My husband has been asking me to make tiramisu for YEARS… literally, since we first got married. I figured that since we had only eaten this “specialty” dessert at restaurants or pastry shops, it would be too difficult or even impossible to make at home. I thought I’d need some crazy kitchen apparatus or certain “know-how” that only an experiences pastry chef would have.
Don’t pastry chefs have to know how to cut the fat? Certainly, I didn’t qualify.
Deep down I knew I was stalling. I knew that at some point in my marriage I would have to put on my big-girl panties and make this MONUMENTAL dessert for my husband. I was secretly hoping that time would come many years from now, but I was way off.
That point in time was last weekend.
We celebrated two birthdays (Mr. Crumbs and my step-mom) last Sunday during our weekly family dinner. As always, my step-mom prepared a delicious meal and I was in charge of dessert. When I asked my husband what he wanted for his birthday dessert, he answered with the dreaded response: tiramisu.
I was cornered. There was NO WAY I could dodge this one. After all, it was HIS birthday. And his 30th, no less!
So I went shopping for supplies (looking like a COMPLETE idiot since I had no clue what lady fingers, mascarpone cheese, marsala wine NOR brandy looked like) and got busy in the kitchen.
Oh taste buds, prepare yourselves for a delicious piece of heaven. If the final product tastes ANYTHING like these spoons I’m licking, we’re in for a treat!
And a treat it was! It was just as delicious as the stores and restaurants make it, perhaps better since I did it myself! 
The recipe is fairly simple and straightforward. It took me about an hour to make and it has to be in the fridge for at least an hour when you’re done, so while it’s completely possible to make the same-day (I made it at 1pm for that evening’s dessert), be sure to allow enough fridge time. Here are the step-by-step instructions. A pretty copy/paste recipe is below.
Behold: Tiramisu
24 ladyfingers (or Italian sponge cake breakfast cookies), cut in half
5 large egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cut sweet Marsala
1 Tbsp water
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla
16oz mascarpone cheese, softened
1 cup espresso, cooled
3 Tbsp brandy (the small “one shot” bottles are the perfect size)
3 Tbsp sugar
1/4 of a bittersweet chocolate bar
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your espresso so it has time to cool. Bring all your ingredients to room temperature except the heavy cream.
2. Place the lady fingers or sponge cake on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown & almost crispy. Set aside to cool.
3. Place a large skillet filled with 1-2″ of water on the stove and bring to a high simmer. In a medium heat-proof bowl (I used my Kitchen Aid mixer), beat egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar on high for about two minutes, until it’s thick and pale yellow. Whisk in Marsala and water.
4. Set the bowl into the skillet and whisk by hand (or on low speed) until the mixture reaches 160 degrees. Remove the bowl from the skillet and pour the mixture into a separate bowl to let cool, stirring from time to time. Wash and dry Kitchen Aid bowl (unless you have another one… lol).
5. In the bowl, beat the heavy cream and vanilla until soft peaks form.
6. Place softened mascarpone cheese in a separate large bowl. Smear the cheese against the sides of the bowl, or use a mixer on low to ensure that there are no lumps in the cheese. Fold in the whipped cream and the cooled egg yolk mixture.
7. In a shallow dish, combine espresso, brandy and 3T of sugar. Dip the ladyfingers or sponge cake into the espresso mixture and arrange in a 9×13 glass pan. It is better to leave a little bit of space than to squish them in. Spread the cheese/egg/whipped cream mixture over the cakes.
8. Grate the bittersweet chocolate over the cheese. Sift the unsweetened cocoa over the chocolate, on top of the cheese. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to 24.
Tiramisu
24 ladyfingers (or Italian sponge cake breakfast cookies), cut in half
5 large egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cut sweet Marsala
1 Tbsp water
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla
16oz mascarpone cheese, softened
1 cup espresso, cooled
3 Tbsp brandy (the small “one shot” bottles are the perfect size)
3 Tbsp sugar
1/4 of a bittersweet chocolate bar
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your espresso so it has time to cool. Bring all your ingredients to room temperature except the heavy cream.
2. Place the lady fingers or sponge cake on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown & almost crispy. Set aside to cool.
3. Place a large skillet filled with 1-2″ of water on the stove and bring to a high simmer. In a medium heat-proof bowl (I used my Kitchen Aid mixer), beat egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar on high for about two minutes, until it’s thick and pale yellow. Whisk in Marsala and water.
4. Set the bowl into the skillet and whisk by hand (or on low speed) until the mixture reaches 160 degrees. Remove the bowl from the skillet and pour the mixture into a separate bowl to let cool, stirring from time to time. Wash and dry Kitchen Aid bowl (unless you have another one… lol).
5. In the bowl, beat the heavy cream and vanilla until soft peaks form.
6. Place softened mascarpone cheese in a separate large bowl. Smear the cheese against the sides of the bowl, or use a mixer on low to ensure that there are no lumps in the cheese. Fold in the whipped cream and the cooled egg yolk mixture.
7. In a shallow dish, combine espresso, brandy and 3T of sugar. Dip the ladyfingers or sponge cake into the espresso mixture and arrange in a 9×13 glass pan. It is better to leave a little bit of space than to squish them in. Spread the cheese/egg/whipped cream mixture over the cakes.
8. Grate the bittersweet chocolate over the cheese. Sift the unsweetened cocoa over the chocolate, on top of the cheese. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to 24.
What’s your favorite birthday dessert?
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Looks delicious! Now I want some.
Thank you!
That dessert was delicious. Now you have to make it again !
Thank you, official taste tester!
Ahhh….you had me at tiramisu. It’s my most favorite dessert in the world. Yours looks fantastic!! So happy you linked up with us today at Mop It Up Mondays!!
{HUGS},
kristi
Ooh, nothing surpasses tiramisu, in my opinion. Thanks for sharing!
–Stopping by from Inspire Me Monday,
Chels at Garden Me
This ranks very high on my husband’s list too! Thanks for visiting!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of tiramisu before, but it looks delicious!
I LOVE tiramisu,I am inviting you to come and be part of my blog hop!
Yum! This looks fantastic. I’ve never tried to make tiramisu before – I’ll have to try your recipe.
Oh, I can’t wait to share this recipe and make it for my friend! It is her favorite dessert! YUM. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Kids in the Kitchen. Hope to see you next week
Great tutorial! Would love for you to share at my weekly link party!
You go! I’ve never made any dessert this impressive! Thanks for sharing at our Handmade Tuesdays party!
Looks delicious! You’d never know this was your first time baking tiramisu, it is so pretty, Bet it tasted as good as it looks! Found you through Printabelle’s link up. Just added a few ideas there myself too. Sounds like this dessert will be requested at lots of future family gatherings!
I would love for you to come by and share this post on the Creative Corner Hop. The linky party starts on Monday and stays open all week.
Sandy
Cherished Handmade Treasures
This looks really good! Thanks for sharing at Terrific Tuesdays.
Rachel
adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com
Yum! I will have to try this very soon! I saw you at A Bowl Full Of Lemons, and wanted to invite you to link up on my blog!
Wow! Looks so rich and delicious! Love, love Tiramisu!
I haven’t made tiramisu in years! Pinning.
Yum, yum, yum! That looks awesome. Thanks very much for linking up!
My hubby loves tiramisu and this looks very yummy!
Whoo hoo! What a great accomplishment…I’m so proud of you. The tiramisu looks and sounds really good. I’m trying to think if I’ve ever had it…Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Sharon @ mrs. hines class
This looks divine! Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday
Yum! Thoroughly impressed. Thanks for linking up to Titus 2 Tuesday.
Kathy
I love that you use ladies fingers so many recipes don’t anymore. Please share this my foodie friday party today.
Ohhh your tiramisu looks DELICIOUS!!!! It’s one of my favorite desserts, I haven’t had it in such a long time I’ll have to make it soon again!
Thank you for participating in Show Your Stuff Blog Hop, You are invited to come back!
Looks delicious! Thank you for sharing at the Pomp Party! Pinning to our Pomp Party board!
Thanks for linking up at Pounds4Pennies this week!
So good looking! Thanks for sharing at Things I’ve Done Thursday!
Hi Tiffany,
I just love Tramisu and your recipe looks delicious, sure wish I had a nice slice right now, yum! Hope you have a very special week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I love tiramisu. When me and my fiance go out to eat the first thing I do is always check and see if they offer it for dessert. I would have never thought of making it myself but I am certainly going to try your recipe! Thanks!
My husband does something very similar! Make it once at home and you’ll feel so spoiled to have it whenever you want!
I love tiramisu and this is gorgeous! I wish my husband would ask me for treats. It would make my forcing them on him so much easier.
That sounds really good! I am going to have to try this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing at Thursday’s Temptation.
Jill
Tiramisu is a favorite around here…although I don’t make it very often either. I do think the homemade is better than the store bought stuff. Probably because of all the time and love that is put into it!!! It looks great…I wish I could dip a spoon into my computer!!!
Looks so yummy!! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Link It Up Thursday.
This is a featured recipe, this week, at Bake With Bizzy. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I love tiramisu, I can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday. I hope to see you at the next party!
Stopping by to let you know I am featuring your Tiramisu tomorrow! It looks so yummy!!Thank you for linking up last week! I would love it if you would link up again this week!
Kim@madeinaday
WOW, This looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing at Creative Thursday last week. I can’t wait to see what you link up this week. Have a great day
Michelle
[...] Tiramisu by Don’t Waste the Crumbs looks divine! Thanks for the confidence to try something [...]
Thank you so much for linking up last week at my Unveil Your Genius link party! I featured you!
I hope you’ll link up again soon!