What is Tiramisu?
Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert. It consists of layers of sweet mascarpone cream and Ladyfinger cookies soaked in espresso and liquor. It has a luxurious spiked coffee and cream flavor, with a touch of chocolate from a dusting of cocoa powder over the top. The Ladyfingers soften into cake-like layers, in between the mascarpone cream. Therefore, the entire dessert is soft and sumptuous with decadent appeal! The word Tiramisu is translated in English as “cheer me up” (or pick me up) and that’s exactly what this elegant treat does to all who partake.
The Best Tiramisu Recipe
Although there are many variations of this traditional Italian dessert, today we are sharing the recipe we think is the BEST Tiramisu Recipe, because it’s…
Easy to make Tastes (and feels) authentic And offers plenty of room for personalization!
If you’ve never tasted tiramisu, or have never made it yourself, look no further. This fabulous Easy Tiramisu Cake Recipe is the only one you will ever need! We’ve incorporated all the important elements for taste and texture, while simplifying the process a bit. That way, you can make this recipe in 30 minutes or less, and feel very proud to serve it. Our recipe for Tiramisu is ultra-rich, not too sweet, bold in its boozy coffee flavor, firm, and creamy. Your long-lost Italian grandma would approve!
Easy Tiramisu Recipe
I’ve found, that there is normally a big gap between the “best” recipe and an “easy” recipe for a certain dish. Meaning, that when you want to make something with the best flavor and texture, you don’t usually get to take shortcuts. When people try to simplify a classic Tiramisu Recipe, they often cut out important ingredients and steps that make all the difference. Therefore, they end up with a creamy coffee dessert… But it’s not real Tiramisu. Today, I’ve tried to streamline the recipe a bit, without sacrificing anything in flavor and texture. I’m very happy with the results of this Easy Tiramisu Recipe… And you will be too!
Ingredients You Need
Egg yolks Sugar Mascarpone cheese Vanilla extract Heavy cream Ladyfingers Espresso Rum (or Brandy) Cocoa powder
How To Make Tiramisu
This easy recipe for tiramisu takes just a few simple steps! Here’s how to make it:
Tiramisu Tips and Tricks
Don’t Have An Espresso Maker?
You can buy espresso at a local coffee shop and refrigerate it until ready to use. Or you can use powdered “instant” espresso coffee and water to make espresso for this recipe.
Don’t Have A Double Boiler?
That’s okay. You can set a small pot with 1 inch of water on the stovetop and rest a glass bowl over it. The steam will warm the glass bowl, just like the crock of a double boiler.
Finding Ladyfingers
There are two types of Ladyfingers… The Savoiardi-style is the type to look for! They are crisp like little cookies, and will soften over time. The other cake-like variety is way too soft to work with.
Cutting Tips
Want pretty “clean” sides on each piece of Tiramisu? Make sure to wipe the knife blade with a damp paper towel between each cut. Also, be sure to cut deep and run the knife along the bottom of the pan so the pieces come out of the pan fully intact.
Individual Portions
Instead of making our recipe for Tiramisu in a large baking dish, you can layer it in individual ramekins. It should fill twelve 8-ounce cups. Before dunking, you may need to trim the Ladyfingers to fit in the cups.
Tiramisu Recipe Swaps
Chocolate Shavings
Most classic Tiramisu Recipes use unsweetened cocoa powder on top. However, if you want to make the top look more elegant, you can use a dark chocolate bar and a vegetable peeler to shave chocolate swirls over it.
Liquor/Alcohol Options
Not a fan of rum? I prefer rum in Tiramisu because it’s sweet and mild. Yet feel free to try this recipe with Madeira wine, amaretto, coffee liqueur, or even bourbon!
No Mascarpone Cheese?
Most grocery chains sell mascarpone cheese in the “fancy” international cheese section. However, if you can’t find it, you can swap it for full-fat cream cheese. Will it taste the same? No. But it will still taste good, and it’s the best substitution for texture.
Is Tiramisu Gluten-Free?
Classic Ladyfinger cookies are not gluten-free. However, you can find gluten-free Ladyfingers at specialty shops. If you use these instead of traditional Ladyfinger, the recipe is fully gluten-free!
More Elegant Dessert Recipes
Pomegranate Cream Tart Bruleed Grapefruits Kahlua Coconut Icebox Cake Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart (Gluten-Free!) Affogato Cake No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake (Bars) Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake (Olive Oil Cake)
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