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Gluten-Free Creamy Cannoli Cake with Chocolate Chips
Decadent, grain-free layers of vanilla cake stacked with whipped ricotta-mascarpone filling and mini chocolate chips—just like the Sicilian classic, but gluten-free!
🍰 Ingredients
For the GF Vanilla Cake:
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2 cups gluten-free 1:1 flour blend (like Bob’s Red Mill)
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1 tsp xanthan gum (omit if your blend includes it)
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1 ½ tsp baking powder
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½ tsp baking soda
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¼ tsp salt
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¾ cup granulated sugar
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½ cup unsalted butter, softened (or coconut oil)
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2 large eggs, room temp
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1 cup buttermilk (or dairy-free milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
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2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Cannoli Filling:
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1 ½ cups whole-milk ricotta, drained overnight*
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½ cup mascarpone cheese
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¾ cup powdered sugar
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1 tsp cinnamon
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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½ cup mini chocolate chips
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½ cup chopped pistachios (optional)
For the Frosting:
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1 ½ cups heavy cream, chilled
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¼ cup powdered sugar
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Garnish: Extra chocolate chips, pistachios, cocoa powder
📝 Instructions
1. Bake the Cake:
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round pans and line with parchment.
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Whisk GF flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, soda, and salt.
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Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
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Alternate adding dry mix and buttermilk. Divide batter; bake 25–30 mins. Cool completely.
2. Make the Filling:
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Beat ricotta, mascarpone, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips and pistachios.
3. Whip the Cream:
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Beat heavy cream and powdered sugar to stiff peaks.
4. Assemble:
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Slice each cake layer in half. Spread cannoli filling between layers.
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Frost the outside with whipped cream. Press extra chocolate chips onto the sides.
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Chill 4+ hours (or overnight) for best texture.
💡 GF Pro Tips
✅ Drain ricotta overnight in cheesecloth to avoid soggy layers.
✅ No mascarpone? Use all ricotta + 2 tbsp cream cheese for tang.
✅ Dairy-free? Swap ricotta/mascarpone for cashew cream (soaked blended cashews + lemon juice).
🍫 Why It Works
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Texture: Light, moist cake + creamy filling + crunchy chips = perfection.
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Flavor: Just like cannoli filling—sweet, citrusy, and rich.
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Crowd-pleaser: Even non-GF folks will beg for seconds!
**Serve chilled with a dusting of cocoa…
