NONNA'S TIRAMISU

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Nonna's Tiramisu image

This is my grandmother's tiramisu. I have been eating this for as long as I can remember and I have yet to try a tiramisu that I like better. I made this over the weekend and I didn't have kahlua on hand so I used creme de cacao instead and I think I may even prefer it that way now. In the past I have omitted the liqueur and it has still been very good. I have also used part-skim ricotta instead of mascarpone if I'm looking to lower calories and cost. Cook time is chill time for first the coffee and then for the cake itself. Feel free to make this even as early as two days before serving- it will only be better for it.

Provided by Canadian_in_the_Bay

Categories     Dessert

Time 7h45m

Yield 12-16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 eggs, separated
1 lb mascarpone (mascarpone is preferable) or 1 lb ricotta cheese (mascarpone is preferable)
1 lb ladyfinger
2 -3 cups espresso
6 tablespoons Kahlua (optional)
3/4 cup sugar
1 ounce dark chocolate (to garnish) or 1 ounce some cocoa powder (to garnish)

Steps:

  • Brew 2-3 cups of espresso or very strong coffee (I use my Bialetti stove top moka pot). Allow coffee to cool completely and stir in liqueur.
  • Pull a 13x9 pan, a large bowl, and a small bowl out of your cupboard.
  • Separate eggs, placing egg whites in the smaller bowl and egg yolks in the larger bowl.
  • Beat egg white with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Do not over beat (or underbeat for that matter) the egg whites as this will ruin the consistency of the cream.
  • Leaving the egg whites separate for the time being, add sugar to the egg yolks and beat until well blended. Then, add the mascarpone or ricotta and beat until creamy and well blended.
  • Fold egg whites into the cheese mixture.
  • Pour coffee mix into a bowl/container with a flat bottom large enough to accomodate one lady finger. I start with a pool of coffee about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch deep.
  • One by one, roll the lady fingers in the coffee. If you oversoak them the cake will be soggy and under soaking could lead to it being crunchy. If in doubt, do a test cookie. Soak the cookie, then cut it in half. If it has been soaked the correct amount, the outside will be brown and soft but the very center (where you have cut it) will still be white and firm.
  • As you roll each lady finger in the coffee, line them up in the 13x9 inch pan. When the cookies don't fit comfortably, cut them (after soaking) to make them fit.
  • When you have one layer of "cake", spread half of the cheese mixture evenly over it and place a second layer of soaked cookies over the cheese mixture. Top with remaining cheese mix.
  • My grandmother garnishes her tiramisu by sprinkling cocoa powder over it but I use grated 60% dark chocolate and sometimes I throw some grated white chocolate on top of that.
  • Place tiramisu in fridge and wait at least 6 hours before serving.
  • Note: This recipe freezes well so you can save leftovers for later if need be.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 222.8, Fat 6.3, SaturatedFat 2.5, Cholesterol 145.5, Sodium 85.5, Carbohydrate 35.9, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 22.2, Protein 6.5

Naziafayyaz Fayyaz
naziafayyaz-f95@hotmail.co.uk

This tiramisu is a classic dessert for a reason. It's delicious, easy to make, and always a crowd-pleaser.


Ray Colon
raycolon@yahoo.com

I love that this recipe uses real espresso. It really gives the tiramisu a deep, rich flavor.


Brooklyn Culver
cb47@gmail.com

This tiramisu is so rich and decadent! It's definitely a special occasion dessert.


Gontran Meunier
meunier-gontran@hotmail.fr

I'm not sure what I did wrong, but my tiramisu turned out a bit runny. I think I might have added too much coffee.


Gaming with Nasir
wgaming@hotmail.com

I had a hard time finding ladyfinger cookies, but I was able to use graham crackers instead and it turned out great!


Mirere jasmer
m_jasmer49@yahoo.com

This tiramisu is a bit too sweet for my taste, but it's still a good recipe.


Rizwan Saeed
srizwan65@aol.com

I'm not a huge fan of tiramisu, but this recipe changed my mind! It's the perfect balance of sweet and savory.


Conan does stuff
stuff88@aol.com

This tiramisu is so delicious! The coffee flavor is rich and bold, and the mascarpone cheese is perfectly creamy.


Miroslav Belan
b.miroslav@hotmail.fr

I love how easy this tiramisu is to make! I was able to whip it up in no time, and it turned out beautifully.


CT SPEXIFY SPEXIFY
spexify.c@gmail.com

This tiramisu is a bit of work to make, but it's totally worth it! The end result is a delicious and impressive dessert that's sure to wow your guests.


Manana Rivent
riventm25@hotmail.com

I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great! The only thing I would change is to use a little less sugar, as I found it to be a bit too sweet for my taste.


Micheal Kaela
m-k46@gmail.com

This tiramisu is the best I've ever had! The flavors are perfectly balanced and the texture is so creamy and light. I will definitely be making this again and again.