Description
Indulgent Italian classic tiramisu delights with layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and silky mascarpone cream. Rich coffee and cocoa flavors blend perfectly, promising a luxurious dessert experience that whisks you straight to Italy’s charming cafes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 24 ladyfinger cookies (savoiardi)
- 8 ounces (225 grams) mascarpone cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) strong brewed coffee or espresso, cooled
Dairy and Cream Components:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream, cold
- ⅓ cup (70 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finishing and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (optional, e.g., Kahlua)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, for dusting
Instructions
- Craft a silky mascarpone base by whisking the cheese until velvety smooth, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Whip the heavy cream with sugar and vanilla until it forms elegant, stiff peaks that hold their shape perfectly.
- Delicately incorporate the whipped cream into the mascarpone, folding gently to maintain the airy texture and create a luxurious cream mixture.
- Prepare a robust coffee bath by combining cooled espresso with coffee liqueur, creating a rich, aromatic liquid for soaking.
- Swiftly dip each ladyfinger into the coffee mixture, allowing a quick two-second immersion to prevent oversaturation and maintain the cookie’s structural integrity.
- Create the first layer by carefully positioning the coffee-kissed ladyfingers across the bottom of your serving dish, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously spread half of the mascarpone cream over the ladyfinger foundation, using a spatula to distribute evenly and eliminate air pockets.
- Repeat the layering process by adding another set of coffee-dipped ladyfingers, followed by the remaining mascarpone cream, smoothing the surface for a pristine finish.
- Seal the dish with plastic wrap and allow the tiramisu to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of four hours, ideally overnight, enabling the flavors to harmonize and the dessert to set.
- Moments before serving, dust the surface with a delicate veil of cocoa powder using a fine-mesh sieve for an elegant, professional presentation.
- Slice into refined portions and serve chilled, revealing the decadent layers of this classic Italian dessert.
Notes
- Choose ladyfingers with a sturdy texture to prevent them from disintegrating when dipped in coffee, ensuring a perfect layered structure.
- Use freshly brewed espresso or strong coffee at room temperature to maximize flavor absorption without making the dessert soggy.
- Whip cream to soft peaks for a lighter, more delicate mascarpone mixture that maintains its elegant texture and doesn’t become dense.
- Refrigerate tiramisu for a minimum of 4 hours, allowing flavors to develop and ingredients to meld, creating a harmonious and rich dessert experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg