Every Christmas, one lucky someone is sent down to the basement refrigerator at my in-laws’ house to retrieve the tiramisu, and forgive me, but I think it’s the happiest moment of the holiday season. The china comes out along with the fancy spoons and napkins, and a bunch of hungry dessert-lovers wait in anticipation at the dining table for our favorite final course. We may be full of dinner and the tiramisu may be store-bought, but with a cup of espresso it tastes like heaven on earth! Take it from me… Not long ago, I avoided coffee-flavored anything.
I will never be able to thank my married-into family enough, though, for coaxing me into loving this delicious confection! Soft, spongy and feather light with layers of whipped cream, mascarpone and sweet ladyfingers, just one spoonful is never enough. Now that I found a recipe with an almost identical taste to my favorite, I’ll hopefully be able to debut my homemade dessert at a future Christmas with my family!
Best of all, this recipe is so easy and tastes best after a full day of sitting in the fridge! Though it turned out incredibly tasty, I wasn’t sure if this tiramisu would work out at first, so I used the easiest-to-find ingredients possible, including store-bought ladyfingers and mascarpone. However, if you are interested in taking this homemade all the way, check out these recipes for homemade mascarpone from Teenie Cakes and homemade ladyfingers from Annie’s Eats, two of my favorite food bloggers.
Craving more? Keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for new post updates and more. You can also check out my FAQ page, or contact me with any questions or inquiries!
Tiramisu
Yield: Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 (12 ounce) package ladyfingers
1/3 cup coffee-flavored liqueur, or strong coffee
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting
1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate
Directions:
Combine egg yolks and sugar in the top of a double boiler (If you don’t have one, here’s an easy tutorial on how to make your own). Reduce heat to low, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and whip yolks until thick and lemon colored.
Add mascarpone to whipped yolks. Beat until combined. In a separate bowl, whip cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold into yolk mixture and set aside.
Line the bottom and sides of a large glass dish with the ladyfingers. Brush with coffee liqueur or strong coffee. Spoon half of the cream filling over the lady fingers. Repeat ladyfingers, coffee and filling layers. Garnish with sifted cocoa powder and/or shaved chocolate. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.
If desired, use a round biscuit cutter to cut individual portions of tiramisu from the dish. (This keeps calories down and also creates a nice presentation for guests!)
Enjoy!
Adapted from AllRecipes
Gorgeous!!! :)
I’ve never made this OR tried it!! Crazy eh? It seems like one of those recipes that everyone has tried at least once. I trust you, and am definitely going to try your recipe. It just sounds so good!
I LOVE tiramisu!! I tried making it once and it didn’t work out that well…but this was many many many MANY years ago. I think I need to give it a try again. Yours look fantastic, Georgia!
I adore tiramisu. And your presentation is absolutely stunning!
Your tiramisu looks so inviting!
Oooh, I do love some good tiramisu! And I love your beautiful little tiramisu rounds!
I have to say I could probably eat the entire recipe here in one go. I mean that’s the beauty of a great Tiramisu – it’s so darn light. At least on the palate anyway…
They came out beautifully. I have had this dessert out many times, but never really understood the love. I think I need to make it on my own to truly appreciate it.
PS – Love the camera focus in the last shot.
This is just gorgeous! I have a few friends & family members who absolutely love tiramisu….but I’ve never made it! I might have to give it a go :)
Tiramisu is also a family favourite here. I just made it this week. I love the individual presentations you made. So pretty and a grand idea. I usually do mine in a spring form pan with the lady fingers vertical along the side with the simplest delectable recipe:
6 yolks
6 scant tablespoons of sugar
6 whites
8 ounces of tiramisu
Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form; set aside
Beat the yolks with sugar until beautiful and thick then add the cheese and beat until light and beautiful and thick
Fold the whites into the cheese mixture
Then, dip the lady fingers very quickly into equal portions of very strong espresso and your favourite liqueur… I usually use Kahlua, but love Grand Marnier. Sometimes I do a mixture of Kahlua with Sambuca that is deadly good, too.
:)
Valerie
looks like you accidentally listed the Teenie Cakes URL twice instead of Annie’s link
So beautiful. Tiramisu is elegant and classy. Love the light, creamy flavor!
My first attempt at Tiramisu was during Christmas this past year. It didn’t work out well, but it wasn’t the most horrible thing either. The recipe I used said to dip the ladyfingers in the coffee, but it didn’t specify how long, and I saturated them. This resulted in soggy cookies that filled your mouth with cold coffee with every bite. Who likes that?
I don’t let recipes get the best of me. I’ll bookmark this one and try it out sometime. Thanks. :)
great serving idea! they look delicious. I always use freshly brewed espresso and Amaretto Dissaronno in equal parts for dipping the lady fingers in.
Nothing says “all mine” like these scrumptious individual servings of Tiramisu… let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to share! I think your family will be impressed come the holidays when you present them with these.
We served tiramisu at our wedding instead of a wedding cake. Yours look beautiful and delicious!
Thanks everyone for your kind and thoughtful comments!
Also, “Anonymous” – Thank you for pointing that out. The link has been added for Annie’s ladyfingers.
delicious Georgia I make very similar yours look delicious
This sounds absolutely mouth watering! I do love coffee flavoured desserts :-)
I’ve been wanting to make my own tiramisu for a while, but just havent found the time.. you’ve reminded me why I wanted to in the first place!
One of my favorites! What fun to make them individual! Definitely will be trying this soon. Looks delicious!
Oh you wonderful girl! My family loves this dessert and I have never made it! The individual ones are a fantastic idea! I think I could manage it this way – and your pics look scrumptious!
Oh my goodness! I am not one for tiramisu-I don’t know why, I always go for the chocolate desserts, but your version is making me want a huge dish of it right now. I have a feeling that this will be on my mind for days. This is, though, my little brother’s favorite dessert, and he’s coming into town this weekend. Maybe I should give it a try. Beautiful job!
This looks incredible! I love Tiramisu and making them individually is such a great idea. Lovely photos too!
What a lovely presentation! Tiramisu is one of my all time favorite desserts!!!!
I love this dessert, it is so elegant and delicious! I never even thought about making my own! Thanks for sharing!! :)
gorgeous!
I would die for some of this right now! it looks amazing!
i am hosting a linky tool event on my blog- i would love for you to submit a recipe!
Oh, this looks lovely! Although tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts, I’ve never tried making it at home before. Your is so elegant!!
That looks just beautiful! Stunning photography and styling :)
Georgia, I can’t believe you didn’t eat coffee-flavored anything until recently! Oh, how I want tiramisu so badly now!
Okay, that looks ridiculously fabulously delicious! Wow! Stunning photography!
Great blog; happy I found you!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
i like how you’ve individualized one of my most unexpectedly favorite desserts! this is one of those that exponentially improves with age (to a certain point, of course…). :)
I am head over heels for tiramisu. Your photographs make me want to go and make it right now. Thank you so much for sharing not just the recipe for your tiramisu but the recipes for homemade mascarpone cheese and the ladyfingers! I am excited to make my very own tiramisu from scratch!
I love tiramisu, too. It’s one of the desserts that’s not too sweet. Here, it’s a standart dessert, everyone knows it and has eaten it and for me, I think it’s the first dessert I learned to make many years ago.
Last time I tried making my own ladyfingers, it’s great!
I never tried the tiramisu with whipping cream, we normally use 500 g mascarpone!
Your’s looks SO yummy!
By the way, I love your blog, and everyday I hope there’s a new recipe on :) Now that I have a blog on my own, I can become a reader :)
I have to say, tiramisu is my absolute favorite dessert of all time. Maybe I’ll drop in on your family on Christmas…just to steal a bite or two.
This is my husband’s all-time favorite…hence I have never tried making my own! I’m trying to muster up the courage! Yours is so very pretty and petite! ♥- Katrina
Making individual servings of this classic dessert is a beautiful way to serve it. Fun for a dinner party!
Beautiful job on this. Tiramisu always looks so elegant.
Tiramisu is my all-time favorite, but I’ve never tried to make it. You did a wonderful job. They look beautiful and delicious.
Tiramisu is one of my absolutely favourites but I have never ventured to tackle it on my own. Thanks for sharing this one!
Gosh Georgia, you’ve been busy! What a gorgeous dessert, I do luv tiramisu. You’ve inspired me to revisit it and make it again ;) Congrats on the Top 9 – very elegant1 ;)
hi Georgia
tiramisu is my all time favorite dessert, it was love at first bite, and I think I would devour that beauty on the screen!
Congrats on your top 9 today!
Dennis
TOP 9!!! AWESOME!! ♥- Katrina
I love tiramisu, but have never made it either, but I’ll me making this soon. The individual little portions are such a great idea and gorgeous presentation, worthy of the good china and fancy spoons and napkins.
Tiramisu – one of my all time favorite desserts.This looks creamy, decadent & fabulous Georgia. You are right, it is better once the flavors combine overnight. The only problem is keeping away from it long enough. The other thing I love about Tiramisu – the sugar/caffeine boost :) xo
Tiramisu is my absolute favorite dessert ever! This looks amazing and will definitely be gracing my plate very soon!
wow this looks GREAT! for some reason- I am afraid to make tiramisu- i keep thinking its going to be painfully difficult to do. but i am obssessseedd with it so i should probably conquer my fear and do it sometime soon!
congrats on top 9 ! the tiramisu is looking incredible, wud just love to have it !
Love that picture on foodbuzz. Congrats on top9. Thanks for sharing.
Yum – my favorite dessert! Thank you for the biscuit cutter tip too! I’ll try it on some other desserts as well.
congrats on top 9 beautiful pictures!
Love this post! Looks so good :) Congrats on Top 9!
One of the more difficult baking projects to accomplish! Delicate yet must have structure! Congrats on such a beautiful Tiramisu!
Tiramisu=Simple, Spongy and Creamy with that hint of coffee liquor that I adore! Simply stunning. I won a man over with this confection (now husband). ;-). Congrats on Top 9! Love that biscuit cutter tip! So cute!
Tiramisu is my all time favorite dessert, and I’ve never dared make it myself for fear I won’t like what I’ve made. Yours looks fabulous- I think I’ll just have to be brave and try it. :
I really love Tiramisu especially when Christmas. I always forget my diet and i eat a lot. I made Tiramisu last week and all my friends in family private care loves it.
http://www.familyprivatecarellc.com
Do you have any clue how many lady fingers you used? I have never seen a 12 oz package and I was thinking about making homemade ones from Annie’s recipe anyways but I don’t know how many cookies to use. Thanks!
My best guess would be that I used about 20-25 ladyfingers for the whole tiramisu.
Sorry another question!
Did you do chocolate in the layers and on bottom or just on top? The picture looks more chocolate-ty than just dusted on top.
I dusted every layer with the grated chocolate for a more intense chocolate flavor, but it’s not necessary.
Delicious dessert for every season. I like the fact that you used a lot of grated chocolate in order to intense the chocolate flavor. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us!