The Cannoli and It’s Rich History

Italian Restaurants In West Boca Raton

Besides tiramisu, is there any other Italian dessert as popular as the cannoli? The cannoli, the singular version being cannolo, is a Silician dessert that is believed to have come from the Palmero and Messina regions. Meaning “little tube” in Sicilian, the cannoli ranges in size from “cannulicchi”, which is no bigger than a finger to the fist-sized portions typically found in Palermo. Cannoli making is serious business in Sicily and for bakers, the quality and standards of their bakery can be judged solely on the basis of how good their cannoli is. As a strong symbol representing Italian heritage, the cannoli has a unique and rich history possibly dating back to the presence of the Moors in Sicily.

History Of The Cannoli

The history of the cannoli is a reflection of the variety of cultures and people that, throughout the centuries, have inhabited Sicily. As a staple of Sicilian cuisine, many people believe the cannoli originated in Sicily in Piana Degli Albanesi, but this traditional Italian dessert may possibly be traced back during the Arabic rule of the island, also known as the Emirate of Sicily. There are two tales surrounding the origin of cannolis. The first one takes place in an Arab prince’s harem inside his castle during the Arabic domination of the island. The emir’s many concubines spent their time creating luscious meals and delicious desserts, among them a cylinder-shaped pastry case filled with ricotta, almonds, and honey. The second tale takes place in a convent, outside of the castle, where nuns concocted a new type of pastry made of a shell called “scoria” with a filling of ricotta, sugar, chocolate, and almonds to celebrate Carnevale, which is a celebration that takes place in all of Italy before Lent begins.  

Whether it was concubines or nuns, historians believe that both legends have a seed of the truth and that the creation of the cannoli took place in or around the city of Caltanissetta between 827 and 1091. Historians also believe that this delicious dessert was also made by women. Many of the ingredients used in a cannoli are also of Arabic origin like sugar cane and almonds.

Traditional Cannoli Recipes

A traditional cannoli recipe consists of a tube-shaped shell of fried pastry dough, filled with sweet and creamy ricotta, candied fruit, and chocolate filling. The creamy, slightly tangy flavor of the ricotta is mellowed out by the sweet delicacy of the sugar and chocolate, while the crunchiness of the fried, light shell brings out this amazing symphony of flavors and textures.

Cannoli Recipe Variations

Italians immigrating to America during the early 1900s made adaptions to the original cannoli recipe due to the limited availability of certain ingredients like sheep’s milk ricotta so mascarpone was used instead. Today, there are many variations to the traditional cannoli recipe including chocolate, strawberry, and pecan caramel.

Cannolis Near Me

If you have been on the hunt for an authentic Italian cannoli in the South Florida area, then look no further because Cannoli Kitchen has got the hookup. Cannoli Kitchen is one of the best Italian restaurants in Boca Raton serving authentic Italian cuisine. We also specialize in making homemade traditional Italian desserts like cannolis, tiramisu, and cheesecake. To order your Boca Raton Italian food, call us today at 561-955-8880.

Try One Of Cannoli Kitchen’s Traditional Italian Desserts

cannolis from Cannoli Kitchen

When looking for traditional Italian desserts in Boca Raton, you most likely will come up with limited options. Many Italian restaurants boast that they serve authentic Italian cuisine, but only one is truly the real deal. Cannoli Kitchen is your trusted go-to for authentic Boca Raton Italian food. We are an Italian restaurant in Boca Raton that has been serving traditional Italian food to South Florida residents for over 20 years.

Traditional Italian Desserts in Boca Raton

Along with our authentic Italian food dishes like lasagna, pasta bolognese, and chicken parmigiana, we also have traditional Italian desserts available to top off the experience. If you’re looking for traditional Italian desserts in Boca Raton, then Cannoli Kitchen has got you covered with favorites like:

  • Cannolis
  • Tiramisu
  • Cheesecake
  • Italian Ice

Original Cannoli

The cannoli is a popular Italian dessert that is widely known throughout the world. For us here at Cannoli Kitchen, the name says it all. As a true, authentic Italian restaurant, we make our own cannolis from scratch. What many people might not know is the traditional version of the cannoli comes from Palmero, Sicily. Cannolis were originally made for Carnivale, symbolizing fertility. Carnivale is the festive season that occurs right before Lent and consists of parades and masquerades similar to Mardi Gras. Nowadays, this delicious Italian treat, made from simple ingredients, is consumed all year long.

Cannolis are made out simple pastry dough that is shaped into a cone or tube and then fried. The creamy and sweet filling is usually made from ricotta, mascarpone cheese or a combination of both. The cheese is sweetened with sugar and chocolate chips are added. At Cannoli Kitchen, we also offer chocolate cannolis giving a nice balance of the rich chocolate pastry with the light cream filling. If you just want a taste, we also provide mini versions of our chocolate cannolis.

Homemade Tiramisu

Another Italian classic, traditional tiramisu is a pudding-like Italian dessert that usually consists of sponge cake or ladyfingers dipped in a coffee liqueur, then layered with grated chocolate, unsweetened cocoa powder, and rich mascarpone filling. While many debate the exact origins of tiramisu, rumor has it that a similar dessert was created in Siena, in the northwestern Italian province of Tuscany in the 17th century. In the United States, Tiramisu became popular in the 1990s in San Francisco and today it can be found in restaurants all around the country. This coffee-flavored Italian dessert translates to “carry me up”, or “pick me up” a reference to its shot of espresso. At Cannoli Kitchen, we make homemade tiramisu, daily.

Classic Cheesecake

The first cheesecake may have been created in Greece back in 2,000 B.C., but, today, it is a beloved dessert around the world. In Greece, cheesecake was considered to be a good source of energy and there is evidence that it was served to athletes during the first Olympics games in 776 B.C. When the Romans conquered Greece they took the original cheesecake recipe of flour, wheat, honey, and cheese and added crushed cheese and eggs. It was not until the 18th century, though, that cheesecake would start to look like something that we now recognize in the United States. Today, our expert bakers at Cannoli Kitchen make classic New York style cheesecake that will make your mouth water. This famously smooth-tasting cake gets its signature flavor from extra egg yolks in the cream cheese cake mix.

Italian Ice

If you are looking for a cold treat on a hot summer day then grab some Italian ice from Cannoli Kitchen. Italian ice actually originated in Sicily and has since spread around the world. Derived from Sicilian “granitas”, Italian ice consists of sugar, ice, and flavoring and is believed to have been brought to the United States by Italian immigrants.

Authentic Boca Raton Italian Food

For authentic Boca Raton Italian food, Cannoli Kitchen is the only way to go. Whether you are in the mood for a hearty meal or a traditional Italian dessert, we have something for you. With authentic Italians dishes, pizza, wings, and calzones, you can’t go wrong with Cannoli Kitchen. For take-out, delivery or catering information, give us a call at our West Boca location at 561-338-2929.

Cannoli Kitchen’s Top Five Classic Italian Food Dishes

Italian Restaurants In West Boca Raton

When it comes to picking Italian food favorites, the list can be endless. At Cannoli Kitchen, we take pride in cooking some of the best Boca Raton Italian food out there. From lasagna and pasta bolognese to pizza and cannolis, we have all of the Italian classics.

Lasagna

An Italian favorite, lasagna originated in Italy during the Middle Ages from the city of Naples. The first recorded lasagna recipe was written down in the early 14th century in an ancient Italian cookbook, making it possibly the oldest known form of pasta. There is a theory that the word lasagna or lasagne may come from the Greek word “laganon”, which means a flat sheet of pasta dough cut into strips. Our delicious lasagna is baked to perfection and made with a homemade ground beef meat sauce and ricotta cheese.

Pasta Bolognese

Another Italian classic, bolognese sauce, which in Italian is called ragu, is a meat-based sauce that has its origins in Bologna, Italy. The first written record of pasta bolognese appears in a cookbook published in 1891. Cannoli Kitchen’s pasta bolognese has one of the best homemade meat sauces served with traditional tagliatelle.

Lobster Ravioli

The earliest mention of ravioli can be found in letters from a merchant of Prato in Tuscany, Italy, in the 14th century. Traditionally, ravioli was made at home and the filling varied depending on the area they were prepared in. Our traditional lobster filled ravioli is served with a tomato cream sauce and diced shrimp.

Pasta Salsicce

Pasta Salssice, also known as “ragu alla Salsiccia”, is a tomato-based meat sauce cooked with sausage and served with pasta. At Cannoli Kitchen, we make our pasta Salssice with sweet Italian sausage, sauteed onions and peppers in a tomato cream sauce served over rigatoni.

Capellini Pomodoro

Capellini literally means little hairs in Italian and is a very thin variety of Italian pasta. It is often presented in a nest-like shape and has been popular in Italy since the 14th century. Our Capellini Pomodoro is a classic made with angel hair pasta, fresh tomatoes, basil, and tomato sauce.

If you are looking for the best Boca Raton Italian food, then try one of Cannoli Kitchen’s Italian classics. Whether you are ordering for delivery, takeout or using our excellent catering services, we make all of our Italian food with the highest quality of ingredients. Try one of our classic Italian dishes by calling 561-955-8880.