Mini Cannoli Cream Cups

 Photo Credit: http://www.cookingwithsugar.com

Mini Cannoli Cream Cups

Original Recipe: http://www.cookingwithsugar.com/mini-cannoli-cream-cups-recipe-how-to-make-cannolis-the-easy-way/

Ingredients:
For Cups:

•      Flour for dusting surface
•     1 Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts
•     3 tablespoons coarse natural sugar (Turbinado)
•     1 teaspoon cinnamon

For Filling:

•     1 (15oz) container of whole milk ricotta cheese
•     1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus extra for dusting finished cups
•     2 tablespoons white sugar
•     1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•     1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer combine all ingredients for the filling except the chocolate chips and mix well until creamy. Place the filling in a 1-gallon plastic storage bag and chill while you make the cups. Filling may seem thin but will firm up slightly when it’s refrigerated. For thicker cream see notes below.
2. Heat oven to 425°F. Unroll the piecrusts onto a lightly floured surface and sprinkle the top of each crust with the natural sugar and the cinnamon. Lightly roll over it with a rolling pin so that sugar and cinnamon are pressed into the dough.
3. With a 2 1/2-3 inch round biscuit cutter or cookie cutter, cut out circles and lightly press them inside an ungreased mini muffin or mini cupcake pan to create a pastry cup.
4. Bake for about 10 minutes or until cups are golden. Remove from oven and allow cups to cool. Once cups are cool they can be removed from tin and filled.
5. Remove filling from refrigerator, cut one of the bottom corners off the bag and pipe a little less than a tablespoon of filling into the cooled cannoli cups.
6. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, dust with powdered sugar and serve.
7. Cups should be filled shortly before they are eaten so the don’t get soggy. If you wish to make them ahead of time, you can make the cups and the cream and keep them separate. Once you are ready to eat, you can fill, decorate and serve.