Cannoli are Sicilian pastry desserts. The singular is cannolo (or in the Sicilian language cannolu), meaning "little tube", with the etymology stemming from the Latin "canna", or reed. Cannoli originated in Sicily and are an essential part of Sicilian cuisine. They are also popular in Italian American cuisine and in the United States are known as a general Italian pastry, while they are specifically Sicilian in origin (in Italy, they're commonly known as "cannoli siciliani", Sicilian cannoli).
Cannoli consist of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta. They range in size from "cannulicchi", no bigger than a finger, to the fist-sized proportions typically found in Piana degli Albanesi, south of Palermo, Sicily.
Contents[hide] |
Originating in the Palermo area, cannoli were historically prepared as a treat during Carnevale season, possibly as a fertility symbol; one legend assigns their origin to the harem of Caltanissetta. The dessert eventually became a year-round staple throughout what is now Italy. Cannoli are sometimes called cannolis, however this is not the correct term. "Cannoli" is the proper plural, and "cannolo" the singular.
The versions with which Americans are most familiar tend to involve variations on the original concept. This is possibly due to adaptations made by Italians who emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s and discovered limited availability of certain ingredients. The cannoli sold in Italian-American bakeries today usually still contain ricotta, but mascarpone is a less common alternative. Sometimes the filling is a simple custard of sugar, milk, and cornstarch. In either case, the cream is often flavored with vanilla or orange flower water and a light amount of cinnamon. Chopped pistachios, semi-sweet chocolate bits, and candied citrus peel or cherries are often still included, dotting the open ends of the pastry. Pink sprinkles are sometimes used as a garnish for cannoli in the United States. As an indication of how popular they are, there is a famous scene from the 1972 film The Godfather in which Peter Clemenza says to Rocco, who has killed Paulie in the car: "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." They also make an appearance in 1990's The Godfather Part III, where Connie Corleone uses poisoned cannoli to kill Don Altobello. More recently, the HBO T.V. mafia saga The Sopranos regularly saw cannoli gifted from one character to another.
Making cannoli is a lengthy, but easy process. The shell is a dough made of wheat, butter, sugar and other ingredients. It is formed into an oval, wrapped around a dough ring and fried. The shells can be filled with cream by using a spoon or pastry bag. If not served quickly, the shells will lose their crisp texture. The shells should be filled with cream immediately before serving.