Tiramisu Recipe With Pictures
Tiramisu is my absolute favorite dessert. It's a traditional Italian Favorite. Basically it's a type of sponge cake, traditionally salvadori but many people use lady fingers or a basic sponge cake, that is lightly soaked in strong coffee or espresso. The sponge is then layered with a custard made with mascarpone cheese and chocolate. All topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder.
Mascarpone cheese is a custard like cream cheese from Italy. Its delicious and amazingly delicate and can not be substituted with Philadelphia cream cheese. I've tried tiramisu many ways and nothing compares to when it's made with mascarpone. In the grocery stores I shop I can find it in round flat plastic tubs like you'd buy cottage cheese. It sits in with the gourmet cheeses near the deli.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 2 Egg Yolks
- 2 cups Strong Coffee
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 8 oz Mascarpone Cheese, room temperature
- 2 oz Baking Chocolate, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350'F. Grease and flour a 8x8 or 9x9 square pan. Or you can use a non stick baking spray. In a small bowl combine flour and baking powder. Set aside for later.
- In a large bowl beat the 2 whole eggs on med-high speed until thick and lemon colored. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Add 1 cup granulated sugar to your eggs, 1/4 cup at a time beating until combined after each addition. Once all sugar has been added beat on medium speed for 5 minutes.
- Beat in flour mixture just until combined.
- In a small sauce pan combine the milk and butter. Heat and stir over medium heat just until the butter is melted.
- Add the warm milk mixture slowly to the batter while beating on low.
- Pour batter into your prepared pan and bake at 350'F for 20-25 minutes. It should be golden and a toothpick inserted near the center will come out clean. Cool completely before using. I prefer to make the cake a day before.
- Now we'll start the tiramisu filling. In a small saucepan or double boiler combine the egg yolks, 2 tablespoons of the strong coffee and 1/2 cup sugar.
- Cook in a double boiler or over a slightly larger pot of boiling water. Stir briskly with a whisk the whole time for about 5-6 minutes. It will become lighter colored and foamy. See picture....
- Let cool slightly then add to a medium bowl with the mascarpone cheese. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Cut any dome off the top of the sponge cake, then cut into 2 layers as shown in the picture.
- Pour the remaining coffee into a baking pan large enough to dip a whole layer of cake into. Then Dip the bottom layer in the coffee very briefly. 1-2 seconds only. You don't want it too soggy. Keep your pans close so the cake doesn't fall apart in your hands. As soon as your layer has been dipped return it to it's original pan. If you didn't cut evenly and are scared it will fall apart you can spoon your coffee over the cake... just be careful not to add too much.
- Spoon or pour half of the filling over the bottom layer. Smooth into an even layer and sprinkle with half of the chocolate.
- Dip the second layer of cake and cover with the remaining filling and chocolate.
- Whip the cream in a large bowl on high speed until medium to stiff peaks form. Beat in powdered sugar. Spread over the top of the tiramisu.
- Sprinkle the top with cocoa powder and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
For a fun alternative you can cut the cake into circles and make the tiramisu in cups as shown in the first picture. This is what I did in the hub below.
- Teapot Cake with Tiramisu filled teacups, Girls Party Cake
You can't get much girlier than a tea set. So when there is a true girly-girl in your life why not make her a tea set cake? Here are step by step instructions on how I made this adorable cake.
