This is the best homemade tiramisu. Not only can you now make tiramisu at home, you can make it better than any tiramisu you’ve had from bakeries or restaurants! By following a few easy steps, you’ll have a melt-in-your-mouth dessert that is sure to impress anyone you serve it to.
What is tiramisu?
Tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts! It’s a slightly sweet, coffee flavored classic Italian dessert. It consists of coffee soaked lady fingers layered between a creamy mascarpone filling that’s dusted with cocoa powder on top! YUM!
Ingredients you’ll need for my easy tiramisu recipe:
- Ladyfingers: Feel free to make homemade ladyfingers but I use store-bought! The brand I like is Delallo Savoiardi Lady Fingers found in a 7 oz package
- Mascarpone: I like BelGioioso Spreadable Mascarpone Cheese found in 8 oz containers. It’s like the Italian version of cream cheese. Traditional cream cheese can be substituted if needed.
- Eggs: You’ll need to separate the raw eggs and reserve only the yolks for this recipe.
- Granulated sugar
- Heavy whipping cream
- Kahlua Liqueur: you can substitute dark rum or marsala wine in its place.
- Strong coffee: any coffee will do. I recommend brewing fresh coffee for a more intense coffee flavor.
- Cocoa powder: for dusting on top
Why should you make tiramisu?
This Italian tiramisu recipe is low effort and high reward. It’s an elegant and rich layered dessert that’s a true crowd pleaser. Whether you are hosting a celebration, intimate dinner or on ‘dessert duty’ for a friends party, this dessert works for any special occasion. After all, who doesn’t like coffee and chocolate together?!
How to make traditional tiramisu.
- Mix the creamy mascarpone filling. This requires beating the egg yolks, liqueur, cream, sugar, and mascarpone together to reach stiff peaks.
- Dip lady fingers. Add the freshly brewed coffee to a shallow bowl and give the ladyfingers a quick dip. Make sure to NOT soak them, they will fall apart if you do!
- Layer it up! Spread a layer of the mascarpone/whipped cream mixture on top of the lady fingers. Repeat this process one more time and dust cocoa powder on top.
- Chill. Allow the layered tiramisu to set in the fridge for at least two hours.
How to make traditional tiramisu.
- Mix the creamy mascarpone filling. This requires beating the egg yolks, liqueur, cream, sugar, and mascarpone together to reach stiff peaks.
- Dip lady fingers. Add the freshly brewed coffee to a shallow bowl and give the ladyfingers a quick dip. Make sure to NOT soak them, they will fall apart if you do!
- Layer it up! Spread a layer of the mascarpone/whipped cream mixture on top of the lady fingers. Repeat this process one more time and dust cocoa powder on top.
- Chill. Allow the layered tiramisu to set in the fridge for at least two hours.
FAQ:
Of course! There are only a few tablespoons included to complement the other coffee and chocolate flavors in this dessert. If you don’t want to add the alcohol, you can leave it out completely and still end up with a delicious tiramisu!
Kahlua is a dark, coffee liqueur that’s made with rum, sugar, vanilla and coffee. If you are struggling to find it at the grocery store, you can use dark rum or marsala wine in its place. I just like Kahlua because it amps up the coffee flavor in this dessert even more!
If your ladyfingers are disintegrating on you, chances are you’ve soaked them in the coffee for too long. The ladyfingers just need to be dipped quickly (no longer than 5 seconds each) or else they will become too soft and mushy to work with. Next time you can also try allowing your coffee to come to room temperature before you start soaking. This will allow the coffee to absorb slower into the ladyfingers.
If you buy a tub of mascarpone with liquid in the container, make sure you DO NOT add in the extra liquid. If you do, the cream mixture will be way too runny. I recommend using BelGioioso Mascarpone Cheese that is spreadable and found in 8 oz containers.
Best Homemade Tiramisu
Equipment
- 1 handheld or stand mixer
- 1 spatula
- 1 8×8 baking dish
Ingredients
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 tbsp Kahlua Liqueur
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 16 oz mascarpone cheese from 2 containers
For assembly:
- 2 1/2 cups strongly brewed coffee
- 24 ladyfinger cookies from a 7 ounce package
For topping:
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
Instructions
- Start by separating the eggs and reserving the yolks. We will not use the whites for this recipe.
- In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, add in the egg yolks, Kahlua liqueur, heavy whipping cream, sugar and mascarpone cheese.
- Using the whisk attachment or an electric hand mixer on medium speed, whip the mascarpone mixture to a stiff peak (you'll know when it's done because the mixture on the beater will stay upright when its flipped upside down). This should take about 2 minutes in a stand mixer. Then set aside.
- Next, brew your coffee and allow it to cool for a few minutes just so you don't burn yourself! Pour it into a small, shallow dish and start to QUICKLY dip each ladyfinger. Then transfer them to the 8×8 baking dish.
- Once you have an even layer of soaked ladyfingers on the bottom of the dish, using an offset spatula, spread half of the creamy mascarpone filling.
- Repeat this process one more time.
- Top with a dusting of cocoa powder. Then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Nutrition
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