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 developed and reviewed.

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-inspired recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, layers ladyfingers, espresso, 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 "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.

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, for garnish) dark chocolate
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.