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Synonyms

cannoli

American  
[kuh-noh-lee, kahn-naw-lee] / kəˈnoʊ li, kɑnˈnɔ li /

plural noun

Italian Cooking.
cannolis plural
  1. tubular pastry shells stuffed with a sweetened filling of whipped ricotta and often containing nuts, citron, or bits of chocolate.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of cannoli

1940–45; < Italian, plural of cannolo, derivative of canna reed, cane; cf. cannelloni

Explanation

A cannoli is an Italian dessert that consists of a crunchy fried pastry tube filled with sweet cream. When you eat at a Sicilian restaurant, you should definitely try the cannoli. In Italian, cannoli is the plural of cannolo, "small tube," from the Latin root canna, "tube or pipe." In the tradition of pastries like éclairs and cream horns, cannoli have a pastry dough structure surrounding a sweet, creamy filling — in this case, one that's made with ricotta cheese. Cannoli are commonly dipped in chocolate or studded with tiny chocolate chips or chopped nuts.

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Vocabulary lists containing cannoli

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

What Sacher torte is to Vienna, or kouign-amann to Brittany, or cannoli to Sicily, knafeh Nabulseyeh is to Nablus.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 13, 2023

Take the cannoli – unless your host indicate otherwise.

From Salon Nov. 22, 2023

Eventually, traditions also became melded together to produce the current Americanized image of pan-Italian food that ranges from pizza to cannoli, which are both regional in Italy.

From National Geographic Jul. 26, 2023

They married in 1994, under a tree in Prospect Park, with two gay men officiating, before a reception with a “Super Freak” dance break and a heap of cannoli.

From Seattle Times Jul. 5, 2023

As soon as Grandpa Ed hears the word Bambino's, he starts rubbing his hands together, expecting cannelloni and handmade pasta, ravioli; cannoli for dessert.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

There were mini cannolis for dessert and colorful macarons stamped with little Pride flags.

From Slate Nov. 2, 2024

If you have room after, stop for gelato or cannolis next door to Geno’s.

From Seattle Times Aug. 16, 2022

They can eat cream-filled cannolis from Puddles Barkery.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 21, 2019

In his second installment, aired on “Conan” Wednesday night, Triumph encouraged fans to head-butt cannolis and trample on things, which were, of course, all for him to poop on.

From Salon Jun. 26, 2014

Fresh cheese ravioli, frozen specialty ravioli, pasta sauces, house-made mozzarella and filled-while-you-wait cannolis are available at the retail store.

From New York Times Mar. 5, 2011

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