These Cannoli Cookies are soft inside and crisp outside, and feature bursts of chocolate flavor and sweet almond orange aroma. But the best part is the creamy cannoli filling-inspired frosting sandwiching them together!
Preheat the oven to 325F. Line 2 large baking sheets with silpat liners or parchment paper.
Cream together the ricotta cheese and sugar in a large bowl, and then beat in the egg, vanilla, orange zest, and almond extract. Stir in the flour, salt, and baking soda. Fold in the chocolate chips and almonds. Cover the bowl and transfer the dough to the fridge until chilled, about 15 minutes in the freezer or 2 hours in the fridge.
Scoop the dough into 1 ½-tablespoon-sized balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until the cookies are golden on the bottom but still a touch doughy in the center, about 10 minutes, rotating the trays once.
Let the cookies cool completely on the trays (about 20 minutes) before removing with a thin metal spatula.
For the Filling:
Once the cookies are cooled, add the powdered sugar, vanilla, orange zest, and almond extract to a large bowl. Use a handheld electric mixer to beat the mixture, adding a touch more ricotta cheese if necessary to achieve your desired consistency.
To Assemble the Cookie Sandwiches:
Spread filling on the bottom of one cookie and then top with another. Repeat until with the remaining cookies and filling.
Notes
Recipe Yield and Serving Size: This recipe makes 24 cookies or 12 sandwich cookies. Each serving is 1 cookie sandwich.
If You Like Cinnamon in Your Cannoli: Add up to 1 ¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon to the cookie dough.
Removing the Cookies From the Trays: Like the recipe says, make sure to let the cookies cool completely on the trays before removing with a thin metal spatula. Otherwise they have a tendency to stick.
Storage: Store these cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months.