I’ve always loved cannolis.

I lived in NYC for nearly 15 years. And in that time, I rarely went to Little Italy. Except when my dad’s side of the family was in town.

They always wanted to go to Little Italy and of course, get real cannolis. And let me tell you: those are so good.

I recently went to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx with friends and got cannolis there. Also incredibly delicious for anyone on the hunt 🙂

And outside of those places? I really don’t see cannolis in many bakeries. Maybe I don’t frequent the right ones, but they’re just not a dessert I stumble upon often.

So when I had the idea to make a higher protein, easy dip that tasted like a cannoli, my mind was pretty much blown. All of the delicious, sweet, cannoli flavor in a dip that’s simple and nutritious.

Of course, as an intuitive eating dietitian, I also want you to eat regular cannolis too. I feel that this caveat is important: you can have both.

Intuitive eating isn’t about just picking the “real” version or the more “nutritious” version. It’s about knowing that there’s a time and place for both.

And the time and place for this Easy Higher Protein Cannoli Dip is when you want a snack or dessert that’s nourishing enough to keep you full and energized, and also sweet and delicious enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Higher Protein Cannoli Dip

This dip is made with just a few truly simple ingredients – Greek yogurt, ricotta cheese, and maple syrup. You’ll then add mini chocolate chips for a delicious chocolate-y bite.

It also couldn’t be easier to make. Just add all of the ingredients to a food processor and then let it chill for a bit in the fridge. That’s it.

And most importantly, it’s just really good. This makes the best sweet snack on a warm day.

Pair it with fresh strawberries and waffle cone pieces, and you’ve got the most amazing, satisfying snack in no time.

How to Make Easy Higher Protein Cannoli Dip

Prep ingredients

Prep all of your ingredients for this Easy Higher Protein Cannoli Dip. You’ll need ricotta cheese, plain Greek yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla extract, coconut oil, salt, and mini chocolate chips.

Add ingredients to food processor

Add the ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla extract, coconut oil, and salt to a food processor.

Blend

Process on high until smooth.

Add chocolate

Fold in the chocolate chips, reserving some for the top of the dip.

Chill in fridge

Place in the fridge to chill for at least 20 minutes before serving. Serve with fruit and/or waffle cone pieces to dip.

Serve

Serve this Easy Higher Protein Cannoli Dip with fruit, waffle cone pieces or cookies.

If You Love This Easy Higher Protein Cannoli Dip, Try These

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Mousse: Another simple snack recipe with just a few ingredients to satisfy your sweet tooth.
High Protein Chocolate Mousse: Again, higher in protein, sweet, and so delicious for the chocolate lovers.
Pumpkin Pie Pudding: Come fall, this pumpkin pie pudding is on repeat – just a few simple ingredients for this delicious snack.
5 Minute Spicy Edamame Dip: Looking for a higher protein dip that’s savory? This is your gal. She’s SO good.
Edible Brownie Batter: When you feel like turning another classic dessert into a wholesome snack, this brownie batter is incredible.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ricotta cheese: Ricotta cheese is really what gives this dip that cannoli flavor. Don’t skip it or replace it with anything! You can use either a low-fat or full-fat version.
Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt adds creaminess, and of course, protein to this recipe. Again, low-fat or full-fat both work.
Maple syrup: This is important to sweeten this dip so it tastes like dessert. If you want a less sweet dip, you can add slightly less maple syrup.
Vanilla extract: A little goes a long way to elevate the flavor.
Coconut oil: Just a small amount of coconut oil helps to thicken the dip slightly. If you don’t have any or don’t like it, you can omit it.
Chocolate chips: I recommend mini chocolate chips so that you get little pieces of chocolate in each bite.