Tiramisu

12 Servings
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Refrigerate 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 45 minutes

Tiramisu will forever have a soft spot in my heart. With rich mascarpone custard and tender ladyfingers in a coffee soak, what’s not to love?

This traditional Italian dessert is light and delicious, perfect for serving with a tasty after-dinner espresso. And if you love rich cream and coffee flavors, be sure to try my Tiramisu Cheesecake too!

 

Sabrina’s Tiramisu Recipe

This Tiramisu is inspired by authentic versions I had during a trip to Italy years ago. As soon as I got home, I started developing this recipe that may take some prep time, but it is so worth it. I’ve recreated that tasty dessert with a few slight alterations to make it a bit easier for home chefs. I also use ingredients you can find at most local grocery stores, since it would be harder to track down a lot of the specific items used in Italy. I recommend serving up slices with a cup of strong coffee for the full experience!

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Tiramisu

Tiramisu will forever have a soft spot in my heart. With rich mascarpone custard and tender ladyfingers in a coffee soak, what's not to love?
Yield 12 Servings
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients
 

Custard Mixture:

  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup whole milk
  • 16 ounces mascarpone cheese

Whipped Cream:

  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coffee Soak:

  • 1/4 cup coffee , room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons dark rum

To Assemble:

  • 6 ounces ladyfinger cookies
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

  • To a large dutch oven or saucepan add the egg yolks and sugar, whisking well.
  • Turn the heat to medium heat and slowly whisk in the milk until it comes to a low simmer, then cook for 1 minute before removing from heat.
  • Place onto an ice bath, whisk to cool down faster then refrigerate, covered, for 1 hour.
  • Whisk the mascarpone into the cooled egg custard until smooth.
  • To your stand mixer add the heavy cream on medium speed until it starts to thicken.
  • Once it thickens add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and raise the speed to medium high, beating until it hold stiff peaks.
  • In a small bowl stir together the coffee and rum.
  • To an 8×10 baking dish add the first half of the ladyfinger cookies, then brush them with the coffee-rum mixture.
  • Spread half the egg custard over the soaked cookies.
  • Spread half the whipped cream on top of egg custard.
  • Repeat a second time, then dust with the cocoa powder and wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
  • Refrigerate for 4 hours, until the custard and whipped cream have chilled thoroughly and set enough to be sliceable.

Nutrition

Calories: 397kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 201mg | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1128IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 1mg

More About this Recipe

I’ve tried a lot of Tiramisu through the years, but I have to say that the best I’ve had was the first time I went to Italy. We went to a dinner party in Venice, I tried tramezzini sandwiches, rich zabaglione, and savoiardi, or Italian lady fingers. Everything was so amazing, but the classic really stuck out, especially since I had it with the world’s best cup of espresso.

Chef’s Note

My recipe calls for a little dark rum, but you can use all sorts of different libations depending on your preference. You can use Marsala wine, Amaretto, or what you’ve got on hand as long as it compliments coffee. You also don’t need to make yours boozy if you don’t want to, you can skip the liqueur and still get an amazing tasting Italian dessert.

Nutritional Facts

Nutrition Facts
Tiramisu
Amount Per Serving
Calories 397 Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Fat 30g46%
Saturated Fat 18g113%
Cholesterol 201mg67%
Sodium 61mg3%
Potassium 70mg2%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 1128IU23%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 104mg10%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 How to Store

  • Serve: It’s best kept chilled and you don’t want to leave it out for longer than 2 hours.
  • Store: You can keep this desert in the fridge for up to 4 days if you keep it in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. Keeping moisture out of it is key, so make sure to secure it tightly.
  • Freeze: You can freeze it for up to 3 months if you keep it in plastic wrap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Tiramisu?

Tiramisu translates to ‘pick me up.’ The idea was that it’s a little cake to give you energy.

Does Tiramisu have alcohol in it?

In some cases. Traditionally, Madeira wine or Marsala wine is used but all sorts of liqueurs have made their way into it, like Amaretto, Kahlua, or coffee liqueur.

What does Tiramisu taste like?

It should be little lighter than pudding coffee with cream coffee liquor with cream, with chocolate tastes like cafe mocha.

Topping Ideas

You can top your Tiramisu with all sorts of decorative toppings, from a fine dusting of espresso powder or unsweetened cocoa powder, to a dollop of Homemade Whipping Cream. I also like adding a handful of sliced nuts or some dried fruit depending on the occasion. You can also serve it with a side of Homemade Ice Cream or top it with whipped marscapone to cut the sweetness.

More Delicious Italian Desserts

Collage showing Tiramisu being prepared.

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Comments

    1. The best ladyfingers for this recipe are very dry and crisp. They’re often called savioardi and are imported from Italy. If you can’t find these and your supermarket only has soft, cakelike ladyfingers, you’ll need to let them dry out in the oven first.

  1. Tiramisu is high on my list of perfect desserts! This is a great, easy to follow recipe. The tiramisu was decadent and delicious.

  2. This tiramisu is a crowd favorite last New Year’s Eve celebration. It is so delicious and impressive. Thanks Sabrina for helping me satisfy my family and guest!

  3. We had tiramisu last Christmas, it was a hit! It is so delicious and irresistible, everyone loves it.