I found this on the Italian Sons and Daughters of America Facebook post and just had to share it with you!  Don't wait till someone gets married to get your fix of Cannoli Cake!  I can't wait to make it myself!

 

 

The following recipe, created by The Casserole Queens, appears on WomansDay.com. 

INGREDIENTS

Cake

• ¾ c. unsalted butter
• 3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1½ c. granulated sugar
• 6 large eggs
• 1 tsp. Almond Extract
• 1½ c. half-and-half
• 1 c. mini chocolate chips
• ½ c. chopped shelled pistachios
• 2 large cannoli shells

Frosting

• 3½ c. whole-milk ricotta
• 2½ tsp. orange zest
• 2 tsp. lemon zest
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt
• ¾ c. confectioners’ sugar
• ¾ c. heavy cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 8-inch round cake pans with butter, then dust with flour; shake out any excess.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the almond extract (if using). Reduce the mixer speed to medium and gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the half-and-half, mixing just until combined; fold in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips.
4. Divide the batter between the prepared pans (about 3-1/2 cups each) and bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
5. While the cakes cool, make the frosting. Using an electric mixer, beat the ricotta in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the zests, cinnamon, and salt. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Add the heavy cream and, using the whisk attachment, beat on medium-high speed until thick and stiff, 3 to 4 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use.
6. Cut the cakes in half horizontally to create 4 layers. Arrange four 3-inch-wide strips of parchment or wax paper in a square around the edge of a serving plate (this will help keep the plate clean) and place 1 cake layer on the plate. Spread 1 cup frosting on top. Sandwich another layer of cake and repeat with the remaining layers, then frost the top and sides of the cake.
7. Gently press the pistachios, cannoli shells, and remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips onto the sides of the cake (use the parchment paper to help pat them on). Refrigerate until ready to serve (up to 2 days).

Total time: 1 hr. 45 min.

Prep: 1 hr.

Serves: 12

French Crème Brûlée Recipe

Ok, Creme Brulee isn't really Italian like Pana Cotta but it is in the same family. French Crème Brûlée is a classic which you will find often in fine dining and mid-scale restaurants.  You will see many versions of Creme Brulee out there featuring inclusions or additional ingredients to the base like, coffee, lemon, hazelnut and so on.

This recipe celebrates the baked silky, creamy, vanilla custard with a cracked caramelized sugar top! The classic!

Extremely popular when I was at Steven restaurant in Scottsdale as well as Chicago's Pump Room.  Heck...in every restaurant I worked in!

I suggest purchasing a brulee torch or a brulee iron to caramelize the sugar.

I also feel it is important to burn the sugar before you serve.

Creme Anglaise

Creme Anglaise is a classic dessert sauce great over everything, I mean it, everything!  When you look at the recipe you may notice its similarity to ice cream base.  When we ran out of Creme Anglaise we would melt down vanilla bean ice cream and use it as an emergency dessert sauce!

The method for making this sauce is similar for flan, creme brule as well. Master this and you will have the skills to make those also.

Be sure to follow the procedure and you will have a great dessert sauce!  Try over fresh fruit, over raspberry gelato, with cheese cake with raspberry coulis.