Cannoli Italian Pastry Recipe

Ingredients
1. Sifted flour (3c)
2. sugar (1tbsp)
3. egg yolk (1 slightly beaten)
4. melted butter (3tbsp)
5. fat (for frying)
6. red wine (3/4c)
7. salt (1/8tsp)

For filling:-
1. Grated bittersweet chocolate (3tbsp)
2. confectioner sugar (3/4c)
3. crème de cacao or other sweet liqueur (1/4c)
4. finely minced candied orange (2tbsp)
5. ricotta cheese (3lbs)
6. chopped pistachio nuts (1/2c for garnish)

Method of preparation:-
1. Take a large bowl, mix, flour, sugar, salt and butter in it. Add red wine in it to form dough. Knead the dough for about 15 minutes to make it soft and smooth.

2. Roll the dough to make a ball and then place the dough ball in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. Take out the dough from refrigerator and divide it into 2 equal parts. Roll each part on the floured surface and then cut them into squares or circles.

3. Take a cannoli tube; place it on the squares diagonally. Fold the corners around the cannoli tube. Seal the ends with beaten eggs.

4. Take a frying pan, heat fat in it and then deep fry the cannoli in it until they turn golden in color. Drain them and keep them to cool. When they get slightly cool then carefully remove the tube.

5. Now keep them to cool completely. As they are crispy so fill them just before serving them. Store in dry and cool place.

For filling:-
1. Take a bowl, beat ricotta in it for about 2 minutes with high speed. Add liqueur and sugar and again beat it for about 5 minutes or until the mixture gets smooth.

2. Mix orange and chocolate in it and then keep the bowl in the refrigerator. Stuff the filling with a spoon and tightly covered and place in the refrigerator for about 3 days.