DIY Lady Lock Forms | Cannoli Molds – I’ll show you how to easily make your own inexpensive reusable wooden baking tubes (small and large) for use with any lady lock, cream horn, cannoli, clothespin cookies, recipes that require tubes, forms, molds, and pins, that will last for a very long time and they are better than their stainless steel counterparts.

Why You’ll Love These DIY Inexpensive Reusable Wooden Baking Tubes
Whether you are in the season of baking or just want a treat, DIY lady lock forms, molds, whatever you need them for, or refer to them as they are practical baking essentials to have on hand if you create those types of recipes or want to make them!
- Inexpensive to make
- Easily accessible product to purchase
- Allows you to create cream horn molds, cannoli shells, lady lock shells, and clothespin cookie pastries with ease
- Reusable and practical
- Nonstick
- Easily create large and small forms, molds, tubes, pins, etc.
Equipment Needed To Make DIY Wooden Tubes (forms, pins, molds)
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Foil
- Dowel Rods
- Circular Saw > This one is my favorite circular saw
- Sandpaper* Optional
- Storage Container
How To Make Lady Lock Forms
There is not much to this process and overall it will not take you more than 10 minutes from start to finish to complete these.
You do want to allow time in between creating them and allowing them to dry if you wet them too much that is the only word of caution!
Step 1: DIY Wooden Forms For Baking Shells and Lady Lock Pastries
You’ll need to decide where you are working and set that area up for the DIY wooden pins for baking.
Step 2: Decide if You Are Making Both Large And Small Molds For Cannoli + Cream Horns (Lady locks, clothespin cookies, etc)
Remember wooden clothespin cookie forms are usually, small, and bite-size, whereas cannoli are both small and large tubes, and cream horns and lady locks can be created from small and large molds.
Step 3: Cut The Wooden Cannoli Pins To Size
You need to hold the rods still, so decide how you are doing that. I asked my husband to cut so I could photo (my tripod broke during this shoot, ugh!)
If you are cutting the small pins, make sure to have your dowel measured and set to cut and then stabilized underfoot or however, you are holding it still.
I stacked mine in a tray as they were cut!
Step 4: Sand The DIY Cannoli Molds and Cream Horn Forms
Sand all of the ends of the tubes and lady lock/cream horn pins because you’ll want them to be smooth but if they are already smooth don’t sand.
However, if you have one of the ends which has the color painted dots, that is not food safe so sand it off no exceptions!
Step 5: Wash the DIY Cannoli Forms | Lady Lock Pins
Now you need to wash all of the pins and allow them to dry!
Step 6: The Final Prep For Your Tubes, Forms, Pins, Molds!
To make these nonstick, easy to use, over and over again, you’ll want to coat them with foil.
When you use them the first time, I suggest swiping each with coconut oil (nonflavored) and after that, you will probably not have to do it again, and everything you bake: cannoli shells, cream horn pastries, clothespin cookies, lady locks, etc. will just slide right off of the DIY inexpensive reusable wooden baking tubes until you change the foil!
What Holidays Can You Use The Lady Lock Pins + Cannoli Tubes For?
There’s no set Holiday to use the pins for but you can use them for any day.
The top holidays that I use these forms for are:
- 4th of July
- Easter
- Christmas
- Birthdays
- Showers
- Weddings
- Graduations
What Recipes Can I Prepare With The Inexpensive Reusable Wooden Baking Tubes?
- Make Italian pastries using homemade cannoli dough
- Lady locks
- Cream horns
- Clothespin Cookies
Do remember that the items you make will be based on the size you choose, either large or small and you’ll have to work your recipes for the pastries and dough around such.
Also, the filling recipes for each recipe might be based around small or large and you’ll either need to double it or lessen it, so just keep that in mind!
Popular Substitutions For This DIY
Now I may not prefer specific recipes for most of my cooking as I am a pinch of that and a bit of this, I do love and need consistency in baking so nothing burns.
Therefore I never use the method I will share, but if you are a different kind of baker that does not need precision when baking, here’s the method!
Just use 1 wooden dowel and don’t cut it allow it to hang over the baking pan and just space between each pastry that you are creating.
In other words, if you are making 5″ lady locks, then space between each 5″ and fit about 9 on one rod.
Again, I don’t like that method which is why I made pins, forms, tubes, whatever you want to term them for my shells, lady lock pastries, and clothespin cookies.
How To Get The Cannoli Forms and Lady Lock Forms Not To Stick When Used
You’ll find that you want your food to lift right off and I’ve got the solution in 2 different ways!
If you have not tried this nonstick foil, you are missing last it is the total bomb!
My second choice method is using regular foil with a light brushing of unflavored coconut oil.
Either method is easy to do and priceless when you go to slide off the foil!
Want to see me slide a cannoli shell right off the foil on the wooden DIY pin?
Have your lady lock forms and cannoli pins ready on the same day when you DIY them! Fast. Easy. Cost-Effective!!!
Other DIYS You Will Love
Are you looking for other simple DIYs that make a huge impact in your home? I’ve got them!
Make Sure To Come Back And Tell Me How Your Lady Lock Forms Turned Out!
Enjoy baking whatever you are using these for, they are simple to make and so darn affordable you’ll wonder how you ever did without them before!
DIY Lady Lock Forms | Cannoli Tubes For Under $4
Equipment
- Circular Saw
- Pencil
- Sandpaper/Sanding Block
- Foil
Materials
- 1 " x 48 Dowel Rod Cannoli/Cream Horns
- 1/2 " x 48 Dowel Rod Lady Locks and Mini Cannoli
- Circular Saw
- Pencil
- Nonstick Aluminum Foil
- *Optional Sand Paper 250 Grit Fine
Instructions
- Purchase The Dowel Rods You need for each size
- Mark 1" Dowels at the 5" intervals
- Mark the 1/2" dowels at the 3" intervals
- Wear Safety Glasses
- Using a saw cut each dowel at the marked interval, you will need to keep the rod steady when you cut and secure, which may require holing it with your other hand or securing it with a clamp to a work surface you can cut on.
- Cut each dowel at the marked interval.
- You'll want to sand the ends to remove the painted marks (if your rods have them) or if the ends are too rough (again optional) You do not want to keep the paint on the ends of the rod, it may not be suitable for use with food!
- Once you've cut all the pins (tubes, forms, molds) gather them and wash them with dish soap and water to rinse and allow them to dry.
- Once dried cut NONSTICK foil to cover the newly created tube (form,mold, pin) leaving enough to twist each end like a "Tootsie Roll"
- Store covered with aluminum foil (unless totally disgusting) in a plastic zippered bag or a snap top container.
Video
Notes
Enjoy this DIY~ DANA XO
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