Cannolis, the most ubiquitous of all Italian desserts, are serious business in New Jersey. The global cannoli market was reportedly valued at more than $40 billion in 2023. And in the Garden State, just about every bakery has their take, from the traditional to more outlandish flavors.
The Cannoli Shop in Fairfield is the latest dessert shop to focus on these tasty, ricotta cream filled beauties – but with a twist. Guests get to build their own cannolis by selecting their own toppings.
This isn’t owner Nicholas D’Anna’s first time filling these crispy shells. Before opening his Essex County shop in late January, he operated a pop-up cannoli business since 2020. The company then expanded into a mobile cannoli truck in April 2024, called The Cannoli Guy.
The business went viral, gaining million of views on Instagram and TikTok, making way for this new expansion.
“It was always my dream to have a brick and mortar store. We decided that we live in Fairfield, so no better place to do it than Fairfield,” D’Anna told NJ Advance Media.
When I walked into the shop, I was surprised to not see any cannolis displayed that’s because the cannolis are freshly piped to order.
" No bakery cases. No pastry cases. That’s a huge factor of if you’re having it within seconds of it hitting the shell instead of sitting in the shell or the pastry case for days,” D’Anna said.
Instead, The Cannoli Shop displays their toppings: 12 options including rainbow cookie, pistachio, chocolate chips and amaretto cookie. All toppings come with the price of the cannolis already either $4 each, $10 for a flight of three, $21 for half a dozen and $42 for a dozen with an option of adding a Nutella, pistachio or balsamic drizzle for an addtional 50 cents. They also offer select coffee drinks on their menu.
Ordering was seamless and picking out the toppings felt like a similar experience to Chipotle, but with cannolis! I ordered half a dozen cannolis topped with pistachios, chocolate chips, espresso powder, sprinkles, rainbow cookie and white chocolate chips. The cannolis were a decent size, not too big or small.
The cannolis were great—not quite the best I’ve ever had (my favorites: Rispoli Pastry Shop in Emerson), but still a solid treat. The shell was definitely the star; perfectly crisp and just the right amount of crunch. D’Anna was right — there’s something magical about a freshly filled cannoli. The contrast between that crispy shell and the smooth, creamy filling just hits differently when it’s made to order.
Plus, depending on the toppings you choose, they add another level of decadence—whether it’s a burst of sweetness or a hint of nuttiness, they really elevate the whole cannoli experience.
These cannolis may not have taken the crown as New Jersey’s best, but they were undeniably a delicious reminder of how simple ingredients can create something so indulgent.
Maybe they’ll push it a step further? I’d love to see them offer additional cannoli fillings, too.
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Lauren Musni may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni and on Instagram @laurengisellemusni.