Gingerbread Pizzelle Cannoli with Cardamom Filling is a great twist on traditional cannoli. It has the great flavor of gingerbread with a hint of cardamom.

You might have noticed I love gingerbread. It’s actually the deep molasses flavor that I love. I use it at Christmas time for gingerbread marshmallows, gingerbread men sandwiches with chai buttercream, and ginger snaps. But I also use it for it’s rich flavor in my bbq sauce for the world’s best bbq pork ribs and my baked beans.

I also have loved experimenting with pizzelles. After buying my mini pizzelle maker, I had to use it (wink wink). It has taken some time to get the pizzelles perfect. So I had to play.

I also love making cannoli with the pizzelles. Cannoli are more difficult to make and more time consuming. So making cannoli with pizzelles is the way to go for me.

Over the last few weeks, I have asked a ton of questions of my friends on Facebook. I asked questions about traditions in their families, what things would take like if they had a flavor, and what their favorite Christmas foods are. I needed some inspiration.

My friends have some great ideas. One friend in particular has helped me a lot with flavors. She is a chef. I wish I had the knowledge she does. But at least I have her as a friend. I needed a flavor for the filling of these Gingerbread Pizzelle Cannoli. She suggested cardamom. Perfect! I love the flavor of cardamom. It has a great citrus flavor. It pairs well with the gingerbread.

I associate cardamom with Sweden because the Swedish Tea Ring has this spice. But it actually originates in southern India. Ancient Egyptians used it as a tooth cleaner. They would chew on the pods. It was used as a perfume by the Greeks and Romans. The Vikings found cardamom in Constantinople and took it to Scandinavia. And that would be why it ends up in the tea ring.

I have cardamom essential oil and it smells amazing. It would make a great perfume. Cardamom is used medicinally in the Eastern world. It has been used to support a healthy appetite and digestive system.

We all need to support a healthy appetite and digestive system during the holidays. So these Gingerbread Pizzelle Cannoli with Cardamom filling will help us to not eat too much during the holidays, right? Eat up!

Gingerbread Pizzelle Cannoli with Cardamom Filling

Ingredients

Pizzelle

1 3/4 cup four
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp molasses
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted

Filling

3/4 cup ricotta (see notes)
3/4 cup mascarpone
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cardamom

Instructions

Pizzelle:

In a medium bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
In a mixing a bowl, mix together wet ingredients.
Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mix until while combined.
Heat pizzelle iron.
For mini pizzelles, place 1 tsp of dough on each place on iron.
Cook for 30 seconds.
Remove from iron and wrap around cannoli form. Hold until cool.
Repeat with until you have used all the dough.

Filling:

Mix all ingredients together.
Chill for at least 2 hours

Assembly:

Fit piping bag with large piping tip.
Fill piping bag with filling.
Pipe filling into pizzelle cannoli.
Dust with powdered sugar.
Enjoy

Notes

Please be aware that you need to start this recipe the night before you want to make it. Ricotta needs to be drained overnight in the fridge. Line a colander with cheese cloth or muslin. Place a bowl under colander. Put ricotta in colander. Tie up the muslin or cover ricotta. Allow to drain overnight.
It is helpful to have people help you with making the pizzelle cannoli.
I have a mini pizzelle maker. So my pizzelle don't close around the cannoli forms. It you use a regular size maker, they should close.