Tiramisu

Nothing says Buongiorno, Bella! like a sweet, delectable slice of Tiramisu. Loosely translated to “Lift me up” or “Pick me up”, this classic, but easy tiramisu cake recipe will do exactly this for you. The question is: Will you dare to share with any other sweet dessert lovers?

The best part? All ingredients in this recipe are handy in your Kitchen, or easy to acquire at any neighborhood grocery. The preparation is SO simple and straightforward, I nickname this recipe “Tira-mi-Simple“. Yes, even my 6-year-old helps me with this easy tiramisu “cake” recipe. It’s true!

I hope you’ll make this tasty treat today or this evening. If you sneak aside a portion to save for a special pairing with your early morning coffee, I’ll keep your secret. 😉

Bon Appetit, my friends!

Easy Tiramisu Recipe

Ready in 15 minutes – Serves 8 people

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN TIRAMISU?

While authentic Italian Tiramisu has many ingredients and involves advanced cooking techniques, I keep this recipe simple and straightforward. This is a layered dessert, a kind of a dessert version of lasagna. So, with a few easy-to-find ingredients, and about 15 minutes, we create a decadent, flavorful dessert everyone loves.

Ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese and specialty liquor (optional–I leave it out most times) are perhaps the only ingredients which may not be in your everyday pantry staples.

After our foundation of ladyfingers is set, we simply build up more layers with a perfect balance of whipped cream, granulated cane sugar, vanilla extract and raw cocoa powder.

HOW DO I MAKE THIS DESSERT?

Great cooks begin by gathering and setting out all the kitchen equipment and ingredients they will need to create a dish. Chefs refer to this as mise en place, meaning “everything set up and in its place”.  I recommend you read through every step below, even before preparing your kitchen equipment and ingredients for this recipe, to assure your best success in making this dish taste as delicious as it looks.

If you’re missing something, don’t worry. You may always borrow something from a friend or buy it online. You’ll see links below within the equipment list below for easy shopping.

Here is a quick equipment list, so you may gather all your kitchen tools prior to starting. The last thing we want is to be delayed from digging into a tasty Tiramisu because we are missing a simple Kitchen tool.

• measuring spoons
• measuring cups
• rubber scraper
• sifter
• mixing bowl
• small dish OR shallow bowl
• stand mixer OR hand mixer
• baking dish, I typically use 8 x 8 x 2 inches (20 x 20 x 5 cm)

WHAT IS AN EASY TIRAMISU RECIPE?

Tiramisu is a layered dish. Think of it as a “dessert lasagna”, if you will. The first steps are creating the mixtures for each layer. The following steps show you how to build up the layers of the dessert. The final step is garnishing your dessert with raw cocoa powder.

Brew instant espresso or other strong coffee. Cool to room temperature. In our first step, we quickly swipe ladyfingers through some lightly sweetened strong brew coffee or espresso with Kahlua, Amaretto or Brandy.

While the coffee is still warm, add 2 Tablespoons granulated cane sugar per 2 cups of coffee. Stir the sugar into the coffee until it is completely dissolved. *Optional: Add in liquor of choice (Kahlua, Amaretto or Brandy) and stir well.

Prepare heavy whipping cream mixture. Add in powdered sugar to heavy whipping cream. Beat using a stand mixer or electric mixer at medium speed, whipping until peaks form.

In a mixing bowl, combine ingredients to make mascarpone cheese mixture. Add granulated sugar and vanilla extract to the room temperature mascarpone cheese. Stir well to incorporate.

Arrange ladyfingers in a single layer on the bottom of your selected baking dish.

Dip ladyfingers one at a time through the room temperature, sweetened espresso/coffee and place back into the baking dish. Use care to avoid over soaking as you dip each ladyfinger on both sides into the prepared coffee mixture, then place it back on the bottom of your selected baking dish.

Spread one half of total mascarpone/vanilla/sugar mixture on top of ladyfingers. Remember, we are building a layered dessert here, so we must organize our ingredients accordingly so we will have enough reserved for each layer.

Divide the mascarpone cheese mixture into two portions. Spread one half of the mascarpone/vanilla/sugar mixture on top of the layer of coffee-soaked ladyfingers at the bottom of the baking dish.

Spread one half of total whipped cream/powdered sugar mixture on top of ladyfingers. As with the mascarpone/vanilla/sugar mixture, divide the whipped cream/powdered sugar mixture into two equal portions before carefully spreading one half over the mascarpone mixture layer.

Repeat process of dipping ladyfingers into coffee to create a new layer. Dip another layer of ladyfingers into the room temperature sweetened espresso/coffee, then carefully place each one on top of the whipped cream layer.

Spread the other half of the mascarpone/vanilla/sugar mixture on top of second layer of soaked ladyfingers.

Spread the other half of the whipped cream mixture on top of the second layer of mascarpone/vanilla/sugar mixture.

Garnish at the moment you are serving. At the last moment prior to serving Tiramisu, use a sifter to lightly dust cocoa powder over the top of the prepared dessert.

An voila! Here you have your gorgeous-yet-simple Tiramisu dessert. It’s even tastier than it is visually dynamic. Dig in!

LOVE THIS RECIPE? HUNGRY FOR MORE?

• Easy Chocolate Cookie Truffles

Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!