<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Cookbook: Cannoli Media: Cannoli </Td> </Tr> <P> Cannoli (Italian pronunciation: (kanˈnɔːli); Sicilian: cannula) are Italian pastries of the Sicily region . The Italian singular is cannolo ((kanˈnɔːlo); in the Sicilian language cannolu), meaning "little tube" but in English, cannoli is usually used as a singular, and cannolo is rare . Cannoli originated in Sicily and are a staple of Sicilian cuisine . They are also popular in Italian - American cuisine . In Italy, they are commonly known as "cannoli siciliani", Sicilian cannoli . </P> <P> Cannoli consist of tube - shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta . They range in size from "cannulicchi", no bigger than a finger, to the fist - sized proportions typically found south of Palermo, Sicily, in Piana degli Albanesi . </P> <P> Cannolo is a diminutive of canna' cane or tube' . </P>

What cheese is used to make the sicilian dessert cannoli