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
Easy Tiramisu
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 mix just 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
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 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.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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hershey’s coco? no egg? store bought cake? how the hell did did get any stars at all.
just go buy a storebought one if you are dis desperate.
This was definitely easy, but not the same as with an egg based sabayon custard. Lost some of the mascarpone flavor in the cream. I prefer the lightness of the egg whites.
I usually cut down on sugar in recipes but found this one needs more.
But if you want easy, this is certainly a drastic improvement in time commitment.
Easy. Thanks, made at 10:30 cold night to have ready for tomorrow..had all ingredients … looking forward to tasting
I made this! I used 3/4 cups of both heavy whipping cream and mascarpone (and thus reduced the sugar to 1/4 cup) and that was plenty for me. I added the cream, sugar, and vanilla first and just beat it till it was combined and the cream was halfway whipped. Then I added the 3/4 cup of mascarpone and whipped until stiff peaks formed. I had 12 ladyfingers in one pack. I also didn’t fill up a bowl with the espresso (didn’t want to waste any), I just poured a bit in a shallow plate and spooned some onto the ladyfingers till everything was covered. I chilled the tiramisu for 3-4 hrs., and I will say that this is the most authentic tiramisu I’ve had! I made it for my brother’s birthday and it was a hit.
Extraordinary. Thank you.
Great recipe! Used Sonoma Syrup Co. vanilla hazelnut simple syrup to flavor the espresso and left out the alcohol. Delicious.
Very easy and goes together quickly for the chill time. The was not a bit let on any plate. This is a keeper.
I haven’t even eaten it yet but everything went great and tasted good in its parts. I used Bourbon because I live in Kentucky! And cacao liquor with espresso! That tasted good. The marscopone and cream was awesome! It will be a nice treat at Italian themed NYE gathering of triple vaccinated family! Only 7 people so I made the original size! Fit great in Staub 9×6 ! Looks amazing and so easy! Left over coffee mix I made into a small iced coffee! Yum! This is a keeper!! Thanks Lauren!
Ohhhh, making one for work and now one for home. Gonna soak those ladies in that bourbon! Thank you for the idea. My husband will love that!
This was incredibly delicious and very easy to make at home! I didn’t have coffee liqueur, only made half the amount of espresso and it was still fantastic! Thank you for this recipe Lauren!
Look no further. Great recipe, perfectly explained, tastes great, exceeded expectations.