Instructions

1. Place a cannolo, the singular form for the pastry, in a napkin to eat as a snack away from the table. Provide extra napkins to help with cleanup after eating.

2. Arrange multiple cannoli on a serving plate in a single row, arranged like the spokes of a wheel, or stacked up in a mini-pyramid. Because cannoli are such a special treat, use your best serving dish.

3. Lay cannoli on a bed of powdered sugar, fruit puree that matches the candied fruit in the cannoli, crushed nuts or drizzles of chocolate or butterscotch sauce.

4. Lay one cannolo perpendicular to another and leaning up against the other on each individual plate if you plan on serving each person two cannoli.

5. Garnish individual plates or one serving plate with ingredients found inside the cannoli. For example, garnish a plate with a cannolo that contains chocolate and orange extract with a square of dark chocolate and candied orange peel on the side of the plate. For a cannolo with chocolate and hazelnut-flavored ricotta, sprinkle some hazelnuts around the plate.

6. Alongside each cannolo on individual plates place a piece of fruit that complements, but is different from, the flavoring in the cannolo. Use fresh strawberries or tangerine segments for a refreshing contrast to the rich cannolo.

7. Place a dollop of whipped cream with mint sprig on top or on the side of each dish as a dipping sauce for the cannoli.