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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Gluten Free Baked Cannoli Bites

    Published: Dec 30, 2021 · Modified: Dec 30, 2021 by Sandi Gaertner · 20 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These gluten free baked cannoli bites are a delicious hand-held desserts that are great for entertaining. You will love that these little-baked cannoli cups are baked, and not fried. It makes them much healthier.

    mini cannoli bites on a serving dish
    Jump to:
    • Recipe step by step directions:
    • Tips and Recipe FAQ:
    • Can I use other fillings?
    • More delicious party foods to try:
    • Recipe
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    Since going gluten free, the one thing I have missed has been cannoli. It is flaky, crunchy, and just plain delicious. These baked cannoli bites are delicious and easy to make. These bite-sized desserts are perfect for entertaining and they look extra fancy on a dessert buffet. 

    You get all of that yummy cannoli flavor in a finger food portion! If you love dessert as much as I do, you will want to check out some of my best gluten free dessert recipes.

    Some of that crunch comes from frying the cannoli in oil. I have tried to re-create cannoli several times, but I wanted to try to make a healthier version that didn't need to be fried in oil.

    I hope you will like these baked cannoli shells...trust me they are absolutely delicious!

    Recipe step by step directions:

    Gluten Free Baked Cannoli dough with shapes cut out for the cups

    Step 1: Mix up your gluten free dough and then roll out the cold gluten free dough and use a small round cookie cutter to shape the dough.

    Picking up a cannoli dough circle cutout

    HINT: The colder the dough, the easier it is to work with.

    A mini muffin tray with the cannoli dough in each section

    Step 2: Press each circle into a mini muffin tin. Push in the middle to make cups. Bake until they are crispy and hard. Allow these gluten free cannoli cups to cool fully before adding the cannoli filling.

    Step 3: Bake the cannoli cups for 10-15 minutes.

    Step 4: While the cannoli cups are baking. Add your wet ingredients to a standing mixer and whip for 3 minutes until creamy.

    Step 5: Fill each gluten free cannoli cup with the cannoli mixture. You can either spoon it in or use a frosting bag and pipe the cannoli mixture into each cup. Decorate with sprinkles.

    Step 6: Chill for 30-60 minutes (optional).

    Tips and Recipe FAQ:

    Can you make traditionally shaped cannoli rolls with this dough?

    I did try to make traditionally shaped cannoli shells with this recipe but they didn't keep their shape well during baking. You could try to push an aluminum foil roll into the middle and see if it will hold its shape a little better.

    What gluten free flour is best for baked cannoli cups?

    I have made this recipe successfully with both Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF Blend and King Arthur GF Measure for Measure. If you are going to use a mix that is different, please ensure it contains Xanthan Gum. If it doesn't contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, you will want to add 1 teaspoon to your mix.

    Are sprinkles gluten free?

    Unfortunately, some sprinkles are NOT gluten free because they are made on shared equipment. If you are really sensitive to gluten as I am, you will want to read my article on gluten free sprinkles.

    close up of two Gluten Free Baked Cannoli Bites with chocolate sprinkles on them. The cannoli cups are on a silver platter

    Can I use other fillings?

    You can use these cups for lots of different fillings. Here are a few ideas:

    • Fill with a creamy mousse. My popular fresh raspberry mousse is a great choice!
    • This homemade chocolate custard would make a great filling as well!
    • Add a fresh strawberry and drizzle with melted chocolate.

    More delicious party foods to try:

    • These Gluten Free Mini Champagne Cupcakes look fabulous on a dessert buffet.
    • If you haven't tried Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Pops, they are a fun dessert to make.
    • Something a little different, this Gluten Free Mango Sushi is a fun dessert sushi!

    Recipe

    Gluten Free Baked Cannoli Bites

    Sandi Gaertner
    Easy baked gluten-free cannoli cups that are perfect for a dessert buffet or entertaining.
    4.94 from 15 votes
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    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Chill Time 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24
    Calories 106 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups gluten free flour blend
    • 3 tablespoons sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cup butter cold
    • 1 egg large
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

    Filling

    • 6 tablespoons cold water
    • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
    • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
    • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

    Instructions
     

    • In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients.
    • Whisk to blend.
    • Add cold butter and cut in with a pastry blender.
    • Cut butter into flour mixture until it looks like large crumbs.
    • Add remaining wet ingredients and mix well.
    • On a floured surface, roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness.
    • Use a round cookie cutter to cut out small circles.
    • Press dough cut outs into mini muffin tin. Press center down with fingers to make bowls.
    • Bake at 350º F for 10-15 minutes until done.
    • Move to cooling rack and allow to cool.

    Filling:

    • Add the mascarpone cheese, sugar, and cardamom to a bowl or standing mixer. Mix well.
    • Use either a spoon or frosting bag with a piping tip to fill each cup with mascarpone filling.
    • Chill for 30 minutes and top with sprinkles.

    Notes

    1. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
    2. Xanthan Gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
    3. These cannoli cups will keep for up to 3 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

    Flour Measuring Tips:

    To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using the spoon method or leveling method. In a perfect world, people weigh their flour, but most do not own a kitchen scale.
    Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.
    Use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 106kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 37mgPotassium: 5mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 201IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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    (*Note, this post was updated from an older June 2015 post.)

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stephanie

      September 06, 2018 at 2:57 pm

      5 stars
      These sound so good and I love that they're gluten free. I've actually never had cannoli but I think I need to try these! Sounds amazing.

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        September 07, 2018 at 9:30 am

        Thank you Stephanie, please do stop back and let me know how they turn out 🙂

        Reply
    2. camila

      September 06, 2018 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      this looks so delicious!! Id love to try this gluten free cannoli bites!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        September 07, 2018 at 9:30 am

        Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    3. Healing Tomato

      June 15, 2015 at 9:08 pm

      I haven't had cannoli's in a very long time. These look so good. I will try them over the weekend.

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        June 15, 2015 at 9:22 pm

        Thank you Rini...let me know how you like them 🙂

        Reply
    4. Leah @ Grain Changer

      June 08, 2015 at 11:04 am

      Yum!!! These look SO delicious and I love that these are baked and not fried. Pinning and making these soon!!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        June 08, 2015 at 1:40 pm

        Thank you Leah. I would love to hear how they turn out 🙂

        Reply
    5. Laura

      June 08, 2015 at 9:24 am

      These look spectacular! I appreciate the healthier baked approached too. Pinned!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        June 08, 2015 at 9:44 am

        Thank you Laura 🙂

        Reply
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