Tiramisu is a classic and timeless Italian dessert that is the perfect combination of delicate flavors and luxurious textures.
Layered homemade ladyfingers soaked in black coffee, luscious mascarpone cream, and dusted with natural cocoa powder. This is the perfect dessert for any hardcore coffee lover.
Before indulging in the recipe, let me give you a brief description of Tiramisu. So the name Tiramisu means “pick me up” in Italian. It used to be sold locally in the Veneto region of Italy in the 1960s.
When it comes to Italian desserts, there is nothing that can beat a classic tiramisu. It probably is almost everyone’s favorite.
Almost every classic Tiramisu calls for egg yolks to make the luscious mascarpone-based cream, but if you do not like to consume raw egg yolk, then this recipe is for you.
Tiramisu is the perfect example of simple but elegant. It is made with just a handful of ingredients, each crucial for the ultimate sumptuous taste.
Delicate lady fingers, the robust flavor of coffee, velvety and creamy mascarpone cheese, and the subtle taste of cocoa harmoniously converge to create an irresistible sweet delicacy!
Classic Tiramisu Recipe Video Tutorial
Why You Will Love This Recipe?
- Flavor: The flavor of Tiramisu can be described as a delicate combination of rich and creamy mascarpone cheese with the subtle bitterness of coffee and cocoa. Each layer contributes to the flavor of Tiramisu.
- Texture: Tiramisu is a delightful balance of creamy and airy components that create a luxurious and satisfying mouth feel. The mascarpone cheese layers provide a velvety texture that melts in your mouth. The coffee-soaked ladyfingers contribute to the dessert’s soft and moist texture.
- Elegant: Tiramisu’s classic presentation, with its beautiful layers and the dusting of cocoa powder, makes it an elegant dessert that is ideal for both casual and formal occasions.
- Cultural: Tiramisu represents the rich cultural heritage of the culinary traditions of Italy. It is not just a dessert but also a cultural symbol that connects people to the heritage and traditions of Italy.
- Easy: Although the name Tiramisu sounds like it’s a very tough dessert to make at home, in contrast, it’s quite simple to bake. You just need to make sure that mascarpone cheese is in your kitchen because most of the ingredients are a staple in most households.
Important Ingredients Used In The Recipe
- Mascarpone cheese: It is the star ingredient of this recipe. When layered together with coffee-soaked ladyfingers, it creates the classic Tiramisu. This Italian cheese, known for its high-fat content and mild and slightly sweet flavor, blends effortlessly with other ingredients, adding a decadent richness that elevates the overall taste of the Tiramisu.
- Egg: Egg has been used for making the lady’s fingers. It contributes to both the structure and texture of these delicate sponge-like biscuits. It serves as a binding agent that holds together the batter and shape during the baking, resulting in a light yet stable structure. It also lends a soft and airy texture to the lady’s fingers, giving them classic sponginess and helping them achieve the desired lightness. Both egg yolk and egg whites have been used to make the lady’s fingers.
- Corn flour: Corn flour plays a crucial role in making the ladyfingers, contributing to the biscuits’ light and delicate texture. It serves as a key ingredient in the batter that helps to create a finer, smoother crumb with a softer and more tender consistency. Also, it helps in maintaining the shape and volume of the biscuits.
- Heavy cream: Heavy cream is whipped along with mascarpone cheese to make the sweet mascarpone cheese layer. It contributes to the fluffiness and lightness of the creamy and velvety mascarpone cheese layer, making it more spreadable and easier to work with. It also balances out the dense texture of mascarpone, resulting in a luxurious and velvety texture.
- Icing sugar: It plays a vital role in the mascarpone cheese layer of the Tiramisu. When incorporated with heavy cream and mascarpone cheese, it ensures a fine and silky consistency. Although you can use castor sugar as well, icing sugar dissolves easily, which makes the process a lot easier.
- Black Coffee: Coffee is the signature flavor of the Tiramisu. It infuses the dessert with its distinct and rich flavor by providing a robust and aromatic essence that compliments the sweetness of the other components.
- Cocoa powder: Natural cocoa powder has been used to dust over the top layer of the mascarpone cheese. It adds a subtle, bittersweet taste that balances the sweetness of the dessert. You can also use Dutch cocoa powder, giving you more dark flavor and color.
How To Make Classic Tiramisu?
Preparations: Gather all the ingredients that you need for the recipe. Weigh them through a kitchen weighing scale rather than a measuring cup or spoon. Line a baking tray with a silicon mat or butter paper. Also, preheat your oven to 150° C or 300° F (OTG mode: upper rod + lower rod + fan only) before starting the recipe.
Method For The Ladyfingers
Sift the dry ingredients: For the lady’s fingers, sift all-purpose flour and corn flour in a bowl and set it aside for later use.
Make egg yolk mixture: In a bowl, add egg yolks, castor sugar (a), salt, and vanilla, then whisk with a balloon whisk until the color is lighter and paler. Make sure that you use fresh eggs for the recipe.
Make the meringue: In a different bowl, beat egg whites with an electric hand beater until foamy, then add castor sugar (b) in parts gradually while beating the egg whites continuously until a soft peaked meringue is achieved. While making meringue, make sure that the egg whites do not have even a trace of egg yolk, or the meringue won’t whip up. Also, use a super clean bowl.
Make the batter: Now fold in the meringue to the egg yolk mixture gently in parts using the cut-and-fold mixing method. Mixing vigorously will ruin the airiness of the meringue. Once incorporated properly, add the sifted dry ingredients in parts. Transfer the batter to a piping bag.
Pipe and bake: Now pipe the batter three or 4-inch long cookies like you do for éclairs on the lined baking tray. Leave a three-finger gap in between the cookies so that they do not stick to each other while baking. After piping, bake them at 150° C or 300° F (OTG mode: upper rod + lower rod + fan only) for 5 – 7 minutes or until golden brown from the sides. After baking, let them cool down completely before assembling the dessert.
For Coffee: It is the simplest element of this recipe; just mix water and coffee powder and keep it aside until the assembly.
Method For Mascarpone Cheese Layer
Soften mascarpone cheese: In a bowl, soften the Mascarpone cheese with a spatula. Although this Italian cheese is already soft, softening it before whipping it with heavy cream will make the process easier.
Beat heavy cream: In a different bowl, beat heavy cream and icing sugar with an electric hand beater until it reaches the soft peak stage. Make sure to sift the icing sugar before.
Make the mascarpone cheese filling: Now add softened mascarpone cheese along with vanilla essence and beat again until fully incorporated. Transfer it to a piping bag and keep it aside until the assembly.
Method For Assembly
Soak the ladyfingers: After cooling down completely, dip them in the coffee to soak them and place them in a deep dish. Do not soak it too long, or the lady’s finger might break.
Layering: Once a layer of coffee-soaked ladyfingers is created, pipe the mascarpone cheese filling on top and smooth out. Again, place coffee-soaked ladyfingers on the mascarpone cheese layer and repeat until the top layer is mascarpone cheese filling. Smooth out the top as well.
Dusting: Finally, dust the top with cocoa powder evenly. You are done with this delicious Italian dessert.
Chef’s Tips For The Recipe
For The Ladyfingers
Make sure to whip egg whites to the right consistency to make meringue, as it works as the leavening agent.
Bake the ladyfingers on a silicon mat or butter paper and ensure that there are three-finger gaps between the biscuits to prevent them from sticking to each other.
For Mascarpone Cheese Layer
Soften the mascarpone cheese before incorporating it with heavy cream to make it easier to blend.
Avoid overbeating, or the mascarpone cheese and heavy cream may curdle.
For Assembly
Dip the ladyfingers in the coffee and remove them quickly to avoid the sogginess of the biscuits.
Refrigerate the dessert for a few hours to let the flavors meld together and for the dessert to set properly.
How To Store Classic Tiramisu?
Store the Tiramisu in an airtight container or cover it tightly with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for one week.
While Tiramisu can be stored in the freezer, it is best to store it in the refrigerator as it can alter the dessert’s texture.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While it might alter the traditional texture and taste, you can use vanilla sponge cake or other similar light and sponge-like biscuits as a replacement.
Yes, you can make this dessert in advance, like a day before or so, as it tastes best if you leave it in the fridge for a few hours.
You can chill the Tiramisu in the refrigerator for 2 – 3 hours to let the flavors meld and set properly before consuming.
You can use cream cheese instead of mascarpone cheese, but cream cheese will not provide the authentic and signature taste of the Tiramisu. And the texture will change as well.
Beat the egg whites properly and follow the recipe in this blog post, and you will have the perfect ladyfingers.
