Classic Italian coffee-flavored tiramisu cake recipe delivers a creamy, flavorful no-bake dessert. I’m giving you recipes for two versions—the traditional recipe with eggs AND a quick 20-minute version. If you love coffee desserts, it’s the best dessert you can make!
After planning our stay-at-home Italian vacation, thanks to the pandemic, we decided to experiment with tiramisu. I’m going to have to go on a diet after this because we’ve shamelessly been eating this iconic Italian dessert for the past few weeks. It even made it to the breakfast table.
And since I want you to experience the same joy I felt with this homemade tiramisu dessert, I’m giving you T-W-O versions: an almost classic version plus a super-easy 20-minute version. So buckle up and get ready for this drool-worthy, easy, decadent dessert!
What Is Tiramisu?
Tiramisu means pick-me-up or cheer-me-up. This recent Italian invention is known for its coffee flavor and cake layers. Coffee-soaked ladyfingers, creamy sweetened mascarpone, and cocoa powder come together for pure decadence.
No mention of this versatile layer cake appears before the 1960s. The short list of ingredients (ladyfingers, egg yolks, cocoa powder, sugar, coffee, mascarpone, and Marsala fortified wine) has evolved into several variations with notable shapes.
What Are Ladyfingers?
Ladyfingers (savoiardi in Italian and sponge fingers in British English) are light, sweet, finger-shaped sponge cookies or cakes. They’re perfect for tiramisu as they can absorb the coffee syrup without getting soggy.
Their texture makes them ideal for no-bake desserts. You can buy them in Italian markets, grocery stores (Trader Joe’s, Walmart, etc.), or on Amazon (the easiest option).
How to Make a Tiramisu Layer Cake
Not-So-Classic Tiramisu Recipe With Eggs
- Custard – In a medium saucepan, whisk room-temperature egg yolks and sugar until combined. Then whisk in milk and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 1 minute. (Photos 1-3)
- Filling – Remove it from the heat, cover with plastic, and refrigerate for about an hour to cool. Whisk mascarpone cheese into the yolk mixture until smooth. (Photos 4-5)
- Espresso – In a small mixing bowl, mix espresso, rum, vanilla, and coffee liqueur. For an alcohol-free version, leave out the rum and coffee liqueur and use a little more espresso with vanilla extract. Set aside. (Photo 6)
- Ladyfingers – Dust the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. Arrange ladyfingers across the bottom of the baking dish, covering the entire bottom. Cut the ladyfingers to fill any gaps. Sprinkle with the espresso mixture. (Photos 7-8)
- Assemble – Spread half the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers with a spatula. Follow with a thin layer of homemade whipped cream. Add another layer of ladyfingers, drizzle with espresso mixture, and follow with the rest of the mascarpone mixture. (Photos 9-11)
- Finishing Touch – Finish with a thicker layer of homemade whipped cream and dust with the remaining cocoa powder. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (overnight is ideal). Slice or scoop to serve. (Photo 12)
Quick Cheat Tiramisu
- Whip the cream in a chilled bowl with the cream as cold as possible. (Photos 1-2)
- Fold in softened mascarpone cheese and continue whipping to medium peaks. Set aside. (Photo 3)
- Dust the bottom of an 8″x8″ dish with cocoa powder. Set aside. (Photo 4)
- Coffee Mixture – Combine the espresso, sweet Marsala wine, and rum or brandy in a medium mixing bowl.
- Dip each side of a ladyfinger for 1-2 seconds into the coffee and place in the pan in a single layer. Be careful not to soak the ladyfingers for a soggy dessert. Repeat until you have an even layer of ladyfingers on the bottom. Cut fingers in half as needed to fill any empty spaces. (Photos 5-6)
- Spread a layer of the whipped cream and mascarpone over the top of the ladyfingers with a rubber spatula. (Photo 7)
- Dip another layer of ladyfinger in the coffee mixture, arrange over the whipped cream, and follow with more whipped cream mixture.
- Dust the top lightly with unsweetened cocoa powder. (Photo 8)
- Serve – Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Slice or scoop to serve.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Matcha tiramisu is a gorgeous Japanese twist. Soak your ladyfingers in matcha tea instead of coffee, add a tablespoon to the mascarpone, then sprinkle matcha on top of the finished tiramisu.
- Replace the mascarpone with cream cheese in an emergency. Mascarpone does have a different flavor, but don’t miss out on this awesome dessert just because you can’t get it.
- For an eggless tiramisu, replace the custard with whipped cream and a little powdered sugar. Then, replace the ladyfingers with an egg-free vanilla cake.
- For a really fast cheat (no judging here), make instant vanilla pudding, then whip in mascarpone or cream cheese. Soak the ladyfingers in espresso and Marsala for a few seconds, then layer them with the pudding and homemade or store-bought whipped cream. Dust with unsweetened cocoa powder, chill, and enjoy.
- Your serving dish doesn’t have to be square. Tiramisu is just as beautiful in a round dish.
- A double boiler is a custard saver for making the egg cream filling.
Make-Ahead and Storing Instructions
Tiramisu is a fantastic make-ahead dessert because it’s even better the next day. Plus, you can freeze it immediately for a couple of months after assembling it. Having your dessert already done can take the stress out of a dinner party.
Refrigerate leftovers (if there are any) for up to 4 days or freeze them for 3-4 months. Honestly, it’s also good frozen.
Meals That Love Pairing With Tiramisu
Italian coffee-flavored desserts love topping off light dinners. Chicken carbonara, baked ziti, and creamy Tuscan shrimp are fabulous options.
More Crowd-Pleasing Specialty Dessert Recipes
By Imma
Watch How to Make It
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This blog post was originally published in May 2020 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video
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