Three glorious layers come together for the ultimate cannoli experience. These super easy Chocolate Cannoli Bars are still decadent and plus they look super fancy. This is where you can go crazy with the pistachios. Pistachios = Fancy.
So I think I finally got the kiddos on a schedule. Oliver goes to summer camp every morning from 8 to about 1:30. Super amen to that! Then it’s just Jovi and me for what we call “mommy camp”, which is just Jovi watching people play with Play Doh on Youtube. Is that a thing? There are like hundreds of videos of people making cupcakes with Play Doh, and her little two year old brain is hooked. Then around 11 am I smell something funky, change that diaper and she’s down for a nap. Probably dreaming about Play Doh, I’m sure. So for about an hour and a half it really turns into mommy camp. I catch up on the blog, bake, and just soak in the sounds of nothing. I love it.
Getting settled here has been a challenge because you know, Dubai. Dubai is so crazy. But a good crazy. It’s a total adventure and we’re loving it! There have been a few bumps along the way. We moved into a villa last month, which was in no way ready for a family with kids to move into. There was a huge termite infestation upstairs (let’s collectively say “EWWW”) in one of the wardrobes, leaks from the water heater in one bathroom causing mold, the banisters on the stairs were super unsafe and needed to be secured…the list goes on. Things are slowly getting fixed because remember, Dubai. We’re on Dubai time right now.
For a moment, let’s get onto Yummy Crumble time with these Chocolate Cannoli Bars. They were so simple to make and I can honestly say that this has easily become one of my favorites. I mentioned three glorious layers, remember? First up is the bottom. A chewy sugar cookie layer with almond extract, a moist middle cookie layer with ricotta, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chunks and pistachios, and a rich dark chocolate ganache layer drowns the top. And don’t forget the fancy pistachios!
Chocolate Cannoli Bars
Ingredients
Cannoli Bars
- 1 18.25 oz. pkg. white cake mix, divided
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 4 large eggs divided
- 1 16 oz. container (2 cups) whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/2 tsp. pure almond extract
- 1 1/2 cup chopped dark or semi sweet chocolate
- 1 cup roasted pistachios chopped
Chocolate Ganache
- 12 oz bag of dark or semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Instructions
Cannoli Bars
- Start by preheating your oven to 350 F and lining a 9×13 baking dish with foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray or rub generously with butter.
- Take 1/2 a cup of the cake mix and set aside. You will be using this to mix into the second layer of the bars.
- In a bowl, mix the remaining cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg with an electric mixer until a dough forms.
- Press the dough onto the bottom of the pan.
- In a large bowl, blend together the ricotta, sweetened condensed milk, and almond extract until fully combined.
- Mix in the 1/2 cup cake mix and 3 eggs until smooth. Fold in the chocolate chunks and 1/2 of the pistachios.
- Spread over the layer of dough.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes being careful to not over bake. Take out of the oven when the middle is barely set.
- Place in refrigerator to fully cool.
Chocolate Ganache
- In a medium bowl, place the chocolate chips and set aside.
- In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium low until a low bowl just starts.
- Take off the heat and pour over chocolate chips.
- Carefully fold until the chocolate is melted and glossy.
- Pour over the cannoli bars and sprinkle with the rest of the pistachios and place in fridge overnight or for at least 4 hours.
Some more fancy desserts:
Peanut Butter Jelly Cookie Bars
Oh my goodness, these look ah-mazing! I was actually thinking about doing a cannoli ice cream on the blog next week – maybe I should make these first (you know…market research 🙂 ) I love your creative recipes and mouth-watering photography!
Lindsay, you should totally make these! I sooo want to see your cannoli ice cream!
These look awesome! Love the pistachios 🙂
Thank you so much Medha!
These look beyond awesome!! Love the pistachios, yum. Dubai sounds like such an adventure! Glad you’re having a good time. 🙂
Thanks Rachel!
I’ve actually never tried cannoli before, but I certainly need to because these look absolutely delicious! Pistachios sound amazing in this!
You would love these!
Did you just say ricotta in there? I love ricotta, it’s such a useful ingredient and you’ve used it to perfection in these sweet, beautiful bars. Those pistachios look such an enticing shade of green too.
Thank you Jane! I’m a full on ricotta addict 🙂
What a fabulous idea! I love cannoli but the shells are such an effort to make…this seems like a great alternative!
Thank you so much Anja 🙂
I would like to make these for my daughter’s wedding. Can you freeze them?
I havent tried freezing them, but I’m sure its possible. maybe try freezing them before you put the ganache on them, and then when they defrost, pour the chocolate on top and sprinkle the pistachios.
Wow! I love playing on prominent foods that’s why this cannoli idea sounds absolutely fabulous to me! I can imagine how good the texture was! Great job!
Thank you so much Ben! They were probably my favorite bars ever and totally addicting!
I can’t even begin to describe what my taste buds are doing right now. I mean really! Canoli bars! That’s amazing and I’m making them TODAY! Beautiful post also. Dubai sounds interesting and exotic.
I hope you enjoy them! and yes, Dubai is probably one of the most amazing places I’ve lived. 🙂