A dessert in 15 minutes?  I couldn’t believe how fast we made this classic Italian dessert- tiramisu. This tiramisu recipe is from our friends Dave and Rose’s cooking lesson in Tuscany, Italy last Fall. The recipe surprised me with how easy it was to make a delicious and decadent classic Italian dessert.

Tiramisu:
makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• Lady fingers 18 small pieces
• Mascarpone cheese 8 oz tub
• 2 eggs
• Sugar 2 tbsp
• Espresso or strong coffee. 1 cup cooled
• Cocoa powder 1 tbsp for dusting

Directions:

• You can make this in individual bowls like we did or make it in a pan and cut it into pieces later.
• In a bowl whisk together mascarpone cheese with 2 tbsp sugar and eggs. Whisk with hand blender for 5 minutes on slow and additional 5 minutes on high. Whisk until cheese forms a thick creamy texture.

• Place 1 tbsp whisked mascarpone cheese in a cup.

• Soak both sides of 3 small lady fingers in coffee and place over mascarpone cheese.

• Top lady fingers with 1 tbsp more mascarpone cheese.

• Settle the cheese by tapping the cup on the palm.

• Dust with cocoa powder.

• Place in refrigerator to slightly harden – atleast 30 minutes, preferably longer 2-3 hours. Serve chilled.

Tiramisu: Cake Style
makes 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

• 28 Lady fingers
• Mascarpone cheese 8 oz tub
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup espresso or strong coffee, cooled
• 1 tbsp Cocoa powder for dusting
• 2 tbsp chocolate shavings
• 1 tbsp rum – optional
• 9×9 pan

Directions:

In a bowl whisk together mascarpone cheese, 2 tbsp sugar and eggs. Whisk with hand blender for 5 minutes on slow and additional 5 minutes on high until cheese forms a thick creamy texture.

• Soak both sides of 14 ladyfingers in coffee and place at the bottom of the serving dish. We placed 2 rows of 7 ladyfingers.
• Evenly spread half of mascarpone cheese over ladyfingers. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.
• Add another layer of espresso soaked ladyfingers. Top with remainder mascarpone cheese. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings and cocoa powder. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours for the tiramisu to settle. Cut and serve like a cake when ready.