Italian Tiramisu Dessert Recipe

Tiramisu is a popular Italian dessert that is both easy to make and delicious to eat. Here's a kid-friendly version of the recipe, along with some tips and variations to make it even more enjoyable.

The Recipe

To make Tiramisu, you'll need ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, egg yolks and whites, sugar, coffee, brandy, unsweetened cocoa powder, and your choice of liquor alternatives such as marsala wine, amaretto, dark rum, or coffee liqueur like Kahlua.

First, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form, and then fold them into the mascarpone mixture. Dip the ladyfingers in a coffee and brandy mixture, and layer them with the mascarpone cream in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but no more than 24 hours, before serving, and dust with unsweetened cocoa powder before serving.

Tips and Variations

For a kid-friendly version, you can dip ladyfingers in just coffee or check out other recipes like chocolate tiramisu or berry tiramisu.
To prevent the tiramisu from turning out runny, avoid over-whipping or under-whipping the sugar, egg, and cheese mixture, and don't over-soak the ladyfingers.
If you're immunocompromised or wary of eating uncooked eggs, you can use pasteurized eggs or whip heavy cream instead.
The tiramisu can be halved for a smaller crowd, and leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Pro Chef Tips

Rinse eggshells before cracking and separating them to prevent any unwanted debris from getting into the mixture.
Don't add additional flavoring like vanilla extract to the tiramisu.
The tiramisu can be made ahead up to 24 hours in advance, and the components can be prepared separately to prevent soggy ladyfingers or a too-soft mascarpone filling.

This recipe for Tiramisu was last updated on 9/28/2025, and you can find links to other tiramisu recipes on the Küchendeutsche Gemma website. Enjoy this delicious dessert!