If you need a reason to spread cannoli joy, consider the 12 Days of Cannoli – instead of just Christmas! It’s a song that’s stuck in your mind now. Instead of partridges and pear trees, let’s change that up to focus more on festive cannoli recipes.

Perhaps you need a reason to bring your family together for the holidays with something sweet involved. Or you just want to celebrate the joy that this season is truly about. Have a seat with your favorite people and plan out a 12-recipe cannoli lineup for the days leading up to the holiday.

Savoring the sweet memories with these Christmas cannoli recipes is a memory they will love to share with their own children for decades to come. Let us offer some inspiration.

Day 1: Classic Ricotta Cannoli

It’s the standard, the foundation, and precisely what you need to start preparing your taste buds for everything to come. Classic ricotta filling has a sweet and creamy texture, typically made with a combination of powdered sugar, ricotta cheese, and the perfect touch of vanilla.

Day 2: Chocolate-Dipped Shells for Extra Indulgence

While the filling of a cannoli is certainly decadent on its own, adding a bit of chocolate to the exterior of the shell takes it to a new level of sophistication. Choose a dark chocolate that complements the sweetness, or, if you must have it, opt for milk chocolate. Dip just the first inch or so of the shell into the chocolate, let it harden, and then fill.

Day 3: Pistachio-Topped Cannoli for a Pop of Festive Green

Italians are all about color, and the colors red, white, and green hold significant meaning. Pistachios offer a great way to add a bit of green to your cookie trays. Choose roasted and salted pistachios that you’ve recently shelled and chopped for the best results. You don’t have to overdo it on them, though you can gently press them into the chocolate as it dries for next-level texture.

Day 4: Cannoli as Stocking Stuffers

Here’s a very different way to make cannoli a gift-giving tradition. Purchase a box of mini shells. You can wrap them if you like, or just add them to the top of their stocking. Once you do, be prepared with all the ingredients in your home to make a filling. This is a very easy way to bring a smile to any Italian’s face, young or old.

Day 5: Golden Cannoli for Golden Rings

Let’s get back to the song for a moment. Think: 5 golden rings... What comes to mind? Why of course, it’s Golden Cannoli Shells Company. Our company makes it easy for you to have the traditional (and chocolate-dipped) shells you need to celebrate this tradition all season. You don’t have to go far to find them (they are sold in many grocery locations).

For a pro tip, keep this in mind: Buy the big package, the bulk box of goodness. When you do, you can make all these and other versions of cannoli all season long by just pulling a few out of the freezer when you’re ready. That makes the entire experience effortless.

Day 6: Peppermint Offers a Burst of Flavor

While they may not be “geese-a-laying”, cannoli with a sprinkling of crushed peppermint on it is divine. Choose a basic cannoli filling recipe that’s not overly sweet. Then, crush red, green, or multi-colored peppermint candy canes. You can also use peppermint candies with chocolate chopped on them. Sprinkle, let them set in the fridge to chill thoroughly, and then serve as a treat to awaken the senses on a cold winter’s night.

Day 7: Mascarpone Richness Elevates the Flavor

The seventh day of Christmas is all about swans, the most majestic of birds. In our version, let’s edit that to add a few dollops of mascarpone to your filling mixture. This Italian cream cheese (found in grocery stores, typically in the refrigerated cheese section) is the perfect way to create a more decadent, smoother filling with a bit more texture.

Day 8: A Sprinkling of Espresso

Hosting a grown-up dinner party? Do you want to elevate dessert for the whole family? Create your best cannoli filling, fill Golden Cannoli shells until they are near overflowing, and then add a dusting of espresso powder to the top. It’s the perfect pick-me-up. For an extra level of goodness, add some peppermint and dark chocolate cut-up chips or candies on the top as well.

Day 9: Nine Ladies You Love Dancing and Cannoli-Making

A girl’s (or guy’s) night is not complete without a decadent dessert board. If you’re looking for something exciting to share with your favorite group of people at a holiday gathering, try a dessert board with all your favorite toppings. You can even allow your guests to choose their favorites to add as a sprinkle to the top of the pre-filled shells. Give them options such as cut-up candies, tiny pieces of fruit, or nuts. Make it a party!

Day 10: Create a Lord’s a-Leaping Extravaganza

It’s time to bring the family together, even the cousins, to a cannoli-making event. If family togetherness is slipping a bit, host a night of fun and games. With our ready-to-go shells, you can teach the next generation how to make the perfect cannoli filling. Then, encourage them to add different toppings to each. The goal? Make enough cannoli as a group, with various colors and flavors, so that each family gets to take a box home with them. Some of the best toppings include small chocolate chips (try other flavors as well), nuts, orange peels, and maraschino cherries.

Day 11: Challenge Your Family to Create Their Own Versions

The holiday is just a few days away. You’ll soon all be gathered to celebrate with a big meal. This year, each family needs to make their own cannoli (don’t forget to recommend Golden Cannoli shells, so they don’t feel too overwhelmed). The goal is to allow personality to come through. You may have people who love a candied cannoli, while others replace the pistachios with hazelnuts. Still others may add a touch of colored whipped icing to the top in a festive color. Let everyone vote for what is best.

Day 12: It Leads Up to All the Drummers Drumming

For the finale of the 12 Days of Cannoli, create some holiday dessert boards to share with others. That includes neighbors, aunts, uncles, and even coworkers. In true Italian tradition, sharing food and joy is what life is really about.

Golden Cannoli is the Italian Magic of Christmas

The holidays are about connection and sharing laughter, traditions, and a little sweetness with the ones who make our lives special. Whether you’re filling classic shells with ricotta, experimenting with seasonal flavors and pairings, or creating a dessert board worthy of the “twelve drummers drumming,” every cannoli you make is a memory in the making. Golden Cannoli shells and kits make it easy to turn those moments into traditions that last well beyond the holiday season. So, gather your loved ones, grab your favorite shells, chips, dips, and fillings, and let the 12 Days of Cannoli become your new holiday ritual – one filled with joy, flavor, and a touch of Italian magic.