Easy Tiramisu Italian Dessert (Printable)
A creamy, coffee-soaked Italian dessert featuring mascarpone and ladyfingers chilled for hours.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dairy
01 - 1 cup mascarpone cheese (8 oz)
02 - 1 cup heavy cream, cold
03 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
→ Eggs
04 - 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
→ Liquids
05 - 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee or espresso, cooled
06 - 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (optional, such as Kahlúa or Marsala)
→ Cookies
07 - 24 ladyfinger biscuits (savoiardi), approximately 7 oz
→ Topping
08 - Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting
09 - Dark chocolate shavings (optional)
# How-to Steps:
01 - Whisk egg yolks with powdered sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and becomes pale yellow. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
02 - In a clean bowl, beat cold heavy cream using an electric mixer or whisk until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
03 - Gently fold mascarpone cheese into the cooled egg yolk mixture until smooth and fully incorporated. Carefully fold in the whipped cream until no white streaks remain.
04 - In a shallow dish, combine cooled brewed coffee with coffee liqueur. Stir to blend.
05 - Working quickly, dip each ladyfinger into the coffee mixture for 1-2 seconds per side. Arrange half of the dipped biscuits in a single layer in an 8-inch square dish.
06 - Spread half of the mascarpone mixture evenly over the ladyfingers using a spatula, ensuring complete coverage.
07 - Repeat with remaining dipped ladyfingers, followed by the rest of the mascarpone mixture. Smooth the top layer evenly.
08 - Cover dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and texture to set.
09 - Just before serving, dust generously with unsweetened cocoa powder. Garnish with dark chocolate shavings if desired. Cut into squares and serve chilled.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- No baking required, just assembly and chilling time
- The coffee soaked layers become impossibly creamy after a few hours in the fridge
- Dusting with cocoa powder right before serving creates that restaurant style finish
02 -
- Overdipped ladyfingers cannot be saved, so quick dips are nonnegotiable
- Refrigerating overnight rather than just 4 hours makes a dramatic difference in texture
03 -
- Use pasteurized eggs if you are serving anyone with concerns about raw egg consumption
- A small pinch of salt in the coffee mixture enhances all the other flavors