My 15-minute Easy Tiramisu recipe is a no-bake classic Italian dessert that literally melts in your mouth. A rich and creamy mascarpone cheese filling is layered with expresso-dipped ladyfingers, and best of all, no raw eggs required!
What is Tiramisu?
Tiramisu is an Italian trifle dessert that’s typically made with layers of sponge cake soaked in espresso or coffee liqueur. Followed by mascarpone cheese and topped off with a thick dusting of cocoa powder.
This classic dessert has delicious flavors of espresso and almonds with rich cream and cocoa.
No-Bake Tiramisu Recipe
This easy tiramisu tastes exactly like a traditional tiramisu recipe, but it is much easier to make. The fluffy, creamy mascarpone cheese layer is wedged between melt-in-your-mouth ladyfingers that have been dipped in tasty coffee liqueur and cold espresso mixture. You will feel like you just stepped out of Italy!
This light and refreshing dessert is perfect for any occasion! But because it’s a no-bake recipe, it’s especially great for summer, just like my No Bake Berry Icebox Cake and No Bake Oreo Dessert. I love them for summer, since I don’t even have to turn the oven on to make them!
Why We Love This Tiramisu Recipe
- Quick and easy to make
- Short ingredients list
- Eggless tiramisu recipe (no raw egg required)
- Can easily be made without alcohol
- No-bake recipe
- 15 minutes to prep
- Can be made ahead and chilled overnight
- Freezer friendly for up to 3 months
- Light and refreshing summer dessert
Ingredients/Shopping List
- 1¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 8 oz mascarpone cheese
- ⅔ cup cold espresso or cold strong coffee
- 2 tbsp coffee-flavored liqueur Kahlua (optional)
- 1 pkg 24 ladyfingers (unless they are small, then 34)
- 2½ tbsp cocoa powder
How to Make our Easy Tiramisu
The prep for this recipe will come together quickly and easily. It only takes about 15 minutes to put your tiramisu dessert together. Then, simply let it chill for 3 hours or overnight before serving.
Whip the heavy cream into stiff peaks.
Add in the sugar and vanilla slowly. Add in the mascarpone cheese and mix until just incorporated.
Combine cold espresso and coffee liqueur in a separate bowl.
Dip both sides of the lady fingers in the coffee mixture.
Pro-tip: When you are dipping the lady fingers in the coffee, you don’t want to let them soak. A simple dip is all you need. If they get too much liquid, they could cause the whole dish to be soggy.
Place the dipped lady fingers in a single layer in a baking dish.
Spread half of the cheese mixture on top.
Repeat the layers again.
Dust the top layer of cheese with cocoa powder and refrigerate.
Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but overnight if possible.
Pro-tip: Some bakers prefer to harden the ladyfingers by placing them on a baking sheet and baking them in the oven for about 10-15 minutes at 250˚F. This is an optional step!
Variations / Options / Add-ins
- COLD ESPRESSO: If you don’t have access to espresso, you can simply use a strong cold coffee in its place. There are tons of options for cold coffees and espressos at the store these days. They can usually be found near the milk section of most grocery stores!
- COFFEE LIQUEUR: Kahlua is my go-to coffee liqueur for any recipes that call for it, but you can use any kind. An off brand coffee liqueur would work just fine!
- LADY FINGERS: If you prefer, you can use sponge cake in place of the lady fingers. Just be sure to cut it into strips and bake it until it’s lightly browned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make Tiramisu Ahead of Time?
This is one of the things I love about this tiramisu dessert. It can definitely be made ahead of time. In fact, it’s best if made a day ahead and left to chill in the fridge overnight. That way all of the delicious coffee flavors can soak into the cookies. It can be made 3 hours up to 2 days ahead of serving.
Can I Make Tiramisu Without Alcohol?
Yes! Actually, the coffee liqueur in this recipe is completely optional. You can leave this out to make an alcohol free tiramisu dessert if you prefer!
Can I Make Tiramisu Without Mascarpone Cheese?
Some people prefer to make tiramisu without mascarpone cheese. If you are one of those people, you can use this option instead.
As a substitute for mascarpone, you can use 8 ounces of cream cheese mixed with ¼ cup of whipping cream. This will give the same texture and a delicious taste to your easy tiramisu!
How to Store Leftover Tiramisu
Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated for 4-5 days. You can also freeze this dessert dish for up to 3 months. Just be sure to let the dish thaw overnight before serving!
More Easy No-Bake Desserts
Easy Icebox Cake| Chocolate Lasagna Recipe |Banana Split Cake |No Bake Ice Cream Cake |No Bake Peanut Butter Balls |Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Easy Tiramisu
Ingredients
- 1¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 8 ounces mascarpone cheese room temperature
- ⅔ cup cold espresso or cold strong coffee
- 2 tbsp coffee flavored liqueur kahlua (optional)
- 24 lady fingers (unless they are small, then 34)
- 2½ tbsp cocoa powder
Instructions
- Using either a stand mixer with a whip attachment, or a handheld electric mixer on high speed, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks.
- Reduce the mixer speed to medium, slowly add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Mix for 1 to 1 ½ minutes.
- Lower the mixer speed to low and add in the mascarpone cheese. Mix just until all the ingredients are incorporated. Set this aside.
- In a small shallow bowl, add the cold espresso, or strong cold coffee. If you are using the coffee flavored liqueur, stir it in with the espresso.
- Dip both sides, do not soak, each lady finger in the espresso mixture.
- Lay the dipped lady fingers in a single layer in the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish.
- Using a silicone spatula, evenly spread half of the cheese mixture on top of the lady fingers layer.
- Repeat the dipped lady fingers layer, and the remaining half cheese mixture layer.
- Using a fine sifter, dust the top of the cheese mixture with the cocoa powder. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to overnight.
Can you sub hot chocolate mix for the cocoa powder?
Technically you can, but you will not get the same flavor.
Question after the cheese my whip cream was to gritty .I figured cheese to cold .Now it’s creamy not peaks ,Well it set over night Or what did I dov wrong ?
Made this the night before a work potluck and it was hit. Super easy to make. Thank you!