Description
These Heart-Shaped Tiramisu Cups offer a romantic, no-bake twist on the classic Italian dessert. Featuring layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and rich mascarpone cream, they make an elegant treat perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any special date night.
Ingredients
Mascarpone Cream
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese, cold
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream, cold
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Tiramisu Layers
- 1 cup strong brewed espresso or coffee, cooled
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder (plus more for dusting)
- 12–16 ladyfinger cookies
- Dark chocolate shavings or cocoa powder, for topping
- (Optional: 1–2 tbsp coffee liqueur or rum)
Instructions
- Brew Espresso: Brew 1 cup of strong espresso or coffee and stir in 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar until dissolved. Allow it to cool completely to avoid soggy ladyfingers.
- Whip Heavy Cream: In a chilled bowl, whip ¾ cup of cold heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form, ensuring the cream holds its shape.
- Prepare Mascarpone Mixture: In another bowl, whisk together 1 cup of cold mascarpone cheese, ⅓ cup powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Cream and Mascarpone: Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture using a spatula until fully incorporated and fluffy, careful not to deflate the mixture.
- Dip Ladyfingers: Quickly dip each ladyfinger cookie into the cooled espresso mixture for just a second to prevent them from soaking too much and becoming soggy.
- Layer Dessert: Place a layer of dipped ladyfingers at the bottom of heart-shaped cups or glasses. Spoon half of the mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers and smooth the surface.
- Repeat Layers: Add another layer of dipped ladyfingers followed by the remaining mascarpone cream, smoothing the final layer evenly.
- Garnish: Dust the top with cocoa powder and sprinkle dark chocolate shavings or additional cocoa powder for a polished finish.
- Chill: Refrigerate the tiramisu cups for at least 2 hours to set and develop flavors before serving. For best results, chill overnight.
Notes
- Do not oversoak the ladyfingers to maintain a perfect texture and avoid sogginess.
- Chilling overnight enhances flavor and texture for a more authentic tiramisu experience.
- To make the dessert alcohol-free, omit the coffee liqueur or rum.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
