Best Our Favorite Tiramisu Recipes

OUR FAVORITE TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Finely chop chocolate in processor. Set aside.
• Mix sugar and egg yolks in processor 30 seconds. Add vanilla and process until pale yellow, about 1 minute. Add cheese in batches and blend until smooth. Transfer to medium bowl. Cover and chill 1 hour.
• Beat whipping cream until stiff. Fold into cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.)
• Pour espresso into large shallow dish. Dip cake strips in espresso, turning to coat all sides lightly. Arrange strips on bottom of 10-cup shallow dish, smoothing with fingers to mold together. Sprinkle with half of chocolate. top with chilled cheese mixture. Sprinkle remaining chocolate over. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.)

THE BEST TIRAMISU

Steps:

• For the mascarpone custard: Add the egg yolks, sugar and Marsala to a medium heatproof bowl and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Whisk constantly until the mixture is pale, hot to the touch and has doubled in volume, 4 to 6 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula. (This can be done with an electric mixer to speed up the process.) Remove from the heat and continue whisking until slightly cooled, about 1 minute. Whisk in the mascarpone cheese until combined. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
• To assemble: Stir together 1 1/4 cups hot water, espresso powder and 3 to 4 tablespoons Marsala in a liquid measuring cup. Evenly divide the mixture between two medium bowls. Dust the bottom of an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with 1 teaspoon cocoa powder.
• Working one at a time, dip half of the ladyfingers into one bowl of the espresso mixture for 2 seconds per side, until soaked but not soggy. Arrange them over the cocoa powder in one layer, breaking up as needed to fill in any gaps. Pour any remaining liquid from the first bowl over the layer of ladyfingers. Spread half the mascarpone custard over the ladyfingers. Repeat the process with another layer of ladyfingers and the remaining bowl of espresso mixture, then spread with the remaining mascarpone custard.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. Sift the remaining 1 tablespoon cocoa powder over the top just before serving.

CLASSIC ITALIAN TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Combine egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add mascarpone cheese and 2 tablespoons amaretto. Beat well.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl with clean beaters until stiff peaks form. Fold beaten egg whites into the mascarpone mixture.
• Pour espresso and remaining 2 tablespoons amaretto into a shallow dish. Stir well. Working one at a time, quickly dip each ladyfinger into the espresso mixture and line the bottom of an 8-inch glass dish.
• Once the bottom of the dish is covered in an even layer of espresso-soaked ladyfingers, top with 1/2 the mascarpone mixture. Repeat with another ladyfinger layer, followed by the remaining mascarpone mixture. Chill in the refrigerator for about 4 hours.
• Dust with cocoa powder before serving.