Keto cannoli cheesecake is sinfully delicious with light, creamy filling. It's perfect for year-round entertaining and to have as an easy dessert. This cheesecake recipe has classic flavors of cinnamon and chocolate, and you only need 9 ingredients + 15 minutes of prep. This easy cheesecake recipe is low carb, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
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I can't get enough of anything cannoli flavored, like my Cannoli Ice Cream. There is just something about the flavors of cinnamon and chocolate that hits the spot. Plus, when you add those flavors together and turn them into a keto cannoli recipe, like this cheesecake, you have a scrumptious treat everyone will rave about.
Making this gluten free keto cannoli cheesecake is surprisingly easy to make, but you wouldn't believe it if you tasted it. It's elegant enough to serve to friends at a dinner party but down-home enough to have after a barbecue dinner. Give it a try, and you will see that it's super versatile and bound to be one of your favorite low carb recipes.
Ingredients Needed
These ingredients are all pretty standard in keto recipes. If you've been living a low carb keto lifestyle for a while you may have the ingredients for this keto cannoli cheesecake already!
- Almond Flour
- Almond Butter
- Butter
- Sweetener
- Ricotta Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Gelatin
- Heavy Cream
- Sugar Free Chocolate Chips
- Vanilla Extract
- Cinnamon
How To Make Keto Cannoli Cheesecake
Step One: Prepare the crust and add it to the bottom of a spring-form pan. This easy no-bake crust is adapted from this recipe over at Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen.
Step Two: Mix together ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sweetener, cinnamon, and vanilla until it's smooth and creamy. Use an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl for best results.
Step Three: Add in the bloomed gelatin.
Step Four: Using a different bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer until you begin to see stiff peaks.
Step Five: Carefully add ⅓ of the whipped cream into the cheesecake batter. Then slowly add in the rest without overmixing.
Expert Tip: Craving cannoli dip? Stop right here and go ahead and eat the filling with a spoon or dip fresh strawberries or keto graham crackers into it!
Step Six: Add the chocolate chips, then pour all the cheesecake mixture into the crust then refrigerate the keto cannoli cheesecake.
Expert Tip: The texture of the cheesecake will be similar to mousse and should be soft. For a firmer cheesecake do not fold in the whipped cream. You can omit it or serve it on top of the cheesecake cannoli filling.
Optional Cannoli Cheesecake Ideas
You'll be delighted with the flavors in this low carb cannoli cheesecake the way it's written. But if you're feeling a little playful, try out some additional toppings! All of these ideas are a great way to change it up every once in a while.
- Chocolate Drizzle - Melt a little bit of sugar-free chocolate and drizzle it on top of the cannoli cheesecake. It will enhance the chocolate flavor, but also make it look even more gorgeous.
- Strawberries - Thinly slice some strawberries and place them around the outer edge of the cheesecake. It's so tasty, and you get some added nutrients from the berries.
- Pistachios - Crush some pistachios and sprinkle them on top to add a little bit of a crunch. Yum!
- Cinnamon - Sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon across the top of the cannoli cheesecake. You'll love how lovely it looks and that it tastes even better.
- Cannoli Cookies - Use this filling to fill the middle of two keto cookies such as my Keto Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies to make decadent cannoli cookies.
Do I Have To Add Gelatin To Keto Cannoli Cheesecake?
Yes, adding the gelatin is very important for this low carb cheesecake. It will help it set up and be a thicker and traditional texture of regular cheesecake. Gelatin doesn't affect the flavor at all; it just makes it thicker.
Can I Make Cheesecake In Advance?
Yes, absolutely! If you want to make this cannoli cheesecake in advance, you're in luck. It's easy to make up as many as you want, then cover them with plastic wrap or tin foil, then refrigerate. It will last 4-5 days in the fridge. It's perfect if you're planning ahead for holidays, community events, or birthday parties.
How Can You Tell If Cheesecake Has Gone Bad?
It will be pretty evident if this easy keto cannoli cheesecake recipe has gone bad. First of all, smell the homemade cheesecake and make sure you don't notice anything out of the ordinary. It's it smells pungent or odd, then I would toss it. Next, look over the ricotta cheesecake and see if it seems like it should. There shouldn't be mold, and it shouldn't be watery or dried and cracked. If you see any of this, then it's started to spoil and shouldn't be eaten.
Can I Make Mini-Cannoli Cheesecakes?
Yes, absolutely, you can make this into mini keto cannoli cheesecakes. Use a muffin tin or ramekin and follow the directions as instructed. Then place the mini cheesecakes in the fridge to allow them to set up and enjoy!
How Do I Freeze Cheesecake?
You can either freeze the keto cannoli cheesecake intact or cut it into slices. Whichever you prefer is going to be great. If you opt to cut them into individual pieces, wrap each one with plastic wrap, then place them in a sealed container. Or you can cover the entire cheesecake then freeze it. Either way, it will last around 5 - 6 months in the freezer.
To serve the cake, allow it to set in the fridge until it's thawed then serve. You can eat it when it's slightly frozen, and it will seem more like an ice cream cake.
Looking for more amazing keto dessert recipes? Check out some of these:
- Chocolate Chip Cannoli Mug Cake
- Whipped Cannoli Mousse
- Keto Rhubarb Crumble Bars
- Cheesecake Brownies
- Keto No-Bake Cheesecake
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Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 ½ cups almond flour
- ⅓ cup salted butter melted
- ¼ cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 3 tbsp almond butter
Filling:
- 2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoon gelatin
- 8 oz heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup sugar free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Stir the ingredients for the crust until smooth. Make sure to thoroughly incorporate the almond butter. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Bloom the gelatin. Sprinkle the gelatin on top of 2 tablespoon cold water. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons hot water and stir until it is dissolved.
- Meanwhile, in the same bowl you made the crust in, mix the ricotta, cream cheese, sweetener, cinnamon, and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth. Blend in the bloomed gelatin
- In another bowl, with the electric mixer, beat the cream until stiff peaks form.
- Fold ⅓ of the whipped cream into the cheesecake batter. Gently fold in the rest. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour on top of the prepared crust.
- Refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours until it had firmed up a little more. It stays soft like a mousse.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally Published July 24, 2016. Revised and Republished November 11, 2019.
Marsha says
Don’t you bake the crust? It’s got almond flour..
Taryn says
You don't have to. It sets up firm enough to hold up to slicing and serving.
Paige says
It turned out great! I actually used lakanto powdered blend which is also twice as sweet as sugar so it was a direct substitute. I haven't tried granular sweeteners but I love how the powdered lakanto made a smooth texture in the cheesecake.
Tiffany biswanger says
What if you using just stevia? How much should you use
Taryn says
You can use this conversion chart: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/natural-low-carb-sweeteners-guide-conversion-chart/
Mari says
Could I use sugar ? How much? Thank you the recipe sounds wonderful.
Taryn says
Yes, but you will need more. Twice the amount listed in the filling. I'd use the same amount in the crust otherwise it may not work.
Eileen says
Can I substitute cottage cheese blended fine in lieu of the ricotta?
Taryn says
That would work but the ricotta is what makes this taste like a cannoli. That is the dominant flavor in cannoli cream.
Stacey says
Easy to make and quite the payoff. Took this to a family dinner where 5 of the people aren't low carb. It got rave reviews from the non low carbers! I actually thought it was missing something and couldn't quite put my finger on it. The next day I sprinkled a tiny bit of salt on it and wow, excellent!
Next time I make it I want to use a baked crust.
Really yummy. Really easy.
Kyla says
So if using swerve I’m to use 3/4 of a cup for the crust and a 1 1/4C for the filling? Just want to make sure, I’m making this for my bf’s birthday. Thank you 🙂
Taryn says
No. 1/4 cup (which equals 4 tbsp) times 1.5 would be 6 tbsp for the crust. 1/2 cup times 1.5 would be 3/4 cup for the filling.
Maryann Truglio says
Where is the nutrition chart?? If low carb, how many carbs???
Taryn says
The nutrition facts are right at the bottom of the recipe card. This has 6 net carbs per piece.
Kaylene says
Can’t wait to try this! Any chance I can substitute something else for the almond butter? Do you think it would be ok to just at a little more salted butter?
Taryn says
Yes, that should be fine.
Kimberley says
Is it better to use monk sugar Or powdered sugar in the filling? Thank you
Taryn says
Either will work (assuming you mean a monk fruit & erythritol blend like lakanto).
Felicia says
Hi! Trying this recipe for the first time. I didn’t whip the heavy cream. Is it ruined? It’s chilling for 8 hours now...
Taryn says
No, I think it will be fine.
Mary says
Omitted the almond butter from the crust, added 1/5 cup cocoa and 1 tsp almond extract. Omitted the cinnamon (not a cinnamon fan) bumped the cream cheese up to 8oz and doubled the vanilla.....it was ridiculously delicious for about the same amount of net carbs.
Cris says
Hi! Would love to attempt this today but question about the crust. I don't have almond butter & saw that you responded to someone else's question about subbing in for peanut butter. I'm afraid that will overpower the flavor, so I'm tempted to use your other baked crust recipe. I know nothing about cannoli so would that be okay to do without compromising an original cannoli taste? Love your recipes, btw. And congrats on newest family addition! 😊
Taryn says
You can absolutely sub in a different cheesecake crust like this one: https://joyfilledeats.com/vanilla-ricotta-cheesecake/
Cris says
I actually ended up using that exact crust recipe before you replied! Thank you so much! 🤗
Alexis says
How many carbs would this be without the crust? i’m allergic to tree nuts so i can’t have the almond flour!
thanks in advance! (:
Taryn says
I'm sorry I haven't calculated that. You can add the ingredients you will be using into a program like https://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/login
Jennifer says
Good recipe! I used swerve for the sweetener. I added extra cinnamon because my family loves it. .The only thing I would do differently is baking the crust first and then filling.
Sandy says
How should I bake the crust? I feel like I should bake it as well... making tonight
Cassie says
I’m not keto-but grain free, and this recipe works for me, but curious if I can just use regular sugar 🙂
Taryn says
Yes, regular sugar should work for this.