Dessert For Two: Tiramisu

I’m a big fan of Dessert for Two recipes. They’re designed to help you make a treat just for you and someone you love — your spouse, your best friend, your teenager who is up late hitting the books. Here’s a Dessert for Two recipe for for delicious, mouth-watering Tiramisu.

mini-tiramisu

Tiramisu remains an all-time favorite dessert. This recipe is made for two. It’s every bit as decadent, if a little bit lighter (there are not eggs in the mousse layer), just as delicious, but loads easier to make. You don’t even have to pull out a mixer.

tiramisu-for-two

The ingredients are fairly simple: ladyfingers, mascarpone, heavy cream, coffee, cocoa powder, and a little bit of powdered sugar.

mascarpone-cheese

Mascarpone is a fresh Italian cheese that is more buttery than other similar fresh cheeses. You’ll find it at most well-stocked grocery stores in the refrigerated cheese section, usually near cream cheese. You won’t need an entire 8-ounce carton for this recipe, but you’ll have plenty of leftovers to slather on toast with a spoonful of jam, or to make this tiramisu recipe a few times.

ladyfinger-cookies

Ladyfingers are very sweet, delicate cookies that can be either crisp or soft. You can use either kind for this. You’ll find them in most grocery stores in the cookie section.

Tiramisu translates to “pick-me-up,” which no doubt comes from one of this dessert’s integral ingredients: coffee.

brewed-coffee

Typically in tiramisu espresso is used. But you can use any strong brewed coffee, or to make things even easier, use that leftover coffee in the pot that you never quite get around to finishing. I’ve added rum to the coffee, but you can completely omit that, or use something else you like or have on hand.

dipping-ladyfinger-cookies-in-coffee

The mascarpone is lightly sweetened. You don’t need much sugar because the ladyfingers are so sweet on their own. To lighten the mascarpone, you’ll add freshly whipped heavy cream. (Be sure to see the game-changer note under the recipe for the easiest, quickest whipped cream you’ll ever make.) There are no eggs in this recipe for simplicity sake.

mascarpone-whipped-cream

After each mascarpone layer, there’s a little dusting of cocoa powder. It kind of brings all of these flavors together — the sweet, cakey cookies, strong coffee, buttery mascarpone, and the cocoa. Nothing better, I say!

making-tiramisu-for-two

And perfect for sharing.

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mini-tiramisu-2

Tiramisu For Two Recipe

Ingredients:
1/4 cup mascarpone
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream
10 ladyfingers, broken in half
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
1 tablespoon rum, optional
1 tablespoon cocoa powder

Instructions:
1. Have two serving glasses ready. (Stemless wine glasses are great for this!)
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together mascarpone and powdered sugar. Whip heavy cream* to soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone. Set aside.
3. Place coffee in a shallow dish and add the rum, if using. Dip 3 of the ladyfinger halves into the coffee and place in the bottom of one of the glasses. Top with a heaping tablespoon of the mascarpone cream. Using a small sieve, dust with a little cocoa powder. Repeat two more times, then repeat the whole process for the second glass.
4. Place the glasses in refrigerator for at least an hour, preferably several hours, to allow flavors to blend and cookies to completely soften. Serve chilled.

*The easiest, quickest way to whip the heavy cream is to place it into a pint jar with lid and shake until thickened and spoonable.

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small-batch-tiramisu

Tell me, Friends. Are you a tiramisu fan? I feel like it’s one of those desserts that gets a strong reaction from people — either they adore it or can’t stand it. Where do you fall?

P.S. — More Dessert for Two recipes.


Recipe and photos by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

6 thoughts on “Dessert For Two: Tiramisu”

  1. I love tiramisu. It is one of my favorite desserts. I have never tried to make it at home, though, because I thought it would be too complicated. This recipe looks quite approachable. I think I will try it soon. Thanks for sharing it.

  2. A family favourite! We usually add curd(Quark) to the mascarpone/cream mixture and for a divine twist some orangepeel zests. Or we add vanillaflavoured sugar instead of regular sugar.

  3. This looks amazing! But I have to admit that I laughed when I saw your recommendation for whipping the cream. Is it really the easiest?! I’m going to have to give it a try one of these times. I always opt for my kitchenaid. Thanks for the awesome dessert idea!

    1. Ha! I know what you mean about the whipped cream. BUT I will tell you that once I gave it a try, I haven’t been pulling out my mixer to whip cream. Admittedly it doesn’t get as fluffy as it does with a mixer, but it’s perfect for small batches and you can just pop the jar in the fridge with any leftovers. :)

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