Easy Tiramisu Recipe
If you want to make the best tiramisu ever, then it should have qualities like Creamy, Light, Rich, Coffee-flavored, Feeds a crowd and it's perfect for date night.
Ingredients
Ladyfingers - Are kind of a base for this delicious Italian dessert. In Italy, they are called Savoiardi and if you can get those in your local store, definitely use them. Ladyfingers are basically dry sponge biscuits and you can absolutely make them at home as well.
Brewed coffee - There's no Tiramisu without coffee. We like to use unsweetened brewed coffee or espresso, but if you like your dessert extra sweet, go ahead and sweeten the coffee. Instant coffee will work great too. In a cup combine hot water with a tablespoon or two of Instant coffee, depends on your taste.
Eggs - An authentic Italian recipe calls for raw fresh (very important!) eggs and that's exactly what we use in our recipe as well. To learn more about raw or tempered eggs, continue scrolling down.
Vin Santo - Our favorite alcoholic drink to use in tiramisu recipe. You could substitute with Kahlua, Madeira, Port, Dark Rum.
Sugar - Use granulated white sugar. This dessert isn't too sweet, because we like to keep it light, fresh and not too heavy.
Mascarpone cheese - Honestly, I can't imagine making this divine dessert without mascarpone cheese. If you can't get it in your local store, don't worry, we have an incredibly easy recipe for homemade mascarpone cheese.
Orange juice - Adds freshness and delicious citrusy aroma that's not overpowering. It's not traditional and when oranges aren't in season you can definitely leave it out. Always use freshly squeezed orange juice.
Cocoa Powder - Not only does it create a wonderful, velvety layer but it adds a bit of that chocolatey flavor and light bitterness (in a good way). Always use unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder.
What is Tiramisu
It's an amazing original Italian dessert, that happens to be our favorite. Tiramisu is made with coffee-soaked ladyfingers (or savoiardi in Italian), creamy mascarpone cheese mixture, raw eggs, and cocoa powder. It's always served cold. It originates from the Northern part of Italy, Veneto, and Venezia, that happens to be next to our country. Just like Venice, this treat is perfect for romantic dinners, Valentine's day and birthday celebration and also, perfect for hot summer days.
Raw or tempered eggs?
Traditionally, Tiramisu is made with raw eggs (of course make sure they are fresh and free range, or even better, from a local well-known source). However, a lot of people are scared of eating raw eggs for a number of reasons. You can either buy tempered eggs or...
If you prefer using homemade tempered eggs, then whisk them in a bowl over a pot of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water). Of course, if you are using tempered eggs, you don't separate the eggs, but use whole eggs in a tempering process. Remove from the heat and let them come to room temperature, then continue with the recipe. If you will serve this dessert to a pregnant lady, then absolutely use temperated eggs.
You will also find heavy cream in some recipes. We never make it with heavy cream, but my mom used to. Originally there's no heavy cream in the recipe because the mascarpone is made with heavy cream, so there's no need.
Can I make Tiramisu ahead of time
Absolutely. Actually, Tiramisu is one of those desserts, that is best eaten the next day. So we recommend making it in the evening or afternoon, then place in the fridge and serve the next day.
How long can I keep it in the fridge
Cover with cling film and keep in the fridge for up to 3 - 4 days. Don't freeze it.
Alcohol in tiramisu
Can you leave it out? Absolutely. Do we love a tablespoon or two in our recipe? Definitely. Which one you ask? Well, there's a variety of options. The most common is probably Marsala wine, a sweet red wine from Sicily. We always use Vin Santo, an Italian dessert wine from Tuscany, which is actually our secret addition (it's soooooo good you guys). Other options would be Madeira, Port, Kahlua or Rum.
Variations and Twists
A very popular twist is Tiramisu cake, which is definitely on our list. However, you can play around with flavors and add a nice, thin layer of melted chocolate over the coffee-soaked ladyfingers. When cherries are in season, try making this amazing Cherry Tiramisu, that's made with dark chocolate, cherries, and Kirsch. You can also add raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries to the cream to make it even more special.
How to make tiramisu (video):
METHOD
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preparation
Line ladyfingers in one layer in an approx. 20 cm x 25 cm ( 8-inches x 10-inches) baking dish. Pour half of the brewed coffee over the ladyfingers for them to get soaked, but not too much.
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Mascarpone cream
Separate your eggs. Place the egg yolks into a large bowl with Vin Santo or cognac, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Whisk with an electric mixer (or in a stand mixer) on medium speed for about 10 minutes or until the mixture is fluffy and pale. It's super important to really mix thoroughly for about 10 minutes. Add the mascarpone and freshly squeezed orange juice. Mix to combine.
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beat the egg whites
Clean the whisk and whisk the egg whites with 1 tablespoon of sugar until they form stiff peaks. Add 1/3 of the egg whites to the egg yolk mixture and fold it in, then very gently fold in the rest of the egg whites. The mixture has to be creamy and delicious.
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serve
Spoon half of the cream on top of the ladyfingers. Line another layer of ladyfingers over the cream, pour the remaining coffee over the ladyfingers and spoon the remaining cream on top. Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or even better, overnight. Dust with cacao powder and serve or pop in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Enjoy.
