Cannoli cream and matcha might not sound like an obvious pairing, but hear me out. This latte mixes classic cannoli filling with sweet cream cold foam for a delicious, tangy matcha topping. It’s rich, lightly sweet, and super creamy, which makes it perfect for a dessert-inspired matcha latte. And the best part? Trader Joe’s cannoli cream spread makes the cold foam ridiculously easy. And if you love tiramisu matcha, you’ll love this adjacent Italian dessert latte.

Here’s how to make a cannoli matcha latte at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A unique spin on a sweet cream cold foam on matcha!
• Use leftover ricotta cheese from cannoli making or breakfast.
• It’s an easy step-by-step recipe for a cafe-quality beverage.
• Discover how delicious matcha is with sweet cheese.

What is a Cannoli?

A cannoli is a fried tube-shaped pastry with a sweet cheese filling and mini chocolate chips. It’s a Sicilian pastry, made for Carnival season before Lent. The base flavor is plain, with a sweet, tangy, and vanilla filling. However, it’s popular to flavor with cinnamon or citrus! Then, you garnish the ends with mini chocolate chips or pistachios. It’s then dusted with powdered sugar!

The best cannolis are always piped to order, so the fried pastry shell stays crunchy and crisp. It’s a textural dream, with crunchy fried dough and super creamy cheese.

How to Make Cannoli Filling

Cannoli cream or filling is usually made with sweetened ricotta cheese, traditionally made from sheep’s milk. It’s made by reheating or recooking leftover whey from cheese-making to make a slightly sweet and tangy cheese. It’s similar to mascarpone, but less thick.

For cannolis, you add strained ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together and mix until smooth. You can add any flavors you want here as well, from spices, fruit, nuts, etc. Then, you transfer it to a piping bag and pipe cannoli shells just before consuming.

Hack: I love using the Trader Joe’s cannoli spread for this, it makes it super convenient! And it tastes amazing. It’s a seasonal item available in December!

What Does Cannoli Cream and Matcha Taste Like?

It tastes like a matcha tiramisu or matcha cheesecake! It’s slightly tangy and very creamy, which lets all the matcha flavor shine. You get a nice umami and earthy tea flavor, and any bitterness is rounded out by the cannoli cold foam. It’s quite nice!

Since the cold foam is really creamy, I recommend using a strong-tasting matcha that is slightly more bitter so you can still taste it in the latte.

Cannoli Matcha Latte: What You’ll Need

Equipment:

• 1 matcha bowl
• 1 matcha whisk
• 1 tea sifter
• 1 handheld frother

Ingredients:

Cannoli Cream Cold Foam

• 1 tbsp cannoli cream spread
  • for homemade filling: 1 tbsp drained ricotta cheese, 1 tsp powdered sugar, and 1-2 drops of vanilla extract
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp milk

Matcha Latte

• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1-1½ cup milk
• 1 cup ice
• 1 tsp sweetener or sugar
• 1 tbsp mini chocolate chips for garnish
• ½ tbsp powdered sugar for garnish

Cannoli Matcha Latte: Recipe

1. For Homemade Cannoli Filling: Drain half a cup of ricotta cheese using a cheesecloth until most of the water is removed. Then, mix a tablespoon of it with 1 tsp of powdered sugar and a drop or two of vanilla extract.
2. Make Cannoli Cold Foam. Add cannoli cream, heavy cream, and milk to a cup or bowl. Whisk for 10 – 20 seconds with a handheld frother until light and fluffy but still pourable. Avoid overmixing; it will be stiff.
3. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha powder into your matcha bowl and add hot water. Vigorously whisk in a zigzag motion for. 20 – 30 seconds using the matcha whisk or until a foam forms. The froth should be velvety with tiny bubbles.
4. Assemble Drink. Add ice, sweetener, milk, and whisked matcha to a separate glass, then top with your cannoli cold foam. Garnish with mini chocolate chips and a dusting of powdered sugar.
5. Mix and Enjoy! Serve with an empty cannoli shell or with a cannoli!

Tips for the Best Cannoli Matcha Latte

• Whip Cream Less: Cannoli cream is much thicker than heavy cream, so you’ll want to whip cold foam less than normal for it to be soft. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a stiffer whipped cream, which is still yummy, but won’t mix properly into your matcha.
• Leave a Gap: Make sure you leave about an inch of room from the top of your glass for the cold foam. This prevents overflowing and also gives you room to stir your latte.
• Make Cannoli Cream: For the best flavor, make fresh cannoli cream! It’s seriously so easy to make and only takes 3 ingredients. Plus, you can use this to make actual cannolis to go along with your matcha!

Substitutions for Cannoli Cream

• Mascarpone (Tiramisu): If you don’t have ricotta, mascarpone is the closest substitute for texture and flavor. Since mascarpone is a little thicker, you can add a little bit of milk or heavy cream to get a looser texture.
• Cream Cheese: No ricotta or mascarpone? Cream cheese is another alternative, although it’s much thicker. You’ll want to combine it with milk to get a smoother texture that’s pipeable.
• Greek Yogurt: If you’re really strapped for cheese, you can also make cannoli filling with Greek yogurt. This is also a much healthier and protein-rich filling, but might be looser than traditional filling. You should drain it for a thicker texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What drink goes with cannoli?

Cannolis go great with coffee or wine; those are the traditional beverage pairings in Italy. Espresso or a cappuccino is the best coffee pairing, while a sweet or sparkling wine is best for cannoli.

Can I make this vegan?

Of course! You can use vegan ricotta cheese, which is usually made from cashews or almonds. You could also use firm tofu for the best texture, which you can flavor with sugar and seasonings. Make it at home by blending it in a food processor!

Can I make this hot?

Yes! Make a hot matcha latte with steamed milk. Instead of a cannoli cream cold foam, make it a whipped cream so that it doesn’t melt immediately on your drink. Just whip the cream until stiff peaks and scoop or pipe it on!

Other Dessert-Inspired Matcha Recipes

This cannoli matcha latte is the perfect dessert-inspired latte, and pairs perfectly with its cousin: tiramisu matcha latte. I’m sure you’re curious about other sweet pairings, so here are some other sweet matcha recipes to try next:

• Tiramisu Matcha Latte
• Tres Leches Matcha Latte
• Dubai Chocolate Matcha Latte
• Mango Sticky Rice Matcha Latte