Tiramisu

Name: Tiramisu
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 6 large egg yolks; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 500g mascarpone cheese; 1 cup heavy cream; 2 cups strong espresso, cooled; 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (optional); 1 package (300g) Savoiardi (ladyfinger biscuits); Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting; Dark chocolate shavings for garnish

Published: June 9, 2026 | Italian Cuisine | ⏱ 30 min

Classic Italian tiramisu with layers of mascarpone cream and cocoa dusting

Tiramisu — 'pick me up' in Italian — is the world's most beloved Italian dessert, and for good reason. Layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers are nestled between clouds of whipped mascarpone cream, finished with a generous dusting of cocoa. Born in the Veneto region, it's surprisingly simple to make and endlessly impressive. No oven required.

Recipe Info

Prep Time30 min

Cook Time0 min

Total Time30 min

Servings8

DifficultyEasy

CuisineItalian

6 large egg yolks
3/4 cup granulated sugar
500g mascarpone cheese
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups strong espresso, cooled
2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (optional)
1 package (300g) Savoiardi (ladyfinger biscuits)
Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting
Dark chocolate shavings for garnish

2 Instructions

Make the custard base

Whisk egg yolks and sugar together in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water for 8–10 minutes until pale, thick, and the mixture reaches 71°C (160°F). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Add mascarpone

Fold the mascarpone into the egg custard until smooth and well combined.

Whip the cream

In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture in three additions to keep it light and airy.

Soak the ladyfingers

Combine cooled espresso and coffee liqueur. Quickly dip each ladyfinger — just a brief dunk, 1–2 seconds per side. Do not oversoak or they'll fall apart.

Assemble the tiramisu

Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch dish with soaked ladyfingers. Spread half the mascarpone cream over the top. Repeat with another layer of soaked ladyfingers and the remaining cream.

Chill and serve

Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. Before serving, dust generously with cocoa powder and garnish with chocolate shavings.

Pro Tips

Quick dipping is crucial — oversoaked ladyfingers make soggy tiramisu. Just a 1–2 second dip per side.
Tiramisu needs at least 6 hours to set. Overnight is ideal for the flavors to meld and the texture to firm.
For a lighter version, you can replace half the mascarpone with ricotta.

Nutrition Information

Calories	340 kcal
Protein	8g
Fat	22g
Saturated Fat	g
Carbohydrates	28g
Fiber	1g
Sugar	g
Sodium	120mg

* Nutritional values are approximate and based on per-serving calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The egg yolks are gently cooked over a double boiler (pastuerized). If you're concerned, use pasteurized eggs. Alternatively, some recipes use a zabaglione method that fully cooks the yolks.

Absolutely. Simply omit the coffee liqueur. The espresso alone provides plenty of coffee flavor.

Rating

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.5 (145 votes)

About the Author

Stephanie Grine

Recipe Developer & Food Enthusiast

I am a passionate home cook who believes that great food brings people together. Every recipe on TodayFoodsMenu is developed, tested, and photographed in my home kitchen — not a professional test...

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