Tiramisu
A no-bake Italian classic: ladyfingers soaked in espresso, airy mascarpone cream and a dusting of bitter cocoa.
Tiramisu hails from Italy's Veneto region, with its invention most often credited to the town of Treviso in the 1960s. The name itself means "pick me up" — a nod to the bracing coffee and rich cream. There is no oven involved: all the magic is in soaking the ladyfingers just right and whipping a silky mascarpone cream.
🧺 Ingredients
🍽 8 servings👩🍳 Method
- 1
Coffee
Brew strong espresso, pour it into a wide bowl and let it cool completely. Stir in a spoon of coffee liqueur if you like.
- 2
Yolks
Beat the yolks with half the sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes, until the sugar dissolves.
- 3
Cream
Add the mascarpone to the yolks and fold gently with a spatula or low-speed mixer into a smooth, even cream.
- 4
Whites
Whip the whites with a pinch of salt into a firm foam, gradually adding the remaining sugar, until stiff and glossy peaks form.
- 5
Combine
Fold the whipped whites into the cream in batches, lifting from the bottom up to keep it airy.
- 6
Soak
Quickly dip each ladyfinger in the coffee on both sides (1-2 seconds) and lay them in a tight layer at the bottom of the dish.
- 7
Assemble
Spread half the cream in an even layer, then repeat: a layer of soaked ladyfingers and a second layer of cream, smoothing the top.
- 8
Chill
Cover the dish with film and chill for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, so the dessert sets.
- 9
Serve
Just before serving, dust the top generously with cocoa through a sieve and add dark chocolate shavings if you like.
💡 Tips
- 💡
Dip savoiardi in coffee for just 1–2 seconds — too long and the dessert turns soggy.
- 💡
Chill the tiramisu at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, for the flavor to develop.
🔄 Swaps & variations
- 🔄
Berry tiramisu: use berry juice instead of coffee, with fresh raspberries or strawberries between layers.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
What does 'tiramisu' mean and is alcohol required?
'Tiramisù' means 'pick me up' — a nod to the energizing coffee. Alcohol (Marsala, amaretto) is optional: it works beautifully without and stays kid-friendly.
Are the raw eggs in tiramisu safe?
Use the freshest eggs. If you're worried, cook the yolks with sugar over a water bath to 70 °C, or use pasteurized eggs.
What replaces mascarpone and savoiardi?
Mascarpone can be partly swapped for whipped cream with cream cheese, and savoiardi for ladyfingers or sponge cake.
