Tiramisu Cake

Tiramisu is a popular Italian dessert made of an Italian sponge cookie called savoiardi or lady finger biscuits. Cakes, puddings and other forms of dessert can be made in accordance with this recipe. Egg yolks, mascarpone cheese, sugar, honey, cocoa and a dash of coffee or rum are used to make this delicious dish. Tiramisu means 'pick me up' and was a favorite with the Venetian courtesans.

Light, fluffy and delicious, this impressive looking dish is surprisingly easy to make. This layered cake originated in Tuscany. Puddings, chocolates and ice creams are made with the adaptation of the Tiramisu recipe. Tiramisu is a favorite with Italian food connoisseurs and an Italian meal is not complete without this heavenly dessert!

The key to preparing good tiramisu lies not in the technique, but in its composition. There are different types of tiramisu recipes besides the authentic tiramisu. The ingredients may also be varied, for example, liquor may be substituted with almond extracts, cream cheese may be used instead of mascarpone cheese and savoiardi may be replaced by regular cookies. Tiramisu is also known as Tuscan Trifle and Zuppa Inglese.

Initially served only in Italy, it gained popularity in the 1960s in San Francisco slowly spreading throughout the country. Raw eggs are used to make Tiramisu, however if Salmonella is a concern, you may buy pasteurized eggs. Tiramisu is rich in calories considering its ingredients, especially the mascarpone cheese which boasts a staggering 75% fat content. The specialty of mascarpone cheese is that it is made from the milk of cows with are fed with special herbs and flowers.

Amaretto Tiramisu

Amaretto is an Italian liquor made from a base of almonds or apricots, which is used to lend that characteristic taste to Tiramisu. It is relatively new to North America as they were imported to the region somewhere in the 1960s. It is now considered indispensable to the quintessential tiramisu. You may add it to the mascarpone cream mixture mentioned in the tiramisu cake recipe. Amaretto may not appeal to most palates taken separately; therefore it is best to buy a small bottle of it purely for making tiramisu.

Although imported Amaretto is slightly expensive, there are different versions of it now being made by various companies which can be purchased at a more affordable price. Make sure you are aware of the basics of cooking with alcohol before you begin the recipe! You may also add a little brandy in addition to the amaretto. It is amaretto that lends tiramisu its bitter sweet taste.

Tiramisu cake recipe

2 eggs

6 tablespoons of sugar (3 for each egg)

250 grams of mascarpone

Lady finger cookies or ordinary cookies

Cocoa powder or chocolate shavings

Separate the egg yolk and the egg white and place them in two different bowls. Add sugar to the bowl with the yolks and beat until a thick mixture is formed. Add the mascarpone spoon by spoon and mix it with the yolk. Add some good quality chocolate and a sprinkling of espresso coffee. Now take the bowl with the egg whites and beat it till you get a foamy white mixture. Add the white snowy mixture to the other bowl and beat well. Once the mixture becomes foamy and smooth, stop whipping it.

Prepare espresso coffee in another bowl and soak the cookies in the coffee. Do not soak the cookies for too long as they can become too soggy. Distribute the cream on the first layer of cookies. Follow this by adding another layer of cookies, spread the cream on them and add the next layer and follow the procedure. Sprinkle the cocoa powder and refrigerate for about 5 hours. You can decorate your cake with chocolate shavings as you desire.

You now have one of the world's most famous dessert cakes in your hands. Remember it is best made a day in advance! Once prepared, Tiramisu may be frozen for 2 to 3 days and consumed. Cover it with plastic wrap before refrigerating. Tiramisu is expensive when you order it at restaurants.

Tiramisu recipes

Easy Tiramisu recipe

4 eggs, separated

1/2 cup sugar

200g mascarpone cheese

1/3 cup coffee liqueur

150ml thick cream

2 tablespoons instant coffee powder

2 cups warm water

20 sponge finger biscuits

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

Beat egg yolks and sugar till creamy. Gently fold in mascarpone and liqueur. Whip cream till it form peaks. Fold the cream into the earlier mix. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Place in the refrigerator for about half an hour. Mix coffee powder with a bit of warm water and dip the finger biscuits individually in it.

Place the biscuits in a baking dish. Spread the refrigerated mix over the biscuits. Again arrange a layer of soaked finger biscuits and repeat the creamy layer over it. Refrigerate the tiramisu for about 3 hours. Before serving, dust it with cocoa powder.

There are other recipes available for pregnant ladies and vegetarians, which can be made without eggs and alcohol. If you are unable to find lady fingers, sponge cake or pound cake would work just as well. You can also make Tiramisu cake with raspberries, strawberries, blackberries or blueberries. A small portion is enough to satisfy your taste buds and leave them tingling! Make sure your entire meal is light; skip the heavy courses, sauces and creamy soups if you intend to have tiramisu.

Tiramisu recipe tips

Experts recommend that you set aside three to four days for making good tiramisu, including the cooling period. Leaving the Tiramisu to cool overnight really allows the flavor to soak in and mature. You can make whipped cream at home using vanilla ice-cream and sugar, you can also make sponge lady fingers and other ingredients at home if you choose.

Ricotta cheese may be used instead of Mascarpone for those of you who are calorie conscious. Since the dish is not a baked one, the alcohol's essence is strongly retained. Almond essence may be used in non alcoholic versions of the dish. This simple dish may be tried out by kids as well.