This delicious and unbelievably easy Tiramisu recipe is made with coffee soaked lady fingers, sweet and creamy mascarpone (no raw eggs!), and cocoa powder dusted on top. It requires no baking and can be made in advance!
Who doesn’t love an easy no-bake dessert? That’s one of the best things about this tiramisu recipe. If you are looking quick no-bake dessert I also love No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars and Butterscotch Cereal Bars.
This recipe has been a long time coming, and I’m embarrassed to admit how much tiramisu has been made in the trial of this recipe (I literally bought out every package of Savoiardi lady fingers at two different stores!) but I wanted to nail down the right approach.
By “right approach”, I mean how traditional of a tiramisu recipe I wanted to share. (In case you’re not familiar with it, Tiramisu is a popular Italian dessert made with lady fingers (or spongecake), coffee, liqueur, and mascarpone cheese topped with chocolate powder). Should I make the lady fingers from scratch? Does it matter? And more importantly, do I make it with raw eggs?
What makes my recipe different:
My tiramisu does not use raw eggs. It’s the easiest tiramisu recipe to make, and there’s no sacrifice in flavor.
Traditional tiramisu uses raw egg yolks and sugar beaten and then combined with raw whipped egg whites and mascarpone. I’ve tried that method, but thought people would most likely be turned off by the raw eggs.
Then I tried using a double boiler to gently cook the eggs and sugar before adding them to the mascarpone, which is a really common method used in lots of modern recipes (the Pioneer Woman has a great recipe!). I found it tricky to get the thick and creamy mascarpone layer I wanted.
So, I ultimately decided to swap out the egg whites in favor of fresh whipped cream, because I like the flavor and texture more. The result is delicious and EASY! You’re going to love it!
Ingredients you’ll need:
- Ladyfingers: I buy them, but you could make them from scratch.
- Mascarpone: it wouldn’t be true tiramisu without mascarpone, but if you absolutely must, you could substitute cream cheese.
- Coffee: I use espresso
- Heavy Whipped cream
- Granulated Sugar
- Vanilla extract: or substitute imitation vanilla
- Cocoa powder: for dusting on top
How to make Tiramisu:
- Mix creamy filling. Beat the mascarpone, cream, sugar, and vanilla together until stiff peaks.
- Dip lady fingers. Add the espresso and liqueur (if using) to a shallow bowl and dip the lady fingers on both sides (don’t let them soak–just a quick dip!)
- Layer mascarpone. Smooth a layer of the mascarpone/whipped cream mixture on top of the lady fingers.
- Repeat. Add another layer of lady fingers (dipped in coffee and liqueur) and another layer of cheese mixture. Dust with cocoa powder.
What kind of alcohol is used in tiramisu?
Tiramisu can be made with or without alcohol. This recipe calls for coffee flavored liqueur because I like that it enhances the coffee flavor.
Alcohol free: Leave it out completely.
Alcohol variations: use dark rum, brandy, marsala wine.
Espresso substitutions: coffee, decaf
MAKE AHEAD AND FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS:
Tiramisu is even better when made in advance, allowing the flavors to blend! It will keep in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
To freeze, make completely, but don’t dust with cocoa powder. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and then tinfoil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and dust with cocoa powder a few hours before serving.
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Recipe
Tiramisu
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 8 ounce container mascarpone cheese ,room temperature
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups cold espresso
- 3 Tablespoons coffee flavored liqueur ,optional (Kahlua or DaVinci brands)
- 1 package Lady Fingers ,Savoiardi brand can be found in the cookie aisle at your local grocery store, or online
- Cocoa powder for dusting the top
Instructions
- Add whipping cream to a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed with electric mixers (or use a stand mixer). Slowly add sugar and vanilla and continue to beat until stiff peaks. Add mascarpone cheese and fold in until combined. Set aside.
- Add coffee and liqueur to a shallow bowl. Dip the lady fingers in the coffee (Don't soak them--just quickly dip them on both sides to get them wet) and lay them in a single layer on the bottom of an 8x8'' or similar size pan.
- Smooth half of the mascarpone mixture over the top. Add another layer of dipped lady fingers. Smooth remaining mascarpone cream over the top.
- Dust cocoa powder generously over the top (I use a fine mesh strainer to do this). Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours or up to overnight before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Check out my webstory! I originally shared this recipe April 2017. Updated January 2020 with process photos and instructions.
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
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Turned out amazing 🤤
It was so simple, definitely fail proof
I made a few changes but we really liked this recipe!
My first layer was the cream then cookies, I used Lorna Doone cookies because I couldn’t find ladyfingers.
I used one espresso sized k cups (I used great values chocolate flavored k cup) I personally didn’t find the cream too sweet at all! I only wish there was more of a coffee taste but I did use shortbread cookies so I didn’t dip them long. I refrigerated this for 4 hours before serving.
I am lactose intolerant, so I’ve never tried tiramisu, but my Italian aunt loves it, so I had to find a recipe to make for her. I made your recipe and everyone loved it! I used dark rum some since that’s what I had. I had to try some, too, of course, and it was delicious. Thank you!
Just made this recipe without reading the directions carefully first and I learned that if you mix cold cheese, cream, vanilla, and sugar in a bowl and then with whip it all together, you still get stiff peaks without the extra steps.
Thank you for the Tiramisu Recipe!! Excellent FIVE STARS
I made this recipe exactly like you described and it was delicious. My family said it was delicious and light..we ate it after a Prime rib dinner and didn’t feel weighed down at all. A keeper for sure. And it was so easy to make.
Sounds like the perfect dessert for a prime rib dinner! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
This is a great recipe, however, I found this to be too sweet in my opinion and a little bit too creamy and filling. To whoever likes things not too sweet, heavy, and creamy, I would adjust this recipe to only 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Overall, I was happy with my dessert and will adjust this quick and easy recipe next time!
Tried this recipe for Easter and it was a hit! I did leave lady fingers in the coffee kahlua mixture for about 10secs before arranging them in the pan as some said they didnt taste any coffee. I also sprinkled some more coffee mixture on the ladyfingers before layering mascarpone. This recipe is a keeper!
This recipe was amazing and SUPER easy to make. My entire family loved it!