Coffee-Soaked Ladyfinger Cake with Mascarpone and Cocoa Dust

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-23 · Updated 2026-05-23

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A classic Italian dessert featuring sponge ladyfingers soaked in coffee, layered with a creamy mascarpone filling and finished with a cocoa-dusted topping. This Italian recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, layers ladyfingers, espresso, and mascarpone 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 290 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Add this recipe to your weekly plan" 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.

Prep: 45 min Serves 12 Italian cuisine 290 cal/serving

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Ingredients

200g (store-bought or homemade) ladyfingers
100ml espresso
250g mascarpone
100g (caster) sugar
4 egg yolks
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp (optional) cognac
50g (chopped dark chocolate, for garnish)
1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, whip mascarpone, 100g sugar, and 4 egg yolks until smooth. Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tbsp cognac (if using), folding gently to combine.
Step 2: In a shallow dish, mix espresso with 2 tbsp cognac (if using). Soak ladyfingers in the coffee mixture for 1 minute, then arrange in a 20cm springform tin. Spread half the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers.
Step 3: Repeat with another layer of soaked ladyfingers and remaining mascarpone. Dust the top with cocoa powder and refrigerate for 4 hours. Garnish with chopped dark chocolate before serving.