Tiramisu Cake Recipe | Italian Recipes | PBS Food (2024)

FAQs

What food goes with tiramisu? ›

Tiramisu is an Italian dessert made up of lady fingers soaked in coffee, layered with mascarpone cream and topped with cocoa powder. The coffee is often spiked with alcohol like marsala wine or brandy. I went with amaretto (an Italian almond flavored liqueur) because it's more subtle and compliments the cake SO WELL.

Traditional tiramisu contains ladyfingers (savoiardi), egg yolks, sugar, coffee, mascarpone and cocoa powder. A common variant involves soaking the savoiardi in alcohol, such as Marsala wine, amaretto or a coffee-based liqueur.

Wrap tiramisù with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 6 hours before serving. If you want to get fancy, finish the Tiramisù with a layer of whipped cream piped on top and dust with more cocoa powder.

For the best results, tiramisu needs at least six hours in the fridge before serving. This time allows the ladyfingers to soak flavor and moisture from the coffee, wine, and filling. You can make tiramisu 1 to 2 days in advance. Just keep it refrigerated until you are ready to serve.

While traditional tiramisu relies on ladyfingers, tiramisu cake often uses layers of sponge cake soaked in espresso and sometimes a touch of liqueur. The quintessential mascarpone cream remains a constant, but the structure allows for creative variations.

Sponge Cake: Sponge cake is a popular substitute for ladyfingers in tiramisu. Its light and airy texture works well in absorbing the coffee and liqueur mixture. You can cut the sponge cake into finger-sized pieces and use them as a replacement [1]. Pound Cake: Pound cake is another suitable substitute for ladyfingers.

Most recipes use Marsala wine in tiramisu, however, I have always loved Kahlua since it pairs so well with the espresso that's already in the recipe. Use any of these or your favorite liquor: Marsala wine. Rum (dark rum would be best!)

The couple writes: "It is so important that you wait at least six hours before serving. In fact, it can be kept refrigerated one to two days and still be delicious." Clearly, tiramisu isn't an instant gratification type of dessert.

What is unique about tiramisu? ›

The original recipe featured a circular Tiramisu cake shape, but the square shape has become the most distinct feature of modern tiramisu. Locals in New York raved about the dish and it soon spread across the country after its induction into American food culture.

You can make your own ladyfingers or purchase two 3-ounce packages. Wondering if you should use soft or hard ladyfingers for tiramisu? They come in both forms, but we tend to use the soft variety. Espresso powder: We use instant espresso coffee powder ($7, Target) found in the coffee aisle at your grocery store.

The Problem: High-Calorie Ingredients

Lots of whipping cream, boatloads of mascarpone cheese and the cake-like ladyfingers cookies. Some recipes call for several cups of whipping cream, but just one cup contains a whopping 414 calories and 44 grams of fat (28 of them saturated.)

Whichever biscuits you choose, make sure not to soak them too much, otherwise the excess coffee will make the mascarpone cream runny. Once they are soaked, line them up in the oven pan with the sugared side facing upward.

An amaretto sour is also the ideal co*cktail for anyone who loves tiramisu, since the classic Italian dessert often includes amaretto. Get the Amaretto Sour recipe.

Red Wine: A full bodied, rich red wines will overpower - but with a Tiramisu a perfect pairing is with a slightly chilled 20 or 30 Year Old Tawny Port, an aged Marsala, also a Pedro Ximénez.

Espresso Martini and Tiramisu

A decadent dessert and co*cktail pairing that coffee lovers would definitely appreciate! The bold and delicious flavours of Espresso Martini mingle seamlessly with the creamy goodness of Tiramisu.