slice of Italian Tiramisu on a white plate

Italian Tiramisu Recipe

I love the summer time. All of my kids are home with me… although that can be daunting at times… and we can enjoy lazy days and fun-filled nights together.

One thing we have found to do to stay busy and creative is cooking together. I mean… we all have to eat correct?

teens playing sand volleyball

Staying Cool this Summer

My oldest daughter has become obsessed with trying new recipes she finds on Pinterest and so that has been entertaining. Some recipes have not gone as well as others.

But, we are having fun and staying cool this summer. And, as we were discussing what other recipes we could try my son remembered one that used to be his favorite.

Several years ago we were hosting my large extended family for Christmas and picked an Italian theme for our meal. I wanted to try something different so I began searching for a great new recipe to attempt. I happened upon a recipe for Italian Tiramisu and could not wait to give it a go.

My son and I have changed it up over the years and have made it our own. As we were looking through the ingredients we had at home to work with, the Tiramisu came to mind as soon as we saw the International Delight Iced Coffee in the fridge.

The best part of this recipe is how really simple it is to make!

overhead view of Italian Tiramisu in a white bowl

Italian Tiramisu Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 (10 oz package) mini-semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 cups whipped topping
  • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup chocolate syrup
  • 1 box Vanilla wafers
  • 1 cup International Delight Iced Coffee, warmed
mixing ingredients for homemade Italian Tiramisu Recipe

Directions

  1. Process the mini chocolate chips and cinnamon in a food processor until they are finely chopped and then set aside.
  2. Using electric mixer, blend cream cheese, powdered sugar, and chocolate syrup until creamy.
  3. Fold whipped topping into mixture.
  4. Dip each Vanilla wafer into a cup of warmed International Delight Iced Coffee. Layer the bottom and sides of your serving dish with the soaked wafers.
  5. Spoon ½ of the creamy mixture over the wafers and then sprinkle with ½ of chocolate-cinnamon blend.
  6. Add another layer of soaked Vanilla wafers and then top with remaining ½ of the creamy mixture and chocolate-cinnamon blend.
  7. Cover and let chill at least 2 hours before serving.

This chilled Italian Tiramisu is perfect for an evening treat while sipping on a cup of cold International Delight Iced Coffee. We used the Mocha flavor, but the Original or Vanilla would work as well.

There are few desserts as beloved as tiramisu. This Italian classic is the perfect balance of sweet, rich, and savory, and can be easily tailored to your own personal taste.

Whether you like your tiramisu on the sweeter side or with a bit more of a savory kick, this recipe is easy to follow and yields delicious results every time.

How do you make easy tiramisu?


There are a few different ways to make tiramisu, but the classic Italian Tiramisu recipe is actually quite simple. The most important thing is to start with good quality ingredients.

The traditional tiramisu recipe calls for Ladyfingers. These are light, airy biscuits that soak up coffee and liqueur perfectly. You can usually find them in the baking aisle of your grocery store, or order them online.

Next, you’ll need a good coffee. It’s important to use a strong coffee so that the tiramisu has a nice coffee flavor. You can use espresso, but regular coffee will work fine as well. Just make sure it’s a dark roast.

For the liqueur (if you want to add it), you’ll want to try marsala wine. This is a type of Italian fortified wine that’s fairly sweet. You can find it in most liquor stores. If you can’t find it, you can substitute sherry, port, or Madeira.

Finally, you’ll need a filling. Traditionally, tiramisu is made with mascarpone cheese. This is an Italian cream cheese that’s similar to a deflated version of American cream cheese. You can usually find it near the specialty cheeses in your grocery store.

What can I use instead of mascarpone?


If you don’t have mascarpone on hand or can’t find it at your local grocery store, there are a few substitutes you can use in its place.

Ricotta cheese is the most common substitute for mascarpone. It has a similar consistency and taste, and is widely available.

If you’re looking for a non-dairy option, cream cheese is a good option. It’s not quite as rich as mascarpone, but it will still give your tiramisu a creamy texture.

If you’re in a pinch, you can also use whipped cream. Whip cream until it’s thick and creamy, then fold in some sugar to sweeten it. This won’t be as rich as mascarpone, but it will still be delicious.

Or, do as we did here, and mix both the cream cheese and whipped cream together for a fluffy, delicious filling!

No matter which substitute you choose, your tiramisu will be delicious. So don’t stress if you can’t find mascarpone, just use one of these substitutes and enjoy!

What can I substitute for ladyfingers in tiramisu?

If you’re making tiramisu and don’t have ladyfingers on hand, there are a few substitutes that you can use.

One option is to use sponge cake. Sponge cake is similar to ladyfingers in terms of texture and flavor. You can cut it into pieces that are the same size as ladyfingers and use it in the same way.

Another option is to use pound cake. Pound cake is a denser cake, but it will still work as a substitute for ladyfingers. Simply cut it into pieces and layer it in the same way as you would with ladyfingers.

If you want a lighter cake option, you can try using angel food cake. Angel food cake is a very light and airy cake that is similar to ladyfingers. It’s a good option if you want to keep the light and airy texture of tiramisu.

Finally, you can use vanilla wafers are we did in this recipe!

Ultimately, it’s up to you what type of cake you want to use in tiramisu. If you don’t have ladyfingers, any of these substitutes will work. Just be sure to adjust the amount of sugar and other ingredients to compensate for the different cake.