Classic Tiramisu with Mascarpone and Espresso
A luscious Italian dessert layering espresso-soaked ladyfingers with mascarpone cream, ready in just one hour. This Italian-inspired recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, layers strong brewed espresso, ladyfinger cookies, egg yolks into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup strong brewed espresso
- 24 pieces ladyfinger cookies
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp coffee liqueur (optional)
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Brew 1 cup strong espresso and let it cool to room temperature, then stir in 2 tbsp coffee liqueur if using.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk 4 large egg yolks with 1/2 cup granulated sugar over a double boiler for 5 minutes until thick and pale.
- Step 3: Remove from heat and fold in 1 cup mascarpone cheese gently until smooth.
- Step 4: In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream to stiff peaks, then fold it carefully into the mascarpone mixture.
- Step 5: Quickly dip each of the 24 ladyfinger cookies into the espresso mixture for 1-2 seconds, making sure they are soaked but not soggy.
- Step 6: Arrange half the soaked ladyfingers in a single layer in an 8x8-inch dish.
- Step 7: Spread half of the mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers evenly.
- Step 8: Repeat with the remaining ladyfingers and mascarpone cream.
- Step 9: Dust the top generously with 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Step 10: Refrigerate the tiramisu for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.








