Creamy Classic Tiramisu Recipe Easy Homemade Espresso Layered Dessert
A rich and creamy classic tiramisu layered dessert featuring bold espresso-soaked ladyfingers and a light mascarpone cream, perfect for quick and easy indulgence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, chilled
- 8 oz (225 g) mascarpone cheese, room temperature
- 3 large egg yolks, room temperature
- ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) freshly brewed espresso, cooled
- 2 tbsp coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa (optional)
- 24 ladyfinger cookies (savoiardi), store-bought or homemade
- Unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting
Instructions
- Brew the espresso: Make 1 ½ cups (360 ml) of strong espresso using your preferred method. Allow it to cool completely.
- Prepare the mascarpone cream: In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until pale and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Fold in mascarpone: Add the room temperature mascarpone to the yolk mixture and gently fold until smooth and homogenous.
- Whip the cream: In a separate bowl, whip the chilled heavy cream with vanilla extract until stiff peaks form, about 3-4 minutes.
- Combine cream and mascarpone mixture: Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture in two batches, preserving airiness.
- Mix espresso and liqueur: In a shallow dish, combine the cooled espresso with coffee liqueur if using.
- Assemble the tiramisu: Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the espresso mixture for 1-2 seconds per side and arrange a single layer in a 9×9 inch dish.
- Spread half the mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers, smoothing evenly.
- Repeat layering with another layer of dipped ladyfingers and the remaining mascarpone cream.
- Chill: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Finish with cocoa powder: Just before serving, sift a generous layer of unsweetened cocoa powder over the top.
Notes
Use fresh espresso for best flavor. Let mascarpone and eggs come to room temperature before mixing. Whip cream to stiff peaks but do not overwhip. Dip ladyfingers quickly to avoid sogginess. Chill overnight for best texture and flavor. Can substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and use gluten-free ladyfingers for dietary adaptations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of the
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 25
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Protein: 5
Keywords: tiramisu, classic tiramisu, espresso dessert, layered dessert, mascarpone, easy tiramisu, homemade tiramisu