Tiramisu (Creamy Delicious + Video)

Tiramisu (Creamy Delicious + Video)

This Italian Tiramisu recipe consists of a sweet creamy mascarpone filling layered with espresso-dipped lady fingers and topped with a thick dusting of cocoa powder. Serve this no-bake dessert following a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and a crisp caesar salad (or one using kale).

A few years ago I went to Northern Italy and every.single.restaurant I went to, I tried the tiramisu. I wanted to compare and contrast various types of tiramisu. We had it in Verona, Bologna and Milan. I hear that it actually comes from Veneto but it doesn’t matter because in every single place, It was a trip full of stellar tiramisu.

It was on this trip that realized that I like my tiramisu more of a scoop-able variety vs. a sliceable one. I like it to be creamy, a bit messy and topped with such a thick layer of cocoa that have to be sure to not inhale when you take a bite.

Tiramisu

What is Tiramisu

Tiramisu is an Italian dessert that consists of lady fingers dipped in espresso and layered with a sweet, fluffy mascarpone cheese and topped with a thick layer of cocoa powder.

Listen, I’m also not a total classic girl. I love some variations on this recipe. I have one with earl grey tea and another using chai. Both delicious!

Tiramisu

How to Make Tiramisu

  1. Make the filling. You can do this in the bowl of a stand-up mixer OR you can do this in a medium bowl with an electric hand mixer. I like using the paddle attachment. You want all of the ingredients to be cold.
  2. Beat all of the filling ingredients together until nice and fluffy. I set my timer to 1 minutes. I then scraped down the sides and then beat it again for an additional minute. As a result, everything was silky smooth.
  3. Grab your espresso (mixed with water) or strongly brewed coffee. You have choices! Either will work.
  4. Dip your lady fingers into the coffee. And then immediately transfer it to a baking dish. I used an 8×8 baking dish, but any comparable one will do.
  5. Add half of the mascarpone mixture, spreading it out, creating an even, smooth layer.
  6. Top it with the rest of the dipped lady fingers.
  7. And then finish with the remaining mascarpone mixture.
  8. Place a sheet of plastic wrap on top, pressed onto the surface. And then transfer it to the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours, I like to leave it overnight.
  9. When you unwrap it and are ready to serve, you may have to smooth out the top a bit.
  10. And then dust it with a thick coating of cocoa powder.
  11. Scoop and serve!
Tiramisu

Can You Freeze Tiramisu

Yes, you can freeze tiramisu. But I would advise putting it in a freezer safe dish. Pyrex says that freezing their products are absolutely fine. I say go for it. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. And thawed in the fridge. I would recommend to leave off the cocoa powder topping and then add that just before serving.

Tiramisu

Tips and Tricks

  • Tiramisu is seriously the EASIEST recipe to make. It doesn’t take much skill or cooking/baking experience. But I will say that every time I’ve come into a problem with tiramisu it’s because the filling ingredients are at various different temperatures.
  • In order to achieve a nice, smooth filling EVERYTHING needs to be cold. That way it all emulsifies well together. Not room temperature whatever you do. Straight from the fridge. Cold.
  • DO NOT use Whole Foods brand mascarpone cheese for this recipe. It’s incredibly thin and will yield a watery-like result. If you do use it (say you bought it before you read this part), completely skip the rum and add it to the espresso mixture.

Substitutions

Mascarpone is an essential ingredient to Tiramisu and unfortunately there just isn’t a substitute.
Dark rum can be substituted for brandy, port, Irish Cream (like Baileys) or madeira. Obviously I love the flavor of rum the best.

How to Make Tiramisu Non-Alcoholic

Whether you don’t drink alcohol, don’t have it in your house OR you simply don’t like the flavor, no worries. I would suggest replacing it with 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract or leaving it out together.

If you make this recipe, let me know on Instagram!

Looking recipes to pair with tiramisu? Here are a few: