Go Back
Classic Italian tiramisu

Classic Italian tiramisu

This classic tiramisu is meant to feel like a gentle promise of pleasure at the end of a meal, a dessert that invites you to pause and savour rather than rush. As you whisk the yolks and fold in the cream, you are not just following steps; you are building layers of texture and flavour that will reward your patience later. The act of dipping biscuits in coffee and arranging them in the dish becomes a small ritual. When you cover the tiramisu and slide it into the fridge, you are giving it time to become more than the sum of its parts, allowing the coffee and cream to settle into one another.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  •  3 large eggs
  • 100 g caster sugar
  • 500 g mascarpone cheese
  • 250 ml double cream
  • 250 ml strong espresso, cooled
  • 40 ml coffee liqueur (optional)
  • 250 g savoiardi biscuits
  • 20 g unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions
 

  • Brew strong espresso, let it cool and mix with coffee liqueur if using.
  • Separate the eggs into yolks and whites.
  • Whisk egg yolks with sugar over gentle heat until pale and thick, then cool slightly.
  • Add mascarpone to the yolk mixture and mix until smooth.
  • Whip double cream to soft peaks.
  • Fold whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture gently.
  • Quickly dip savoiardi biscuits in the cooled espresso and arrange a layer in a serving dish.
  • Spread a layer of mascarpone cream over the biscuits.
  • Repeat with another layer of dipped biscuits and cream, finishing with cream on top.
  • Chill for at least 4 hours, then dust with cocoa powder before serving.

Notes

Tiramisu is one of those desserts that feels like a quiet celebration in a glass or dish, combining coffee, cream and cocoa into something that is both elegant and deeply comforting. In this classic version, you build gentle layers of coffee‑soaked savoiardi biscuits and silky mascarpone cream, creating a texture that is soft enough to melt on the tongue yet structured enough to slice neatly. The flavour is a balance of bittersweet espresso, delicate sweetness and a whisper of cocoa, with a light touch of liqueur to add warmth without overwhelming the dessert. Even if you have never made tiramisu before, you will find that the steps are calm and logical, guiding you from whisking egg yolks to folding in whipped cream with confidence. As you assemble the layers, you begin to see how simple ingredients transform into a dessert that looks like it belongs on a restaurant menu, yet carries the intimacy of something made at home.

Nutrition

Serving: 140gCalories: 380kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 8gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 165mgSodium: 120mgPotassium: 160mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 950IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 1.2mg