How to Make an Easy Authentic Italian Traditional Tiramisu

With Easter season comes the request from the husband for traditional Tiramisu. Traditional tiramisu is made with ladyfinger cookies dipped in coffee and layered with a mascarpone cheese mix and whipped cream.

Tiramisu is a velvety concoction of savoiardi lady fingers biscuits soaked in espresso, covered with delicately sweetened beaten eggs and mascarpone cheese, and dusted with chocolate powder. Its name, tirami sù, means “pick me up,” possibly referring to the stimulating effects of the caffeine in the espresso and chocolate used in the recipe.

The ultra-creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture is pure bliss, and eating this classic Italian dessert is a must. Tiramisu has been used to make a wide range of cakes and sweets, and different variations too – like this Lemon Tiramisu with fresh lemon curd and Limoncello.  The origins of Tiramisu are a source of contention between the Italian regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.  The most traditional kind is the coffee-flavoured version.

Here is how to make an easy, authentic Italian traditional Tiramisu.

How to Make an Easy Authentic Italian Traditional Tiramisu

Ingredients

6 egg yolks (large)

3/4 cup white sugar

2/3 cup milk

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

475 grams mascarpone cheese

1 cup espresso (about 3 long espressos) or strong coffee, room temperature

3 tablespoons rum

400 gram package savoiardi lady fingers

2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Method

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until well blended.
2. Whisk in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil gently for 1 minute, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
3. Cover tightly and chill in refrigerator 1 hour.
4. In a medium bowl, beat cream with vanilla until stiff peaks form.
5. Whisk mascarpone into yolk mixture until smooth.
6. In a shallow bowl, combine coffee and rum. Quickly dip lady fingers one by one to line the bottom of a 7 x 11 inch dish.
7. Spread half of mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers.
8. Spread half of whipped cream over the mascarpone.
9. Repeat with one more layer of ladyfingers, mascarpone and whipped cream.
10. Sprinkle cocoa over top.
11. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 6 hours, until set.

How to Make an Easy Authentic Italian Traditional Tiramisu

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The ultra-creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture of this authentic, traditional Italian Tiramisu is pure bliss.

Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Additional Time 6 hours

Total Time 7 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 egg yolks (large)
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 475 grams mascarpone cheese
• 1 cup espresso (about 3 long espressos) or strong coffee, room temperature
• 3 tablespoons rum
• 400 gram package Savoiardi Lady Fingers
• 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until well blended.
2. Whisk in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil gently for 1 minute, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
3. Cover tightly and chill in refrigerator 1 hour.
4. In a medium bowl, beat cream with vanilla until stiff peaks form.
5. Whisk mascarpone into yolk mixture until smooth.
6. In a shallow bowl, combine coffee and rum. Quickly dip lady fingers one by one to line the bottom of a 7 x 11 inch dish.
7. Spread half of mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers.
8. Spread half of whipped cream over the mascarpone.
9. Repeat with one more layer of ladyfingers, mascarpone and whipped cream.
10. Sprinkle cocoa over top.
11. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 6 hours, until set.

You might also want to try…

Lemon Tiramisu with Fresh Lemon Curd and Limoncello