recipe8

Using an Alternative to Mascarpone Cheese in Tiramisu

• Introduction

  Tiramisu is an Italian dessert featuring ladyfingers soaked in rum and espresso, layered with sweetened mascarpone cheese. While you can substitute cream cheese for the mascarpone, you'll be sacrificing flavor for convenience.

• Step 1: What You Need to Make Tiramisu

  • 16 ounces mascarpone, at room temperature
  • 24 ladyfingers
  • 3/4 cup rum, divided
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons superfine sugar, divided
  • 1 cup espresso, cooled
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 9 x 9 or 11x 7 baking dish

• Step 2: How to Make Tiramisu

  1. Mix espresso with 1/2 cup rum and 2 tablespoons sugar.
  2. Beat mascarpone with 1 cup sugar until smooth.
  3. Add rum to mascarpone mixture and beat until creamy.
  4. Dip 12 ladyfingers in the espresso mixture and layer on the bottom of the pan.
  5. Top with half of the mascarpone.
  6. Dip remaining 12 ladyfingers in the espresso and lay on top of the mascarpone.
  7. Brush any remaining espresso over the ladyfingers.
  8. Top with remaining mascarpone.
  9. Use a fine sieve to sprinkle the cocoa over the top of the tiramisu.
  10. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-8 hours. If the cocoa has been absorbed, sift a another layer on top before serving.

• Step 3: Tiramisu Variations

  1. For a more intense coffee flavor, mix 4 tablespoons of Kahlua and 1 tablespoon vanilla into the mascarpone.
  2. For more chocolate flavor, grate 3 tablespoons of dark chocolate over each layer of ladyfingers.
  3. Use dark rum for more intense rum flavor.