Tiramisu is a popular Italian dessert that is made with ladyfingers soaked in coffee and layered with a rich and creamy mixture of mascarpone cheese, eggs, sugar, and sometimes liquor. The dessert is then dusted with cocoa powder or grated chocolate and chilled for several hours before serving. The name “tiramisu” translates to “pick me up” or “lift me up,” which is fitting considering the dessert’s combination of caffeine and sugar.
To make tiramisu, you start by whipping together egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick. Then, you mix in mascarpone cheese until smooth. Separately, you whip egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold them into the mascarpone mixture. The coffee-soaked ladyfingers are then arranged in a single layer in a dish, and the mascarpone mixture is spread over the top. The process is repeated with more layers of ladyfingers and mascarpone until the dish is full. After chilling the tiramisu, it is dusted with cocoa powder or grated chocolate before serving. Some variations of tiramisu also include liquor, such as Marsala or rum, added to the coffee or the mascarpone mixture.
