Food and Recipes Desserts Tiramisu Be the first to rate & review! We found a way to make this Italian dessert a bit more Southern. By Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto is a recipe tester and developer who's been working in Dotdash Meredith test kitchens since 2017. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on April 14, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Chill Time: 4 hrs Active Time: 20 mins Total Time: 4 hrs 20 mins Servings: 8 The traditional Italian dessert tiramisu is so flavorful and inherently fancy, it’s an impressive dish to bring to someone's house for dessert or a special occasion. It's a guaranteed crowd pleaser, as well as the perfect palate cleanser following a rich meal. The key to success in preparing tiramisu is using excellent espresso in the recipe, and also allowing it to sit long enough for the ladyfingers to absorb all of the delightful, nuanced flavors. (Although you might be tempted to grab a fork and dig in subito!) Tiramisu Ingredients To make this tiramisu recipe, start with a pack of ladyfingers. You will also need eggs, granulated sugar, whipping cream, mascarpone cheese, orange zest, unsweetened cocoa, espresso, bourbon, and a bittersweet chocolate bar. What is traditional tiramisu made of? Traditionally, tiramisu is made with ladyfingers, coffee, cocoa powder, eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, as well as some type of alcohol. What Does Tiramisu Literally Mean? The dessert tiramisu derives its name from the Italian word. It translates to "pick me up," which might have something to do with the caffeinated ingredients—although the precise origins are unknown. What Is the Secret to Tiramisu? Using good espresso here is key to getting the best results with tiramisu. You might try going to a local coffee shop to have them brew some espresso for you to use in this recipe (especially if you don’t have the gear to brew your own at home). Letting this recipe sit long enough is also critical to its success (but it can be hard to resist digging in too early). Doing so allows the crispy lady fingers to soften up and absorb all the scrumptious flavors. Before serving, cover and refrigerate this recipe for at least four hours or up to 12 hours. 65 Top-Rated Desserts Everyone Should Make At Least Once Is There a Lot of Alcohol in Tiramisu? Traditionally, tiramisu includes alcohol—specifically flavored liqueur like Amaretto, sweet red wine like Marsala, or dark rum. This recipe calls for a quarter cup of bourbon, which adds a hint of Southern twang. But if you didn’t want to use alcohol at all, you could substitute a teaspoon of vanilla instead. What Does Tiramisu Taste Like? Tiramisu has a delightful layered flavor, with notes of coffee and alcohol. The coffee flavor hits you first, but it doesn’t overpower; the bitter espresso balances out the overall sweetness. In this recipe, hints of orange elevate the creamy mascarpone, and the bourbon provides a punch (as well as a Southern signature). 45 Easy Desserts For A Crowd Fit For Every Occasion Additional reporting by Alesandra Dubin. Ingredients 4 large egg yolks 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream 1 cup (8 oz.) mascarpone cheese 1 tsp. grated orange zest (from 1 orange) 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa, divided 1 1/2 cups brewed espresso 1/4 cup bourbon 1 (7-oz.) pkg. ladyfingers (about 24 each) 1/2 oz. 60% bittersweet chocolate bar, for shaving (about 2 Tbsp. shaved) Directions Whip together eggs and sugar: Beat egg yolks and sugar with a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed until pale yellow and tripled in volume, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Is tiramisu made with raw eggs? The egg yolks in traditional tiramisu are not cooked. If that is a concern, you can use pasteurized eggs. Make mascarpone mixture: Wipe mixer bowl clean, and add cream. Beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 90 seconds. Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Add mascarpone and orange zest, and beat on medium speed until soft and billowy, about 20 seconds. Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Fold egg yolk mixture into mascarpone mixture. Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Make espresso mixture: Use a fine mesh sieve to dust 1 tablespoon of the cocoa into the bottom of an 8- x 8-inch baking dish. Stir together espresso and bourbon in a large shallow bowl. Assemble tiramisu: Working with 1 ladyfinger at a time, dip each ladyfinger into espresso mixture for 4 to 6 seconds, and place ladyfinger, rounded side up, in bottom of prepared baking dish. Repeat procedure, using half of the ladyfingers, until an even layer forms, breaking ladyfingers in half as needed to fill in any gaps. Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Spread half of the mascarpone mixture in an even layer over ladyfingers. Repeat with remaining espresso-dipped ladyfingers and mascarpone mixture. Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Dust top with remaining 1 tablespoon cocoa. Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Sprinkle with shaved chocolate. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Sprinkle with shaved chocolate. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Frequently Asked Questions Can you freeze tiramisu? Refrigerate tiramisu immediately after preparing, and serve chilled. You can also refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for several days. To make it last even longer, you can store tiramisu in the freezer. Wrap it tightly before freezing (up to several months), and thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. What can I use instead of lady fingers for tiramisu? Ladyfingers are the most traditional component of tiramisu but you can substitute as needed for a more unique spin on the dish. Try using vanilla wafers, sponge cake, angel food cake, pound cake, graham crackers, or panettone—get creative! Rate It Print Additional reporting by Alesandra Dubin