What Italian pastry is fried and shaped like a cylinder?

Cannoli is a popular Italian pastry that is specifically designed to be fried and shaped into a cylindrical form. The pastry consists of a dough made from flour, sugar, and sometimes cocoa powder, which is rolled out and cut into circles. These circles are then wrapped around metal tubes and deep-fried until golden and crispy. Once cooled, the shells are filled with a sweet, creamy filling, usually made from ricotta cheese, sugar, and various flavorings like vanilla or chocolate.

This cylindrical shape is characteristic of cannoli, allowing for the filling to be enclosed within, offering a delightful contrast between the crisp shell and the creamy interior. The other options presented do not fit this description; for example, zeppole are typically round and puffed, baklava is layered and usually cut into squares or diamonds, and tiramisu is a layered dessert that does not involve frying or a cylindrical shape. Thus, cannoli distinctly represents the correct answer in the context of a fried, cylindrical Italian pastry.