A classic Italian dessert, this no-bake tiramisu recipe is just what you need if you want something elegant. Assemble it a night in advance so it has plenty of time to set!
1½cupsespresso or very strong coffeeroom temperature
¾cupdark rumdivided
16ouncesmascarpone(452g)
6largeegg yolks
⅔cupgranulated sugar(133g)
2cupsheavy whipping cream(480ml)
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
40ladyfingers
⅓cupunsweetened cocoa powder(33g)
Instructions
Stir together the coffee and 1/2 cup of dark rum in a medium bowl and set aside. (You can omit the rum and add a dash of vanilla with some more coffee for soaking or you can add a favorite liqueur like Kahlua, Grand Marnier, or Godiva.)
In a large mixing bowl, combine the mascarpone and the remaining 1/4 cup of dark rum. Whisk together or beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until well combined. Set aside.
If you have a double-boiler, combine the egg yolks and sugar in the top. Otherwise, combine them in a medium heat-proof mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined. Bring 2 inches of water to a simmer in a small pot or the bottom of a double boiler. Place the egg yolk mixture over the simmering water making sure the water does not touch the bowl. Whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is light yellow in color and thickened a bit, about 5 to 8 minutes
Pour the egg yolk mixture into the mascarpone and whisk until combined. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to cool.
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the cream and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes
Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture. (You can run a whisk through it at the end to mix in any remaining unmixed bits.)
For the Assembly:
Working with one at a time, dip the top and bottom a ladyfinger briefly in the coffee mixture. (They sop up the liquid quickly so they don't need more than 2 seconds of dipping.) Arrange enough ladyfingers in a single layer to cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch dish. Try not to leave any gaps.
Add half of the mascarpone mixture on top of the ladyfingers and smooth out to the edges using an offset spatula. Dip more ladyfingers, arranging them in a single layer on top of the filling as you go. Add the remaining mascarpone mixture and smooth out into an even layer.
Dust top with the cocoa powder and chill overnight. You tiramisu needs time to set up or it will be a delicious mess.
Video
Notes
Don’t soak the ladyfingers for too long. These light, airy cookies absorb liquid very easily, so they only need a very quick dip on each side (about 1 or 2 seconds per side).
Watch the whipped cream. You need to whip the cream until it has stiff peaks, and this does not take long. If you over-whip the cream, you will end up with butter.
Don’t leave big gaps between the ladyfingers. Two rows of ladyfingers won’t fit perfectly in a 9x13-inch dish. Simply break a few as needed for the perfect fit. While you will have a few natural gaps, they should be arranged so each cookies is touching without any obvious spaces between the cookies.
Allow the tiramisu to chill for several hours. This tiramisu recipe is technically ready to eat once it’s dusted with cocoa powder. But at that point it is very messy to slice, and the flavors haven’t had time to meld properly. For the best-tasting tiramisu, refrigerate it for at least 6 hours. I typically make it a night in advance so it has plenty of time to set before I serve it.