Tirami sùliterally translates from Italian to “pick me up”, a metaphor for “make me happy”. I can definitely understand why. With cocoa, espresso, and a touch of Marsala wine, tiramisu well definitely make you happy. Maybe even a little too happy.
I’ve only had tiramisu once or twice before, and I wasn’t particularly fond of its flavour. With a really strong coffee taste and curdled mascarpone cream, tiramisu just didn’t sit right with me. Then I found out it’s not supposed to be that way and everything changed.
Well, not everything. In fact, not most things. My love for tiramisu skyrocketed. That’s about it.
I hate when people say everything changes and only one thing changed.
One of the reasons why I love tiramisu so much is because it’s really simple to make. Pretty much all you have to do is dip cookies in coffee, spread on a custard, and dust with cocoa powder. A lot of recipes, however, don’t give clear instructions on how you’re supposed to dip the cookies, and that’s where most tiramisus fall apart. A lot of them have a really intense and overwhelming coffee flavour that dominates the cake, while others are really soggy. Tiramisu isn’t supposed to be either.
The cookies that make up the “cake” layers of a tiramisu are called Savoiardi, or lady fingers. These cookies are incrediblyabsorbentbecause they are made from a sponge cake-like batter. That’s why when you dip them in coffee if you dip them for too long they will make your cake very soggy. Sponge cake absorbs. Like a sponge. Ergo, “sponge” cake. After some testing (which was pretty much me soaking them in coffee and eating them over the sink as coffee dripped from them) I found that dipping them for more than three seconds will make them too soggy. The ones that were in the coffee for more than five seconds were pretty much mush. (You don’t want mush.)
Tiramisu also involves an Italian custard calledzabaione.This custard doesn’t have any cream, but just egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and a flavourful liqueur. Traditionally, Marsala wine or a dark rum is used. I didn’t have any on hand, so I used Bailey’s chocolateliqueur. It worked out perfectly. You just whisk it all together on the stove. You can use a double boiler if you’re afraid it will curdle. If it ends up curdling, just pass the custard through a strainer.
After the custard’s done just fold in some whipped egg whites and mascarpone cheese.
Assembling the cake is pretty simple. You take your soaked lady fingers, cover them with some of the custard mixture, dust with cocoa, and then repeat the process once more. The cake comes together pretty quickly, but is really amazing.
I highly recommend you try this recipe. It’s perfect for Valentine’s day.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is an Italian cake made from lady finger cookies, mascarpone cheese, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Oh, and liqueur.
Ingredients
For the custard layer:
- 4 (85g) egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon Marsala wine, dark rum, or coffee/chocolate liqueur
- 3 (120g) egg whites
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 container (226g) mascarpone cheese (do not substitute!), softened at room temperature
For the lady finger layer:
- 200g (about 16) lady fingers, divided
- ~1 cup cooled espresso or strong coffee
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon Marsala wine, dark rum, or coffee/chocolate liqueur
For the cocoa:
Method
Prepare the custard:
- Combine the egg yolks, one tablespoon of the sugar, vanilla extract, and the Marsala wine in a small saucepan and whisk together over low heat until the mixture thickens. Cool to room temperature. Whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar and the remaining sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold in the mascarpone cheese and the custard.
Prepare the lady fingers:
- Combine the coffee with the sugar and wine. Dip a lady finger in the coffee for maximum 2-3 seconds and then transfer it to a 9'' by 5'' loaf pan (this size gives the best proportion of lady finger to custard). Fill the bottom of the pan with dipped lady fingers (about 8 - this is half of them).
Layer the cake:
- Spread half the custard over the lady fingers, making sure they're all covered. Dust with half the cocoa powder so the custard is completely covered. Dip more lady fingers in coffee and arrange them perpendicularly to the first layer. Cover with the remaining custard, dust with cocoa, and let sit in the fridge for at least two hours before eating (this will allow the coffee to soak through and the layers to settle).
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FAQs
Traditional tiramisu contains ladyfingers (savoiardi), egg yolks, sugar, coffee, mascarpone and cocoa powder. A common variant involves soaking the savoiardi in alcohol, such as Marsala wine, amaretto or a coffee-based liqueur.
Which alcohol is used in tiramisu? ›
Tiramisu can have a variety of different types of alcohol inside, however the most common alcohol in tiramisu is dark rum. Other common types of alcohol used in tiramisu is marsala wine, amaretto, or coffee liquor.
Is tiramisu Italian or Japanese? ›
Tiramisu (Italian: tiramisù) is an Italian dessert made of ladyfinger pastries (savoiardi) dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar and mascarpone and flavoured with cocoa. The recipe has been adapted into many varieties of cakes and other desserts.
Why is tiramisu cake so expensive? ›
The inventor begs to differ. Roberto Linguanotto, a Venetian pastry chef who is often credited with the invention of tiramisu back in the 1960s, says that his creation is expensive because of the espresso used in another essential component to the dessert: espresso-soaked ladyfingers (via The Straits Times).
Is Kahlua or rum better for tiramisu? ›
Alcohol: I prefer Kahlua, but use any of the following: Marsala wine, rum (dark is best!), brandy, or Amaretto. Make it Alcohol-Free: Omit the Kahlua entirely from the coffee mixture and replacing it with coffee in the mascarpone mixture.
Is mascarpone the same as cream cheese? ›
Cream Cheese. Mascarpone is made from heavy cream, while cream cheese is made from whole milk. This gives mascarpone its high fat content and richer, creamier texture. The fat content of cream cheese is 30 to 40 percent, compared to mascarpone's whopping 60 to 75 percent fat content.
Can you eat raw eggs in tiramisu? ›
Eggs in tiramisu
In most traditional tiramisu recipes, you'll find egg yolks. This adds richness and a decadent flavor to the mascarpone filling. While true classic tiramisu recipes use raw egg yolks, I prefer to cook them to eliminate the risk of salmonella, so that's what this recipe calls for.
Should ladyfingers be soft or hard for tiramisu? ›
Wondering if you should use soft or hard ladyfingers for tiramisu? They come in both forms, but we tend to use the soft variety. Espresso powder: We use instant espresso coffee powder found in the coffee aisle at your grocery store.
How long does it take for tiramisu to set? ›
Cover the tiramisu and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours to give the tiramisu time to firm up and for the ladyfingers to soften. Serve: Dust with cocoa before serving. Serve in wedges directly from the pan.
What does tiramisu literally mean? ›
The word Tiramisù literally means “pick me up”. It comes from the Treviso dialect, “Tireme su”, Italianised into Tiramisù in the latter half of the 20th century. Historical records state that Tiramisù originated in Treviso in 1800.
🍴: All tiramisu's are halal-friendly as they are alcohol-free (but they are not @Halal Friendly List certified) 📍: Deliveries all over London, including to student accommodations. They are also available for Eid deliveries (get them in asap) 💷: Tiramisu jars start from £4.99 and tiramisu cakes start from £35.
How much is tiramisu at Costco? ›
The regular price for the Costco tiramisu cake is $16, but we've actually seen them marked down to $13 on some occasions.
What is the most expensive type of cake in the world? ›
The "Diamond Cake" by Debbie Wingham - Price: $75 million
An amalgamation of luxury and confectionary art, it's embedded with more than 4000 diamonds, including pink, yellow, and white ones, making it not just a cake but a jewelled masterpiece. It's no wonder it holds the crown for the most expensive cake in the world!
Does all tiramisu have raw eggs? ›
Nowadays, using raw eggs in cooking is so much more acceptable because the quality of fresh produce is so much better - think mayonnaise (raw yolks), lemon meringue pie (raw egg whites under the browned top). However, the real traditional way to make Tiramisu (and this is an Italian Chef recipe) is to use raw eggs.
What is mascarpone made of? ›
It is a fresh cheese that is most commonly made with pasteurized cow's milk. Unlike some cheeses, which have animal-derived rennet added, mascarpone is vegetarian. It's made by heating heavy cream and adding an acid like tartaric acid (aka cream of tartar), citric acid, or lemon juice to solidify and thicken the cream.
What is tiramisu cake made of? ›
These are the ingredients you'll need to make this decadent tiramisu cake recipe: For the cake: white cake mix, water, egg whites, vegetable oil, and instant coffee powder. For the coffee syrup: coffee and coffee-flavored liqueur. For the filling: mascarpone cheese, confectioners' sugar, and coffee-flavored liqueur.
What is Costco tiramisu made of? ›
Mascarpone Cheese, Egg Yolks, Granulated Sugar, Egg Whites, Wheat Flour, Coffee Liquors, Heavy Cream, Whole Pasteurized Eggs, Powdered Sugar, Almond, Vanilla, Shortening, Butter, Cocoa Powder.
