Sicily's finest products › Bread, pasta and sweets
Traditional Agri-food Product, on the national list of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture
Cannoli are Sicilian pastries consisting of a tube-shaped shell of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet and creamy filling containing ricotta cheese. Their size ranges from 9 to 20 centimetres (3+1⁄2 to 8 in). In mainland Italy, the food is commonly known as cannolo siciliano (lit. 'Sicilian cannoli').
In culinary traditions across Sicily, regional variations in cannoli fillings reflect local preferences and ingredient availability. In Palermo, cannoli are decorated with candied orange zest, adding a citrusy sweetness to the ricotta filling. In Catania, chopped pistachios are favored, adding a distinctive nutty flavor and texture.
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Sources: eAmbrosia, the EU register of geographical indications (names, type, registration dates); the national list of Traditional Agri-food Products of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, 11 March 2025 revision; Slow Food Foundation, Presidia in Sicily; texts and pictures from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Updated September 12, 2026.