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Classic Tiramisu

This easy tiramisu recipe makes a classic Italian dessert with ladyfingers dipped in coffee liqueur and a sweet mascarpone mixture. I think the layers look beautiful when you make the tiramisu in a glass bowl and dust the top with cocoa powder and chocolate curls.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 12 people
Calories 2136 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Double Boiler Or a heatproof bowl over a saucepan
  • 1 Whisk Hand whisk or electric mixer for yolks and cream
  • 2 Mixing Bowls One for yolk mixture, one for whipping cream
  • 1 Rubber Spatula For gentle folding
  • 1 Large Glass Serving Bowl For assembly and presentation

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 6 egg yolks
  • 1 ¼ cups white sugar
  • 1 ¼ cups mascarpone cheese
  • 1 ¾ cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 12 ounce packages ladyfingers
  • cup coffee flavored liqueur
  • 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting
  • 1 1 ounce square semisweet chocolate

Instructions
 

  • Gather all ingredients. Allrecipes/Qi Ai
  • Combine egg yolks and sugar in the top of a double boiler, over boiling water. Reduce heat to low, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and whip yolks until thick and lemon-colored. Allrecipes/Qi Ai
  • Add mascarpone to whipped yolks. Beat until combined. Allrecipes/Qi Ai
  • In a separate bowl, whip cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold into yolk mixture and set aside. Allrecipes/Qi Ai
  • Split the lady fingers in half, and line the bottom and sides of a large glass bowl. Brush with coffee liqueur. Allrecipes/Qi Ai
  • Spoon half of the cream filling over the lady fingers. Allrecipes/Qi Ai
  • Repeat ladyfingers, coffee liqueur and filling layers. Allrecipes/Qi Ai
  • Garnish with cocoa and chocolate curls. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Enjoy! Allrecipes/Qi Ai
  • Enjoy! Allrecipes/Qi Ai

Notes

When cooking the egg yolks, ensure constant stirring over simmering, not boiling, water to prevent scrambling; the goal is to gently cook and thicken them to a 'ribbon stage' for safety and texture. For optimal fluffiness, ensure your heavy cream and mixing bowl are very cold before whipping to stiff peaks. Be gentle when folding the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture to maintain its airiness. Crucially, avoid oversaturating the ladyfingers with coffee liqueur; a quick, even brush is sufficient to moisten without making them soggy, which would compromise the tiramisu's delicate texture. For enhanced flavor, consider using strong, cooled espresso or coffee as the base for dipping the ladyfingers, potentially adding a splash of dark rum or Marsala to the coffee liqueur for added depth. Proper chilling for several hours is essential for the layers to set and for the flavors to meld beautifully.