Tiramisu Recipe

Hello friends! Today’s offering is a classic tiramisu recipe. I did a Q&A on Instagram recently about what kind of recipes you would like to see and someone asked for tiramisu. It made me realize that I don’t have a recipe for this Italian favorite on the blog even though I have made it several times. So, here I am fixing that. 

Two years ago, my husband and I took an anniversary trip to Italy where we enjoyed the best desserts of our lives so far. From gelato to semifreddo to panna cotta to tiramisu. Oh, how I wish every day included these. But it just means we get to go back and experience the culture and food of Italy again. 

On one of our excursions, we ran into a small hole in the wall restaurant in Venice after taking a few lost turns. Well, not technically lost turns as we ditched the maps and just wandered. We stopped for dinner and in the end, the owner came over to ask if we would like dessert. He didn’t have a menu but said his wife made tiramisu and we were welcome to try some. We did and OH MY GOSH, it was the best thing I’ve ever had. From the rich espresso flavor to the mascarpone cream soaked ladyfingers that melt in your mouth, it was everything dreams are made of. 

Of course, I could never replicate that and gosh I don’t want to as some things are irreplaceable. However, one can try to learn how to make this classic at home. Tiramisu is a no-bake dessert that is made by layering mascarpone cream with ladyfingers soaked in coffee and dusted with cocoa powder. As simple as that. Most comforting classics are simple and rely on quality ingredients and techniques. So please don’t skimp on getting that good mascarpone cheese. 

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to make a tiramisu recipe. Skip them if you don’t need it. The recipe is at the end. 

Start by gathering all your ingredients. 

Separate your eggs. 

Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form. 

Then, whisk the egg yolks with the powdered sugar until light and fluffy. 

Lightly whisk the mascarpone into the whipped egg yolk mixture. At this step, you could add in amaretto. The original Italian classic doesn’t have alcohol but feel free to add some here. 

Gently fold in the whipped egg whites into this mixture. Be sure not to deflate the air you whipped in them. 

Mix until combined and a nice cream is formed. 

Now you can start layering the dessert. Start with cream. 

Then soak each ladyfinger into the coffee and place over the cream.

Form a layer.

Then add more cream over the soaked ladyfingers. 

Repeat. 

And finish off with a layer of cream. 

Then dust the top with cocoa powder. 

And there you have it! 

This easy and simple tiramisu recipe is comforting and even though it will never be like the original you get in Italy, it will satisfy you until you make it to Italy. 

Below are some frequently asked questions about this tiramisu recipe. If I didn’t answer your question, please feel free to ask me in the comments. 

Can I add amaretto to this?

Yes, you can. I would add it to the mascarpone cheese and egg yolk mixture. 

Can I make this ahead?

Yes, it gets even better if you make it the day before you want to serve it. 

Can I make more or less?

Yes, that´s no problem. If you want to use a smaller 8×8 inch pan, use around ⅔ of the amount in the recipe. Double the recipe for a larger crowd. 

Can I freeze it?

It’s possible to freeze it, but I would recommend freezing it in single servings. You could even eat it half-frozen like a semifreddo.