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Cannoli are Italian pastries consisting of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling. They are a delicious delicacy that can be spiced up with various different flavours of dough and filling. However, while they are extremely simple to make, how should you store them?
Can You Freeze Cannolis?
Yes, you can freeze cannolis for up to 1 month. Generally speaking, cannolis should be fully prepared and filled with the creamy filling just moments before serving. Any preparation in advance would cause them to go soggy.
Do Cannolis Freeze Well? Yes
Can You Refreeze Cannolis? No
How to Freeze Cannolis
Cannolis are typically made in large batches and often for parties or gatherings with family or friends.
The filling typically consists of ricotta cheese and whipped cream, which is why cannolis can be liable to become soggy if they are filled too far in advance.
Therefore, if you do want to prepare cannolis ahead of time or cut down on your prep time, freezing the filling alone is the best way to do this.
Follow the steps below for how to perfectly freeze the cannoli filling:
- Stabilise the Filling: Whilst you can freeze the filling as it is, it is best to stabilise it with gelatine first. This will help keep the volume in the filling, which is often lost when whipped cream is frozen and prevent it from going watery.
- Place Into a Container: It is best to store your cannoli filling in an airtight container. Make sure the lids secure tightly as you do not want any moisture or air getting to the mixture.
- Label: Label your container with the date of freezing and what is inside.
- Freeze: Place your container into the freezer and keep frozen for up to a month.
Can You Freeze Assembled Cannolis?
Unfortunately, freezing cannolis assembled is not a good idea. You’ll find that the outside pastry softens and turns soggy – not what you want!
3 Tips for Freezing Cannolis
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cannolis to have the best results:
Don’t Freeze Filled Cannolis
As discussed above, cannolis should be filled with the filling at the last minute. Freezing filled cannoli shells is not an option as it will cause the fried pastry dough shells to become soggy and disintegrate.
Consider Fillings
You can add so many different elements to the fillings for cannolis, including ingredients such as chocolate chips, fruit, purees and spreads. Just be careful when adding these if you plan to freeze the filling as you will need to ensure that anything added is also freezer safe.
Do NOT Use Ziplock Bags
Whilst ziplock bags are a common feature in the freezer, it is not recommended as a method of storage for cannoli filling. This is because, when thawed, it could create a lot of mess and it will be far easier to use a plastic airtight container.
How Long Can You Freeze Cannolis?
Theoretically, the mixture could last in the freezer for a couple of months, but the texture and quality of the mixture will start to seriously degrade after a few weeks. Therefore, we advise you to use and consume the mixture within a month.
How Do You Defrost Cannolis?
When it comes to defrosting and thawing your cannoli filling, the only method you can use is leaving it in the fridge overnight.
All you need to do is remove the container from the freezer, place it in the fridge and leave it to thaw completely. You can place a saucer or plate underneath the container to catch any condensation or leaks.
Microwaving the filling is not an option at all as it would totally destroy the texture of the filling to a point where it is unusable.
If you were to leave the containers out to thaw at room temperature, you are encouraging bacterial growth which could be a threat to your health if consumed.
Once the mixture has been fully thawed in the fridge, it is worth whisking it up either in a bowl by hand or in a stand mixer to recombine the ingredients and get more volume into the filling.
Can You Refreeze Cannolis?
No, it is not advisable to refreeze cannoli filling. There is already a chance it could separate during the first freeze, so any further freezing would surely impact the texture to a point where it is unpalatable.
Do Cannolis Freeze Well?
Yes, when prepared and stored correctly, cannoli filling will freeze well but it will not freeze for a long time. It can be a really helpful way to cut down on prep time, and you can ensure that you are then serving perfectly crisp cannolis when dishing up at a party or gathering.
Experiment with different flavour profiles for even more eccentric cannolis, but be careful as to how each of these will freeze.
If you’ve still got questions about freezing cannolis or cannolis in general, then these may help:
Can You Freeze Cannoli Cream?
Yes, cannoli cream (or filling) can be frozen. Portion it out into a container, seal it and then place it into the freezer with a clear label.
Can You Freeze Cannoli Shells?
No, cannoli shells do not freeze well at all. You will find that the pastry of cannoli shells becomes quite soft and soggy when frozen and then thawed.
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