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Traditional and Classic Tiramisu

This is a double recipe. It makes a huge 10 inch spring form pan full to the top of the Lady Fingers, with a little left over, if you like to like the pan! ;)
Prep Time30 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian (Venetian)
Servings: 12
Author: Valerie Lugonja

Ingredients

  • 2 x 500 ml Mascarpone cheese , room temperature
  • 2 bags of Lady Finger biscuit cookies (4 packets in each bag)
  • 1 dozen extra large eggs , room temperature
  • 12 scant tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 ¼ cup strong homemade espresso , OR (if absolutely necessary)
  • 3 tablespoons instant espresso into 1 ¼ cup hot water
  • ¾ cup Kahlua or Grand Marnier
  • 1 10 " spring form pan

Instructions

Instructions for filling:

  • Separate eggs; put yolks in a small bowl and whites in your largest mixing bowl (the large bowl of your Kitchen Aid, or something similar)
  • Beat whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form, then a wee bit longer; transfer to another bowl
  • Place egg yolks into large bowl whites were in; add sugar to the yolks and beat until dissolved, thick, foamy, and creamy (a good 5-7 minutes)
  • Add Mascarpone to the yolk mixture, 500mL at a time; beat until thick, light, and creamy: 7-10 minutes
  • While yolk concoction is beating; prepare espresso

Instructions for Lady Finger "crust";

  • Prepare spring form pan by reversing the bottom to enable easy removal of cake (edges or lips of bottom of spring form pan must face downward)
  • Pour into shallow dish with sides; add Kahlua (or Grand Marnier) to espresso, and dip each side of each Lady Finger into it, extremely quickly: dunk-dunk
  • Line sides, then bottom of spring form pan with biscuits, sugar side in, depending upon the quality of the biscuit, as best side faces out

Putting the Tiramisu together:

  • Fold whites carefully into yolk mixture, retaining as much air as possible
  • Using a large scoop, or measuring cup, gently ladle Mascarpone mixture over bottom layer of biscuits; each layer will take three very generous (heaping) cupfuls of Mascarpone mixture
  • Dip more biscuits into the espresso liquid; layer over the Mascarpone mixture
  • Repeat with lush layer of Mascarpone mixture over the biscuits, then another layer of biscuits dipped in espresso liquid
  • Finish the final layer with the remaining cream
  • Freeze immediately in pan, as is; after 6-8 hours, remove sides from spring form pan
  • Using a table knife, release bottom of spring form pan from cake; wrap tightly with plastic wrap
  • Take out of freezer two hours before service; wrap a large ribbon around the cake when still frozen, if presenting cake whole
  • Sprinkle top with cocoa; slice and serve garnished with fresh berries and a mint leaf
  • This will keep beautifully for at least three months wrapped well in freezer

Notes

These Lady Fingers absorb a lot of liquid very quickly, so don't take your eyes off of them! Dip each in the liquid, and turn over, and out. Fast-fast-fast.