Cannoli
Cannoli (Italian pronunciation: [kanˈnɔːli]; Sicilian: cannolu) are Italian pastries consisting of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta—a staple of Sicilian cuisine.[1][2] They range in size from 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) to 7.5 inches (19 cm). In mainland Italy, they are commonly known as cannoli siciliani (Sicilian cannoli).
![]() Cannoli topped with chopped pistachios, candied fruit and chocolate chips sprinkled with confectioner's sugar | |
Type | Pastry |
---|---|
Place of origin | Italy |
Region or state | Sicily |
Main ingredients | fried pastry dough, ricotta filling |
Variations | Kannoli (Malta), Kanojët (Albania) |

Etymology
Cannolo is a diminutive of canna, 'cane' or 'tube'.[3]
In Italian, cannoli is grammatically plural; the corresponding singular is cannolo ([kanˈnɔːlo], Sicilian: cannolu), meaning "little tube". In English, cannoli is usually used as a singular, and cannolo is rare.[4]
History
Cannoli come from the Palermo and Messina[5] areas and were historically prepared as a treat during Carnevale season, possibly as a fertility symbol. The dessert eventually became a year-round staple in Sicily.
Some similar desserts in Middle Eastern tradition include Zainab's fingers, which are filled with nuts,[6] and qanawāt, deep fried dough tubes filled with various sweets, which were a popular pastry across the ancient Islamic world. The dish and the name may originate from the Muslim Emirate of Sicily.[7]
See also
References
- Gangi, Robert (2006). "Cannoli". bestofsicily.com. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- "The Cannoli of Piana degli Albanesi". A Taste of Travel. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd edition, 2003, s.v.
- Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd edition, 2003 s.v.
- "Scatti di gusto - 30 cannoli siciliani perfetti per un tentativo di classifica definitiva". Scatti di Gusto. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- Michael Krondl (2011). Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert. Chicago Review Press. p. 102. ISBN 9781556529542.
- Paul H. Freedman (2007). Food: The History of Taste (illustrated ed.). University of California Press. p. 159. ISBN 9780520254763.