In the wide, wonderful world of Italian pastries, it’s hard to top the perfection of the humble cannoli. Technically a cannolo, the iconic treat is delightful in its simplicity. After all, it seems unlikely that the combination of a crunchy, bubbly pastry shell and smooth ricotta cream would be as a divine as it is. Yet it’s hard to deny the truth your taste buds tell. Add to that pairing a sprinkle of powdered sugar and maybe a smattering of chocolate chips or pistachio pieces and you’re on the fast track to sweet nirvana.
At Mamma Musetti’s, that simplicity is the secret to each and every cannoli that owner Rosaria Musetti produces. Now, for the first time, Musetti prepares to share her secret — sort of — with the Hudson Valley when she opens her very own brick-and-mortar in Wappingers Falls on April 6.
Set to open on April 6 at 2649 East Main Street in Wappingers Falls, Mamma Musetti’s will be a go-to spot for cannoli, rainbow cookies, and pretty much every other classic Italian pastry you can imagine. Sfogliatelle? You got it. Biscotti di pignoli? Absolutely.
Photo provided by Rosaria Musetti
“The main focus will be our cannoli and coffees and other Italian cookies and pastries,” says Musetti, who runs the business with her husband, Andre. A self-taught baker, Musetti began her eponymous business as a dessert supply company that catered to local restaurants like Angela’s Pizza in Lake Katrine and Glenmont. As she continued to add pastries to her repertoire and expand her roster of cannoli cream flavors, word caught on and she soon found herself with a clientele that spanned the United States.
Although Musetti enjoyed working with restaurants and shipping her scrumptious treats across the country, she knew it was time to settle down in the Hudson Valley. So, she returned to her roots — literally — and found the perfect location in her old hometown of Wappingers Falls.
“I grew up in Wappingers Falls and have many fond memories there,” she enthuses, adding that the support that shone in town following the fire in 2017 is part of the reason why she chose to open shop on Main Street. “I knew I had to be a part of that!”
Thus far, the Musettis have received overwhelming support from nearby business owners and excited followers who await the day when they can stop by the Wappingers Falls outpost for a hot cuppa and a freshly stuffed cannolo. Of course, when it comes to actually ordering the cream-filled treats, it all comes down to selecting the perfect flavor. Uniquely, Mamma Musetti’s switches it up from the regular ricotta cream stuffing, venturing out to varieties as simple as pistachio and chocolate and as indulgent as red velvet and party cake. To complement the cannoli, Musetti also makes a mean cannoli dip platter and cannoli party platter, both of which are surefire hits at get-togethers.
“Our best sellers are definitely pistachio and lemon cannoli and our cannoli cookies,” Musetti reveals. “I already have orders for Easter!”
As for treats that aren’t cannoli, Musetti makes those too — in abundance. She lets her Italian heritage inspire her pignoli (pine nut) and lemon cookies and her flaky sfogliatelle pastries. Special to the café, she also plans to offer a few cannoli-themed breakfast bites, including cannoli-stuffed pancakes and French toast. Once the eatery gets up and running, she hopes to add a small lunch menu and, later on, themed events like “pasta night” in the evenings.
Throughout the inaugural weekend, the Musettis will collect items for the Hudson Valley Food Bank. Every visitor who brings a non-perishable item for donation will receive a free cup of coffee in exchange.
Are you ready to eat all the cannoli this spring? Let us know which flavor is calling your name in the comments!
