis - there's just something about that rich creamy filling! I could eat a whole bowl of it by itself! Perfect for Mother's Day!
Maureen @ Maureen Gets Real says
YUM! This sounds amazing Julie!
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups says
Yum! I’m totally going to make these for a summer bbq
Miz Helen says
Hope you enjoyed your feature at Full Plate Thursday this week and your new Red Plate. Have a great day and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen says
What a great summer appetizer, can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday and come back real soon.
Have a great day,
Miz Helen
JulieWunder says
Thanks Miz Helen!!
Sarah says
Oh but we do have some ricotta I picked up to make something for my dad this coming weekend but didn't realize it expires before then, totally have to make these for the girls!
JulieWunder says
yay! They will love it!
Tina muir says
As soon as I saw the pic, I had a feeling it was gonna be you! What a great idea Julie 🙂 Yum!
JulieWunder says
Yay! Thanks Tina! I'm glad me recipes look like me 🙂
Farrah says
Ahhh! I've seen these on pinterest and have always wanted to make em', but haven't gotten around to it yet! They look so good! *-*
Carole from Carole's Chatter says
And these are fabulous too!
Cristina @ I Say Nomato says
These look amazing! Cannolis are so delicious, and I love this lighter twist.
JulieWunder says
Thank you! Great to see you today!
karen says
hubby would love me forever if I made this..thanks for sharing. Stopping by from #FullPlateThursday
JulieWunder says
Haha! Yeah, mine was pretty pleased with me 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today!
Jess @hellotofit says
This looks like an awesome treat!! What else can we put cannoli filling in... 😉
JulieWunder says
I know! We should have a cannoli party 🙂
Beverley Cheng says
this is such a perfect snack for when friends come over - definitely will have to make this soon. also i hate the middle of strawberries (its a weird aversion i have), so love that this takes it out completely!!
JulieWunder says
Haha! So this is really like the best possible recipe! Thanks for stopping by today!
Danyelle Musselman says
These look amazing! And I love that they're not totally sinful 🙂
JulieWunder says
Yay! Nice trick, huh!?
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
What a perfect summer dessert! Can't wait to try these!
Annette says
These look absolutely delicious. A much healthier choice than the fried crust of a regular cannoli. I will have to try them.
Heather@hungryforbalance says
These look so pretty and so delicious!
Andrea says
Yes! I love cannoli and I love strawberries. Such a great idea for my farmer's market strawberries this week.
JulieWunder says
They are so good this time of year!
Jamie says
Holy cow these look amazing! I want to make these for the next BBQ I go to! I feel like it's a nice balance of healthy and dessert! I prefer to eat a healthy dessert, but often times if I'm craving a piece of cake, nothing will fix that except for a BIG piece of cake! Haha.
JulieWunder says
I totally agree. Don't get in between me an chocolate cake or ice cream! haha!
Joanna @Makingmine says
Oh my goodness, these are just perfect for summer! I can't get enough of strawberries lately! YUM!
JulieWunder says
Me either! I love this time of year!
Annmarie says
These just blew my mind...YUMMY!
JulieWunder says
Yay! That is always to goal 🙂
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says
OMG, these look amazing! So bummed I don't have any strawberries at the moment! Need some ASAP!!
JulieWunder says
I'm on my over 🙂 haha!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says
Such a cute idea for a party! Yummy 🙂
JulieWunder says
Thanks Deborah!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
I bet this would be really good with cherries too!
JulieWunder says
Totally would!!!
Blane Sherer says
Those look pretty tasty !
JulieWunder says
They are!