What Is The Filling In Cannolis Actually Made Of?

The nondescript sweet white cream filling in a cannoli is actually a mixture of ricotta (or sometimes mascarpone) cheese, blended with powdered sugar and vanilla extract.

However, American cannoli filling is different from the kind used in Italy. Italians traditionally use sheep's milk ricotta, rather than the cow's milk variety used by Americans.

Sheep's milk is known for having a stronger, tangier profile, and it gives the cheese a more robust texture, making for quite a different cannoli-eating experience.

Americans use cow's milk ricotta due to its availability and subtle flavor. This cheese has a considerably looser consistency, which is often thickened with icing sugar.

This gives American cannoli a sweeter flavor than its Italian counterpart. Italians prefer their cannoli fillings to be simple, without the use of too many garnishes.