Easy tiramisu recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Maayke · 1 Comment · This post may contain affiliate links

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This easy tiramisu recipe is a classic Italian coffee-flavored dessert with ladyfingers and delicious mascarpone. Homemade tiramisu is the perfect no-bake dessert.

Easy tiramisu recipe (1)

Who invented tiramisu?

The history of tiramisu is a bit of a mystery. Tiramisu first appeared in cookbooks in the 1960s. Roberto Linguanotto claims that he came up with this dessert.

Others claim the recipe is much older than that and that chefs were already making this delicious dessert in the 17th century. From the 1960s, the popularity of this dessert rapidly increased, and it soon conquered the rest of the world.

Ingredients

Marsala wine - this is a fortified Italian wine. If you want to try something different, try adding Kahlua, coffee liqueur, brandy, or rum.

Mascarpone - I always use mascarpone for tiramisu, but you can use cream cheese if that's all you have.

Cocoa powder - I always use unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder because I like the flavor and the deep color, but any unsweetened cocoa powder will do.

How to make this recipe

Easy tiramisu recipe (2)

Step 1.
Split the eggs and put aside the whites. Don't throw them away! You can freeze them or make some meringues.

Add the sugar, vanilla, and egg yolks to a heatproof bowl and whisk them au bain-marie until they become pale yellow, reach 60C (140F), and begin to thicken. This means the eggs are cooked. Set it aside to cool.

Step 2.
Whisk the softened mascarpone of cream cheese until smooth and aff the cooled egg mixture.

Step 3.
Whip up the heavy cream in a standing mixer or hand until stiff peaks.

Step 4.
Stir in a few spoons of the whipped cream to the mascarpone and mix it well. Add the rest of the whipped cream and gently fold it in.

Easy tiramisu recipe (3)

Step 5.
Pour the coffee and the marsala wine into a shallow bowl and dip the ladyfingers in the coffee mixture. Cover the bottom of your 8x8 pan

Step 6.
spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers and sprinkle some cacao powder over the top.

Step 7.
repeat steps 5 and 6 and covers the tiramisu with plastic wrap. Let your tiramisu chill in the fridge for at least 5 hours, but it is better to leave it in the fridge overnight.

Step 11.
Sprinkle some cocoa powder over your tiramisu before serving.

Tips and tricks

  • I don't recommend eating tiramisu when you're pregnant or breastfeeding because of the salmonella risk and the alcohol. If you really want to make this recipe, you can use pasteurized egg yolks and leave out the marsala. Heating the eggs to 60°C (140°F) should kill all the salmonella.
  • If you want to make this tiramisu alcohol-free, you can leave out the marsala.
  • You can make this recipe the day before. If you make this Italian dessert a day before, you give the flavor more time to fully develop, and your tiramisu will taste even better.
  • You can freeze tiramisu. Make sure you wrap it in plastic wrap or put it in an airtight container before freezing.
  • Try some other alcohol in your tiramisu, like Kahlua, brandy, rum, or coffee liqueur.
Easy tiramisu recipe (4)

Equipment

All you need to make this easy tiramisu recipe is a few bowls, a whisk or stand mixer, a shallow dish and measuring cups, or a kitchen scale.

Storage

Homemade tiramisu will keep in the fridge for up to three days.

Did you know this dessert is also suitable for freezing? Wrap the dish in plastic wrap before freezing. This way, your tiramisu will stay fresh for three to six months.

Let it that completely in the fridge and dust it with cocoa powder before serving.

More tiramisu recipes you will love

  • Limoncello tiramisu
  • Tiramisu with speculaas

Easy tiramisu recipe (7)

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4.84 from 12 votes

Easy tiramisu recipe

This easy tiramisu is a classic Italian coffee-flavored dessert with ladyfingers and delicious mascarpone. Homemade tiramisu is the perfect no-bake dessert.

Prep time 15 minutes mins

Bereiding 10 minutes mins

Additional Time 5 hours hrs

Total Time 5 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Servings: 5 portions

Calories: 629kcal

Author: Maayke @ Nutmeg and Vinegar

Ingredients

  • 1 cup strong coffee or espresso
  • 2 tablespoons marsala wine
  • 20-25 ladyfingers
  • 1 cup mascarpone
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cacao powder
  • 3 egg yolks
  • ½ teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • The filling

  • Add the coffee and the masala to a shallow bowl and set aside to cool.

  • Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a double boiler until the eggs are pale yellow and thickened. This takes about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

  • Whisk the mascarpone until soft, and stir in the egg yolks.

  • Whip up the heavy cream and fold it into the mascarpone.

Assembling the tiramisu

  • Dip the ladyfingers into the coffee and line the bottom of your baking pan.

  • Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers.

  • Sprinkle a thin layer of cocoa powder over the mascarpone.

  • Repeat steps 1 & 2, cover the tiramisu with cling film, and set it in the fridge for at least 5 hours.

  • Give your tiramisu another dust of cocoa powder before serving.

Notes

  • Heating the eggs to 60C (140F) should kill salmonella, but if you're uncomfortable, you can use pasteurized egg yolks.
  • If you want to make this tiramisu alcohol-free, you can leave out the marsala.
  • You can make this recipe the day before.
  • Replace the Marsala wine with coffee liqueur, rum, or brandy if you want to try something else.
  • You can freeze tiramisu for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 629kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 313mg | Sodium: 348mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1730IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 2mg

More Desserts

  • Date cake
  • Chocolate filled cookies
  • Vegan brownie cookies
  • Ginger cookies with fresh ginger

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Cindy lou says

    This looks delicious, I am gonna make this for our 36th anniversary dinner♥️. We have opted to make a romantic dinner at home together. (We have been watching Master Chef haha, so we are inspired) your recipes look delicious ?.

    Reply

Easy tiramisu recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for mascarpone cheese in tiramisu? ›

The Best Mascarpone Cheese Substitute

To make this mascarpone substitute, mix together 12 ounces of room temperature cream cheese (1 ½ blocks) with ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream and ¼ cup of sour cream until combined.

What can I use instead of ladyfingers for tiramisu? ›

Substitute for lady fingers in tiramisu
  • 27 Best Ladyfinger Substitutes. Here is a guide to the best ladyfinger substitutes, such as Pavesini cookies, biscotti, graham crackers, sponge cake, panettone, madeleines. ...
  • 7 Best Ladyfinger Substitutes | Tastylicious!

What are the ingredients of tiramisu? ›

There are 2 components and 4 layers in tiramisu. Each component is layered twice. It goes: espresso-dipped ladyfingers, mascarpone cream, remaining espresso-dipped ladyfingers, and remaining mascarpone cream. Dust the whole thing with a dense layer of unsweetened cocoa powder to finish.

Can I use cream cheese instead of mascarpone? ›

Yes, cream cheese makes a great substitute for mascarpone. There are two methods to substitute mascarpone: Substitute 1 cup of mascarpone with 1 cup of a cream cheese and whipping cream mixture. To make this mixture, use 1/4 cup of cream for every 8 oz.

Can I use sour cream instead of mascarpone? ›

Sour cream can be used as a mascarpone replacement in equal quantities (1:1 ratio) in savory recipes, but be sure to use full-fat sour cream as low fat versions contain way too much water.

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of mascarpone? ›

Full-fat Greek yogurt can be a fantastic substitute for mascarpone cheese in various recipes. Its thick and creamy texture closely resembles that of mascarpone, making it an excellent alternative for those looking to reduce their calorie or fat intake.

Are the ladyfingers in tiramisu supposed to be soggy? ›

Moist ladyfingers will soak up too much liquid and the tiramisù will be mushy. To dry them out, arrange them on a baking sheet and place in a 250°F oven for about 20 minutes, until brittle, flipping each one over halfway through. 5. To make chocolate shavings, you'll need a block of chocolate and a vegetable peeler.

Is it better to use soft or hard ladyfingers for tiramisu? ›

Wondering if you should use soft or hard ladyfingers for tiramisu? They come in both forms, but we tend to use the soft variety. Espresso powder: We use instant espresso coffee powder found in the coffee aisle at your grocery store.

What is traditional tiramisu made of? ›

Traditional tiramisu contains ladyfingers (savoiardi), egg yolks, sugar, coffee, mascarpone and cocoa powder. A common variant involves soaking the savoiardi in alcohol, such as Marsala wine, amaretto or a coffee-based liqueur.

What is the best liquor for tiramisu? ›

Alcohol: Tiramisu can be made with or without alcohol. This recipe calls for coffee flavored liqueur because I like that it enhances the coffee flavor, but other options are marsala wine or brandy. Make Ahead Instructions: Tiramisu is even better when made in advance, allowing the flavors to blend!

What is Costco tiramisu made of? ›

While a tiramisu is normally made with soaked lady fingers, this cake mostly uses coffee-soaked sponge cake with creamy mascarpone filling. It is then topped off with a sprinkle of chocolate powder, chocolate shavings or espresso beans.

Can I use Philadelphia cheese instead of mascarpone for tiramisu? ›

Philadephia cheese has a more acidic taste and a consistency that make it suitable for cheesecake but absolutely not for tiramisu. Its very easy to make mascarpone at home (500g fresh cream, 10g lemon juice and 82 degrees centigrade) so look up one of the dozens of recipes and don't try to substitute it.

What is a cheaper alternative to mascarpone? ›

Crème Fraîche and sour cream bring unique tastes and handle heat like pros. Then there's ricotta, Mascarpone's flavor buddy, perfect for cheesecakes and spreads. Cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese are also the go-to for rich textures.

Is Philadelphia cream cheese the same as mascarpone? ›

Mascarpone is an Italian soft cheese made from cream with no added ingredients. It has 1) a higher fat content, and 2) a sweeter, creamy flavor. Cream cheese is an American soft cheese that uses added ingredients to make the cream a cheese. It had 1) a lower fat content, and 2) a tangy flavor that tastes cheesier.

Is ricotta the same as mascarpone? ›

Ricotta is made from whey, a byproduct of cheesemaking. Mascarpone is made from cream. Not only are they different in composition, they are very different in taste and texture.

Is mascarpone just soft cheese? ›

Mascarpone cheese is a soft, slightly sweet and a tad bit tart, spreadable cheese often described as an Italian sweet cream cheese. Mascarpone is probably most well-known as the key ingredient in Italian desserts like tiramisu and cannoli.

What can you substitute for cream in tiramisu? ›

Using egg whites instead of cream: Some authentic recipes for tiramisu use whipped egg whites instead of whipped cream. Tiramisu made with egg whites is lighter and more airy. To make our recipe with egg whites, whip 3 egg whites until they hold stiff peaks.

Is mascarpone similar to brie? ›

Mascarpone, therefore, achieves a rich, smooth, hom*ogenous texture that is closer to freshly churned butter or a soft brie than the fluffy curds of its cousin ricotta. Likewise, mascarpone differs from often-substituted cream cheese in both matters of fat content and acid.

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