Tiramisu Recipe (2024)

This Tiramisu cake recipe made with simple ingredients is luscious, creamy, and addicting. This recipe layered with a mascarpone creme and coffee-dipped ladyfingers is the perfect make ahead dessert!

Easiest Tiramisu Recipe

This recipe is something that I’m sure you’ve had before, but have you ever tried making it? I promise it’s a lot easier than you might think! This popular dessert is perfect. It’s creamy, perfectly sweet, loaded with coffee flavor, but not too heavy.

I’ve been making tiramisu for years. For some reason people seem to think it’s a complicated dessert and they’re always blown away when a piece of homemade tiramisu is placed in front of them. It’s also perfect for making ahead of time! In fact, the longer everything can sit together and mingle the better your tiramisu will taste.

What Is Tiramisu?

This Italian layered cake actually means “pick/cheer me up”. Given that it’s spiked with both coffee and rum, I’d say that’s a pretty good name!

Tiramisu is one of those desserts that you see everywhere, and I’ve had my fair share of it. I guess at this point you can call me a tiramisu expert! I love making tiramisu because it’s so easy, you don’t even have to bake it.

• Egg yolks –You can simply discard the whites if you have no other use for them.
• Sugar –Granulated sugar will work best.
• Mascarpone cheese –Check in the specialty cheese section of your local grocery store if you’re having trouble finding mascarpone. Cream cheese or ricotta will work if mascarpone isn’t an option.
• Whipping cream – This cream is typically 35-40% milk fat.
• Lady fingers –You should be able to find ladyfingers in the same aisle you’d find biscuits or cookies.
• Hot coffee –Make sure the coffee is hot, but not too hot to touch. The ladyfingers will be able to absorb more coffee if it’s warm.
• Rum –You can use white or dark rum. You can also use Marsala or Madeira wine, coffee flavored liqueur, or amaretto.
• Cocoa – This will be used to dust and top your cake. You can also use chocolate shavings.

Can I Make Tiramisu Alcohol Free?

Yes you can! If you want to serve this dessert to young ones or if you just don’t drink yourself, you can leave the alcohol out completely and just use coffee. You can add a dash of vanilla or almond extract into the coffee if you’d like an extra hit of flavor.

How to Make Tiramisu Recipe

1. Prepare the mascarpone mixture: Brew the coffee and let it sit to cool down slightly. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Beat in the mascarpone until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream gently until well combined. If using whipping cream, beat it first with a mixer.
2. Build the tiramisu:Pour the coffee and rum into a shallow dish. Dip each side of a ladyfinger for 1-2 seconds into the coffee and lay in your dish. Repeat until you have an even layer of ladyfingers on the bottom. You can break some into pieces if needed. Spread half the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. You should get 2 layers of lady fingers.
3. Finish the tiramisu:Cover the dish and refrigerate your cake for 4-6 hours. Dust with cocoa, slice, and serve.

Do I Have to Use Raw Eggs?

If you have access to pasteurized eggs, I would recommend using those. The risk of salmonella contamination, while very rare, comes from the shell. Pasteurized eggs have been soaked in a water bath hot enough to kill and potential contamination without cooking the egg inside.

If you really don’t want to use raw yolks at all, that’s okay! Heat the yolks and sugar gentle over a double boiler while whisking vigorously until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove the mixture from the double boiler and continue as usual with the recipe.

Tips for Making the Best Tiramisu

• Just dip the ladyfingers for a few seconds – no need to soak them or they will become too soft.
• Make sure you buy the crunchy style ladyfingers versus the soft type.
• Take your time when folding the cream mixture. This will keep the mixture thick and make sure the whipped cream doesn’t deflate.
• Be patient and let your tiramisu chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours! This is how the lady fingers soften and become cake-like.

How to Store Tiramisu

Leftovers should be refrigerated immediately and will last 4 days. You can either transfer it to an airtight container or wrap the dish well with plastic. If you plan on making this recipe ahead of time, it’s best served after 1-2 days.

Can You Freeze Tiramisu?

I would only freeze this cake if absolutely necessary- it tastes best fresh.

To freeze, wrap the tiramisu well with both plastic wrap and foil to prevent freezer burn. It will last up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, serve, and enjoy! You can even serve it par-frozen for an ice cream cake-like dessert.

Craving More Sweets? Try These Recipes:

• Easy Waffle Recipe
• Strawberry Tiramisu Trifle
• Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake
• Tiramisu Tres Leches Cake
• Banana Nut Bread
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars