Last-minute Christmas ricotta cannoli (no stress, no baking)
If Christmas dessert usually sneaks up on you somewhere between hosting, wrapping, and trying to keep everything together, this one’s for you.
These ricotta cannoli are my go-to last-minute Christmas dessert when I want something festive without spending hours in the kitchen or falling into the all-or-nothing trap that tends to show up around food this time of year.
They’re quick, feel special, and don’t require baking or complicated ingredients. More importantly, they’re the kind of dessert that fits into a balanced Christmas week without needing a reset afterwards.
Why this is my kind of Christmas dessert
I’m a big believer that holiday food doesn’t need to be “perfect” to be enjoyable or intentional.
This recipe works because:
it uses store-bought cannoli shells (because time matters)
it’s lightly sweet, not overpowering
it can be prepped on the day
and it’s satisfying enough that you don’t feel like you need to keep grazing
This is exactly how I approach eating out and social events over Christmas too. If that’s something you struggle with, you might like this post on how to eat out without ruining your progress.
Same mindset, different setting.
Ingredients (serves 2)
Cannoli shells (store-bought)
Ricotta cheese
Dark chocolate, finely chopped
Cherries, chopped
Honey
That’s it. No complicated swaps, no hard-to-find extras.
How to make them
Chop the chocolate and cherries into small pieces.
In a bowl, mix together the ricotta, chocolate, cherries, and honey until well combined.
Spoon the mixture into a piping bag or zip-lock bag.
Fill the cannoli shells generously.
Tip:
Fill them a couple of hours before serving so the shells stay crisp without going soggy.
If you’re hosting, this is the kind of prep you can do calmly earlier in the day, then move on to more important things.
The nutrition breakdown (for those who like the numbers)
For a serve of 2 cannoli:
343 calories
Protein: 8 g
Carbohydrates: 46 g
Fat: 14 g
I always say this, but numbers are just information. They don’t determine whether something is “good” or “bad”. They’re simply there if having context helps you feel more grounded around food.
If you’re navigating Christmas while trying to step away from dieting mentality, you might also like this read on finding balance through consistency.
A quick word on balance at Christmas
Dessert doesn’t undo your progress.
What usually causes the spiral is the pressure, the guilt and the “I’ve blown it now” thinking. Recipes like this exist to remind you that enjoyment and structure can coexist, especially during busy, social weeks.
This is the same approach I use with my clients through my FLEX Method coaching, where we look at how food actually fits into your lifestyle, not an idealised version of it.
Save this for Christmas week
If you need a no-bake Christmas dessert that feels festive without the stress, this one’s a solid option to keep in your back pocket.
Save it, share it with whoever’s hosting this year, or come back to it next December when you’ve forgotten what you made last time.
And if you try it, I’d love to know how it goes.
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If this helped, share it with someone who’s still giving up their favourite foods.
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