Italian Cannoli Using Stevia
By: Lisa Jobs
Published: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - 7:27pm

Ingredients




1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese, drain water, if necessary
1/4 teaspoon stevia extract (see www.healthylifestylepublishing.com for brand variances)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons dried fruit, as used in fruit cake (optional)
1 ounce mini chocolate chips or carob chips (optional)
6 cannoli shells

Preparation

1 With electric mixer or by hand, blend ricotta cheese, stevia, vanilla and cinnamon thoroughly in a medium bowl. Dice dried fruit in food processor and fold with chips in cheese filling (using an electric mixer produces a creamier filling). Refrigerate overnight or at least a few hours. Fill 6 regular-sized cannoli shells and serve immediately.






 2 Nutrition Facts/Serving (1 cannoli with chocolate chips & dried fruit)
Calories: 178
Carbohydrates: 15g
    Total Sugars: 9g    
    Fiber: 0g
Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 19mg
Sodium: 85mg
Protein: 9g 3 Traditional "Sugar" Recipe — Shows Sugar Comparison
Calories: 259 - Almost 1.5 times as many!
Carbohydrates: 31g - More than double!
     Total Sugars: 26g - Almost 3 times as many!
     Fiber: less than 1g
Fat: 12g - 20%% more fat
Cholesterol: 29mg
Sodium: 51mg
Protein: 8g 4 Variation: Plain Cannoli (without chocolate chips or dried fruit)
Calories: 143
Carbohydrates: 5g
    Total Sugars: 1g    
    Fiber: 0g
Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 31mg
Sodium: 54g
Protein: 8g 5 Lisa's Note 1:
If you omit the chocolate chips and dried fruit, you will drastically reduce your carbohydrates from 15g to 5g and sugar from 9g to 1g! Wow! The plain cannoli are still outrageously good! For those who are on very strict low-carb diets, you can further reduce your carbs by cutting out the shell altogether and simply enjoying the filling! The stevia taste is best when filling is refrigerated overnight and served the next day. If you’re in a hurry, serve refrigerated after a few hours for a similar effect. Believe me…these cannoli are so good, you’ll want to make them frequently. Not only are they delicious, but they are so easy to make and will be enjoyed by everyone. When I first developed the recipe, I was very apprehensive about pre 6 Lisa’s Note 2: 
I found two brands of delicious cannoli shells that you can buy to save yourself the extra work of making them. Ferrara and Bellino make wonderful cannoli shells that are available in many grocery stores. If you can’t find them in stores, you can order them online at www.shopviviano.com. J. Viviano & Sons, Inc. Italian Importers also has a store in St. Louis, MO (314-771-5476). 7 
Copyright ©2005 Sensational Stevia Desserts by Lisa Jobs.

This Sensational Stevia Desserts recipe and excerpt may not be reproduced or copied without the expressed written permission from Healthy Lifestyle Publishing and the author Lisa Jobs.

About


Serving Size: 1 cannoli 
Total Servings: 6
Enjoy the luscious taste of creamy ricotta cheese filled to the brim inside a crisp cannoli shell. Using stevia, vanilla and cinnamon, this recipe is great for dessert lovers looking for a healthy alternative to sugary treats. Experiment by using dried fruit and chocolate chips to complement the sweetness of this staple Italian dessert.