Tiramisù
If you've got mascarpone cheese, strong espresso coffee and lady fingers, you're most of the way to this vegetarian: about 65 minutes of cooking across 7 steps. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for large pot and whisk. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (4)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Brew the espresso and pour it into a shallow dish to cool to room temperature, as hot coffee would make the biscuits collapse.
- Using clean, dry beaters, whisk the 2 egg whites with a pinch of salt to stiff peaks in a spotlessly clean bowl, then set aside.
- In a separate large bowl beat the egg yolks with the sugar until pale, thick and creamy, then add the mascarpone and beat gently just until the mixture is smooth.
- Fold the whisked egg whites into the mascarpone mixture in two or three additions with a metal spoon, keeping the mixture light and airy.
- Dip each lady finger briefly into the cooled espresso, turning once so it absorbs coffee but does not turn soggy, then arrange a single layer in the base of a serving dish.
- Spread half the mascarpone cream over the soaked biscuits, add a second dipped biscuit layer and finish with the remaining cream, smoothing the top.
- Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, then dust generously with sifted cocoa powder just before cutting into 4 portions to serve. Note that this dessert contains raw egg, so use the freshest pasteurised eggs and keep it refrigerated.
You'll use: Large pot · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Mascarpone
- cream cheese softened with a little cream
Tips & common questions
How long does Tiramisù take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of mascarpone?
Try cream cheese softened with a little cream. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Tiramisù vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Tiramisù is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Dolce Tiramisù monoporzione.jpg by Anna.Massini, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.