They truly are. While the shell, "end dressing" and optional confectioner's sugar are all very nice and serve to entice it is truly what is inside that matters. The inside of high quality cannoli is prepared from just a few but vastly important ingredients and when of the highest quality and mixed "just so" a truly sublime delicacy results. As a person I can not claim to be of that quality but as a self appointed expert on cannoli I know quality when I experience it. (you know who you are ! ! !)