Origin and a Little More about Sicilian Cannoli

One of the versions about the origin of Sicilian cannoli maintains that its origin is Arab, because they were the ones who brought many of the ingredients used for this sweet. If that is true, the creation of this dessert dates back to around the year 827 and 1091.

 

The version that supports its Arab origin relates that it was in a pastry shop owned by an Arab prince when Sicily was under his domain. They say that while the prince's women were preparing some pastries for fun, they prepared a box of cylindrical sweets filled with ricotta, almonds, and honey.

 

Another version tells us that cannoli were first prepared in a convent near Caltanissetta. The nuns wanted to create a dessert to celebrate the Carnival festivities and made a tubular dough filled with a ricotta cream, chocolate chips, and chopped hazelnuts.

 

Another version says that the true origin of Sicilian cannoli is a combination of both stories—the Arabs and the nuns played significant roles in the creation of the sweet, which was refined until it became the Sicilian cannoli we know today, enjoyed during the carnivals of southern Italy.

 

Finally, it is believed that the shape of cannoli originated from the Greek world, where they were meant to resemble the male sexual organ. In Greek and also Roman times, sexual organs were seen as symbols of abundance. In the ancient world, having children was very important because they would cultivate the land and take care of the family.