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Cannoli Cupcakes with Whipped Ricotta Frosting

Light, fluffy Cannoli Cupcakes made with ricotta cheese, chocolate chips, and fun toppings! A simple twist on a classic Italian dessert—perfect for parties, birthdays, or just because.

cannoli cupcakes in rows with whipped cream frosting a mini chocolate chips (pin for pinterest)

If you love cannoli, you’re going to adore these Cannoli Cupcakes!

They’re soft, sweet, and filled with the cozy flavors of ricotta, vanilla, and cinnamon—all with a playful cupcake twist.

Best of all, they start with a simple cake mix, making them as easy as they are delicious. With endless topping options (mini chocolate chips, whipped ricotta, sprinkles, or even a drizzle of chocolate), these cupcakes are kid-approved, party-ready, and guaranteed to disappear fast!

I feel sure Aunt Rosa would give these her stamp of approval, even though they start with a doctored cake mix. (Hey, I’ll take a shortcut wherever I can!)

My Cannoli Cupcake Story

gorgeous cannoli cupcake with whipped cream frosting and chocolate chips

It all started on a Saturday. I was working on a ton of recipes, all at one time, starting with Aunt Rosa’s famous Sunday Gravy (pasta sauce). I also whipped up a parmesan chicken casserole that day.

Only one problem: I’m trying not to eat carbs right now. So, I decided to take these foods to my grandkids, who live nearby.

I made a random decision to throw in an Italian dessert to go along with their themed dinner. So, I whipped up this doctored cake mix recipe for Cannoli Cupcake. I’ll tell you more about how they taste below, but first let’s look at what I used.

Cannoli Cupcake Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here’s a quick peek at what you will need to make these delicious cupcakes! These are simple ingredients!

ingredients for cannoli cupcakes: white cake mis, ricotta, eggs, milk, oil, cinnamon, chocolate chips. Also frosting ingredients: whipping cream, ricotta (powdered sugar not in picture)
  • 1 box vanilla or yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips (plus extra for topping)
  • Rainbow sprinkles (optional, for fun!)

Whipped Ricotta Frosting Ingredients

If you’re looking for “easy” this is it!

  • ¾ cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 ½ cups whipped cream (already whipped to soft peaks)
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar (a heaping ⅓ cup will keep it sweet enough)
  • ½–1 tsp vanilla extract (to taste)

How to Make Cannoli Cupcakes

These came together so quickly and easily!

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners (makes about 18-20 cupcakes).

Place the ricotta in a large mixing bowl. If it looks grainy, give it a whisk. (See note below about ricotta.)

Add cake mix, milk, oil, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon.

cake ingredients in bowl before mixing

Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes, until the batter is smooth, then add the chocolate chips.

cake batter with chocolate chips about to be stirred in

Fold in the chips.

cake batter with chocolate chips inside

Fill each liner about ⅔ full with batter.

cupcake batter in liners in muffin tin

Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool completely before adding any toppings.

Note: If using whole milk ricotta, it can sometimes be a little wetter or slightly grainy. In that case, you can either blot it gently with a paper towel or give it a quick whisk before adding, just to make sure it blends smoothly. If using part-skim ricotta, it usually mixes right in without issue.

Frosting Instructions

Beat the ricotta with the powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Gently fold in the whipped cream until fluffy and combined.

whipped cream frosting in mixing bowl

Chill for 10–15 minutes before piping or spreading—it holds up better.

Pipe on the frosting with a Wilton 1M tip. (Pretty!)

cupcakes frosted with white swirls

Topping Ideas & Variations (All Kid-Approved!)

It’s so fun to dress these up! Let’s talk about different ways to do that.

cupcake frosted with white swirls and chocolate chips
  • Chocolate Chips (I used the mini version)
  • Chocolate syrup drizzle and sprinkles
  • Cream cheese frosting with a hint of orange zest for that cannoli touch
  • Vanilla Buttercream with mini chips or sprinkles on top.
  • Cream Cheese Frosting with a hint of orange or cinnamon for that soft Italian nod.

Things to Love About These Cannoli Cupcakes

  • Simple Shortcut – Starts with a cake mix, so you get light, fluffy cupcakes without a ton of prep.
  • Italian-Inspired Flavor – Ricotta, vanilla, and a hint of cinnamon give a nod to classic cannoli. I took a bite (diet or no diet) and the cupcakes were absolutely packed full of flavor, thanks to the chocolate chips, ricotta, and cinnamon. Delicious!
  • Endless Toppings – From whipped ricotta frosting to sprinkles and chocolate drizzle, you can make them fancy or fun.
  • Kid-Approved – Little hands love adding the chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles.
  • Party-Perfect – Makes 18–24 cupcakes—plenty to share at birthdays, holidays, or potlucks.
  • Easy to Customize – Add orange zest, swap in mascarpone, or even top with a mini cannoli shell for extra flair.

Other Italian Recipes from Out of the Box Baking

I will be posting more as time goes on, but here are a few I’ve already got up on the site:

Creamy Italian Pasta Salad: This is my go-to, folks! If you’re looking to feed a crowd, this will hit the spot! (And it’s super tasty, too!)

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup: I feel sure Aunt Rosa would love this recipe! It’s one of my personal favorites and not super high in calories or carbs.

Chicken & Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Copycat Recipe): Just typing this makes me want to make a bowl! I keep containers of this in my freezer so I can get my fix whenever I like.

Before You Go. . .

Why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

About the Author/Baker

Hi, I’m Janice—author, baker, and blogger with a passion for making simple recipes that bring joy to the table. From family-friendly treats to creative spins on classic desserts, I love sharing bakes that are approachable, fun, and full of flavor. When I’m not in the kitchen, you’ll usually find me writing, taste-testing new ideas, or enjoying coffee with a good book.

Yield: 18

Cannoli Cupcake

Cannoli Cupcake

Light, fluffy Cannoli Cupcakes made with ricotta cheese, chocolate chips, and fun toppings! A simple twist on a classic Italian dessert—perfect for parties, birthdays, or just because.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • Cake Ingredients
  • 1 box vanilla or yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips (plus extra for topping)
  • Whipped Ricotta Frosting Ingredients
  • ¾ cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 ½ cups whipped cream (already whipped to soft peaks)
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar (a heaping ⅓ cup will keep it sweet enough)
  • ½–1 tsp vanilla extract (to taste)

Instructions

    Cupcake Instructions:
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

    2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners (makes about 18-20 cupcakes).

    2. Whisk the ricotta in a mixing bowl.

    3. Add cake mix, eggs, milk, oil, vanilla, and cinnamon. Beat for about 2 minutes.

    4. Fold in the chocolate chips.
    5. Fill each liner about ⅔ full with batter.
    5. Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
    5. Cool completely before adding any toppings.
    Frosting Instructions
    1. Beat the ricotta with the powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
    2. Gently fold in the whipped cream until fluffy and combined.
    3. Chill for 10–15 minutes before piping or spreading—it holds up better.

    4. Pipe onto cupcake using a Wilton 1M tip.

    5. Sprinkle on some mini chocolate chips.

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