Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert that translates to “pick me up” or “lift me up” in English. It’s a delightful combination of coffee-soaked ladyfinger biscuits, layered with a rich mascarpone cheese mixture, and dusted with cocoa powder. Here’s a basic recipe for making Tiramisu:
Ingredients:
- 6 large egg yolks
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled to room temperature
- 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 24-30 ladyfinger biscuits (savoiardi)
- Unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting
Instructions:
- In a heatproof bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick. Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water (double boiler) and continue whisking for about 8-10 minutes until the mixture is thickened and reaches 160°F (71°C). Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- In another bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese until smooth and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the mascarpone cheese into the cooled egg yolk mixture until well combined.
- Fold in the whipped cream until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
- In a shallow dish, mix the cooled coffee with coffee liqueur if using.
- Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the coffee mixture, making sure not to soak them too much, as they will become soggy.
- Arrange a layer of dipped ladyfingers in the bottom of a serving dish or a rectangular baking dish.
- Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers, smoothing it out evenly.
- Repeat with another layer of dipped ladyfingers and the remaining mascarpone mixture.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld and the tiramisu to set.
- Before serving, dust the top of the tiramisu with cocoa powder using a fine-mesh sieve.
- Slice and serve chilled. Enjoy your homemade tiramisu!
Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar and coffee liqueur according to your taste preferences.
