Ask ten people in New Jersey where to get the best cannoli and you will probably get eleven answers. Some swear by the famous TV bakery in Hoboken, while others will defend their neighborhood shop down the Shore until the end of time.
Cannoli are serious business here, and the shell, the cream, and even the toppings can start a friendly argument at any family party. This list covers seven bakeries from North Jersey to South Jersey that keep showing up in those debates.
A few are famous, some are old-school family shops, and one is built almost entirely around the cannoli itself. Each one earns its spot for a different reason, whether it is the cream, the history, the hours, or the extras in the pastry case.
Save it for your next dessert run, or send it to the friend who thinks they already know the answer.
1. Carlo’s Bakery, Hoboken, NJ
Plenty of people know this bakery from television long before they ever set foot in Hoboken. Carlo’s is the shop tied to Buddy Valastro, the Cake Boss, and it sits right at 95 Washington St.
The fame gets people through the door, but the pastry case gives them a reason to stay. Cannoli here come with a crunchy shell and a smooth, milky filling, and they share counter space with lobster tails, chocolate mousse, cupcakes, and the elaborate cakes the shop is known for.
Newer items keep things interesting too. The menu includes a Dubai Chocolate Cupcake, a Vanilla Fudge Cupcake, cookie packs, and slices of cake for anyone who wants a taste of the TV magic without ordering a whole tower.
Timing matters on this one. Saturday and Sunday afternoons get crowded, so a weekday visit or a later evening stop is the smarter move.
Hours run 8 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday and until 10 PM Friday through Sunday, and there is paid street parking plus paid lots nearby.
2. Red Rose Bakery, Toms River, NJ
Show up to an Ocean County party with a box from Red Rose and you have basically won the dessert table. The Toms River bakery on Hooper Avenue has built a loyal following for its homemade cannoli cream.
That cream does double duty. It fills the classic cannoli, and it also shows up in a cannoli cake, which is a fun pick for birthdays when one tray of pastries is not enough.
Chocolate custard is another filling worth asking about.
The shop also makes custom cakes, cupcakes, bread, cookies, and biscotti. A mixed box of cannoli and cookies is an easy crowd pleaser for gatherings.
Practical stuff is simple here. There is a free parking lot, and hours are Monday 11 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday through Friday 9 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday 8 AM to 4 PM.
Sunday closes early, so plan that dessert pickup accordingly.
3. Lyndhurst Pastry Shop, Lyndhurst, NJ
Pignoli cookies sandwiched with cannoli cream might be the most Jersey dessert idea ever. That treat is one reason Lyndhurst Pastry Shop keeps coming up in cannoli conversations.
The family-run bakery on Ridge Road has been around a long time, and it covers a lot of ground. Creamy cannoli lead the way, but the case also holds rainbow cookies, black and white cookies, Boston cream rings, California fruit tarts, and mixed Italian biscotti.
Warm weather adds another reason to stop. The shop makes Italian ice in creative flavors, including Birthday Cake Ice, which makes it a solid summer stop.
There is no seating and no restroom, so think of it as a grab-and-go visit. The early hours help, with doors opening at 7 AM daily and staying open until 8 PM most nights and 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Saturday afternoons are the busiest stretch.
4. Calandra’s Bakery, Newark, NJ
Bread lovers usually find Calandra’s first and the cannoli second. The long-standing Newark bakery on 1st Avenue is famous for fresh Italian bread, and the pastry counter is just as busy.
Cannoli sit alongside cheesecakes, cakes, and small pastries. Egg custard tarts and red velvet cheesecake are two standouts, and the menu includes strawberry shortcake, carrot cake, and New York plain cheesecake.
The hours are a big perk. Calandra’s is open every day from 6 AM to 9 PM, which makes it easy to grab a loaf for dinner and a box of cannoli for later.
I like this stop for weekday mornings, when it tends to be quietest. Weekend afternoons fill up fast.
Free parking in a lot and on the street makes the visit easier than many city bakeries.
5. Bovella’s Pastry Shoppe, Westfield, NJ
Kosher cannoli in downtown Westfield? Yes, and that detail alone sets Bovella’s apart from most of the shops on this list.
The long-standing mom-and-pop bakeshop on East Broad Street offers a range of gourmet kosher pastries. Cannoli are a menu highlight, along with lobster tails, rainbow cookies, tiramisu squares, Oreo mousse bombs, Nutella cigar pastries, apple turnovers, and coffee crumb cake.
The team also helps with custom orders, including rainbow cookie cakes for big celebrations. That makes it a handy call for weddings and showers.
Early hours make a difference here. The shop opens at 8 AM every day, including Sunday, and serves croissants and coffee for a breakfast stop.
Free street parking is available, and Saturday afternoons and Friday evenings are the busiest times.
6. Deluxe Italian Bakery Inc., Runnemede, NJ
South Jersey gets a seat at this table thanks to Deluxe. The family-owned bakery in Runnemede has been feeding Camden County for years, and its homemade cannoli are a big reason why.
Here is the twist. Deluxe is just as known for its donuts, including an award-winning donut on the menu and fresh powdered cream donuts that pair nicely with a cannoli order.
The savory side is strong too. Pizza, stromboli, small hot sandwiches, garlic bread, and specialty breads make it a lunch stop, not just a dessert run.
Pizzelles, Italian cookies, cheesecake, and cupcakes round out the sweets.
Hours are 7 AM to 7 PM every day, with weekend mornings the busiest. There is free parking, restrooms, and Wi-Fi.
7. The Cannoli Shop, Fairfield, NJ
When a shop puts cannoli right in its name, expectations go up. The Cannoli Shop in Fairfield handles that pressure by focusing on hand-crafted cannoli and authentic Italian coffee.
The shells are crisp and light, and the filling is not overly sweet. One fun detail is that you can choose different toppings on each end of the same cannoli, which settles the chocolate chip versus pistachio argument nicely.
Unlike many bakeries here, it offers dine-in seating. A cannoli with a cappuccino or a rainbow cookie makes for a relaxed break, and there are restrooms and free Wi-Fi.
Check the schedule before driving over. The shop is closed Monday, open 8 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM Saturday, and 9 AM to 2 PM Sunday.
A free on-site lot makes the stop easy.
Wherever your loyalty lands, these seven bakeries prove New Jersey takes its cannoli seriously. Try a few and form your own opinion.
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