Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Tiramisu
The most famous Italian dessert in the world. Layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers enveloped in a rich, ethereal mascarpone cream, heavily dusted with cocoa powder.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 270 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 8 servings
- savoiardi (crisp ladyfingers)
- strong espresso coffee (cooled)
- mascarpone cheese (room temperature)
- eggs (separated, very fresh)
- granulated sugar
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- marsala wine or coffee liqueur (optional)
Equipment
- Electric mixer
- 8x8 inch baking dish or serving platter
Instructions
- 1
Prepare Coffee
Brew strong espresso. Let it cool completely in a shallow bowl. (Optional: stir in a splash of Marsala wine or liqueur).
- 2
Whip Egg Whites
In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks.
- 3
Beat Yolks
In a separate large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until the mixture is pale, thick, and ribbony.
- 4
Add Mascarpone
Gently fold the room-temperature mascarpone into the egg yolk mixture until smooth and completely lump-free.
- 5
Lighten the Cream
Carefully fold the stiff egg whites into the mascarpone mixture in two batches, using a spatula. Do not overmix, or you will deflate the air.
- 6
Dip Ladyfingers
Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the cold espresso. Do NOT soak them; just a one-second dip per side, or the dessert will be watery.
- 7
First Layer
Arrange a tight layer of the coffee-dipped ladyfingers in the bottom of your dish.
- 8
Add Cream
Spread half of the mascarpone cream evenly over the ladyfingers.
- 9
Second Layer
Repeat with a second layer of dipped ladyfingers, followed by the remaining mascarpone cream. Smooth the top.
- 10
Chill and Serve
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight). Right before serving, dust the top heavily with unsweetened cocoa powder.
Cooking Tips
- The eggs must be incredibly fresh as they are consumed raw. If concerned, you can pasteurize the yolks by beating them over a double boiler.
- The biggest mistake in Tiramisu is soaking the ladyfingers too long; they will turn to mush.
Variations
- Strawberry Tiramisu: Replace coffee with a strawberry puree/juice blend, and layer with fresh strawberries (popular in summer).
Chef's Notes & Storage
- The name literally translates to 'pick me up' or 'cheer me up', likely due to the caffeine and sugar hit.
Nutrition Estimate
450 calories · 8g protein · 42g carbs · 28g fat · 2g fiber per serving
