Chocolate Hazelnut Cannoli

Our chocolate hazelnut cannoli is a classic Italian pastry with a sweet cheese, hazelnut, and chocolate filling. Made with Colavita EVOO and Perugina dark chocolate.

 2 cups ricotta cheese
 7 oz Perugina Dark Chocolate 51%, finely chopped
 10 6-inch cannoli shells or additional smaller shells*
 ¼ cup heavy cream
 ¾ cup chocolate hazelnut spread, such as Nutella
 ½ tsp vanilla extract
  tsp kosher salt or a pinch of fine salt
 2 Perugina Milk Chocolate Baci, finely chopped
 2 Perugina Dark Chocolate Baci, finely chopped
  cup skinned, toasted hazelnuts, chopped
 confectioner's sugar, for dusting

1

Strain ricotta overnight in the fridge to remove excess liquid. Place cheese in a sieve lined with a cheesecloth over a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap.

2

Create a double-boiler to melt the dark chocolate. Heat 1 inch of water in a small saucepan to a rolling simmer. Using a bowl that will fit over the pan without touching the water, add 1 ½ ounces of chocolate and stir frequently until 70% melted. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ½ ounce of chocolate until all is melted. Continue to stir until chocolate is cooled to room temperature, about 2-3 minutes. This will temper the chocolate. Dip cannoli shells on both sides into chocolate to coat ¼ inch of the rim. Allow excess to drip off. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with a silicon mat or parchment paper. Place in fridge until firm.

3

Chill the bowl of a standing mixer and whisk attachment in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Add heavy cream to bowl and beat on high speed for about 1 minute or until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a small bowl. Add ricotta, chocolate hazelnut spread, vanilla and salt to mixing bowl, and beat over medium speed until combined, using a paddle attachment. Fold in whipped cream. Stir in chopped Baci candies. Transfer filling to a piping bag fitted with a medium-sized round tip, or create your own piping bag by snipping off the end of a plastic ziplock bag.

4

Pipe filling into cannoli shells, working from the center outwards on both sides of the shell. Cover exposed filling with hazelnuts. Dust shells with powdered sugar, and enjoy.