Tiramisu Cake tastes like a dream in your mouth. A coffee lover’s dream dessert! It is a wonderful combination of light cream and strong coffee that comes together in just the right way. Think of it as a perfect cup of coffee in cake form…
Skip the traditional ladyfingers and substitute sponge cake for a little twist.
I perfected this recipe while living with my mother, who is by nature, an amazing cook. One of my goals as a budding chef was to impress her with a to-die-for cake. I am proud to say that this rendition of tiramisu is what convinced her I could bake!
A classic Italian dessert, tiramisu or Italian pizzelle are a great dessert to cap off a meal of marinara meatballs or a hefty serving of chicken mushroom fettuccine alfredo. Whip it up for your next Italian-themed dinner party — it is sure to not disappoint.
What is Tiramisu?
A classic tiramisu is a coffee-flavored Italian dessert. It is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, cocoa and mascarpone cheese. In my rendition, I swap ladyfingers for sponge cake (also called Beskvit) and cream cheese for mascarpone.
After many years of experimenting, I have found the combination that I love! I can’t wait for you to give it a try. But, keep in mind this recipe is quite versatile. Feel free to use the cake or cheese that suits your palate.
Use Lady Fingers for Tiramisu
If you wish to go the easier route, you can always opt for ladyfingers over sponge cake. It will speed up the process significantly and turn out just as great. At this point, you may be wondering what lady fingers are? Well, these biscuits are dry, egg-based and the basis for many European desserts. You can find them pre-baked and ready for use at many grocery stores — especially specialty European markets.
How Far in Advance Can You Make Tiramisu?
I would highly recommend making tiramisu at least 24 hours in advance. Why? You want the flavors to come together. Feel free to prepare your tiramisu 2-3 days before you plan to serve it. Just make sure it stays refrigerated! As the cake sets, the flavors meld together and become richer and more pronounced.
How to Make Tiramisu
- Using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese with sugar.
- Add heavy cream and beat until you get stiff peaks. Set aside in the refrigerator.
- Brew 2 cups of STRONG coffee, let it cool and stir in liquor.
- Split your cake into 2-3 layers. Put the first layer on a plate.
- Drizzle coffee syrup on top. Spread frosting on top and finish with a sprinkle of cocoa. Repeat with the second layer.
- On the top layer, only syrup the side facing the inside of the cake. Decorate and serve!
Can You Freeze Tiramisu?
Unlike most cakes, tiramisu can be frozen. This makes it a great cake to prep ahead and have on hand for when those last minute guests pop into town. Here’s how to do it:
- Prepare the tiramisu all the way up until you frost the outer layer and decorate it with cocoa.
- Tightly wrap the unfrosted cake in plastic wrap. Place it in the freezer for up to three months.
- Allow the cake to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Frost, decorate and serve.
Love Sponge cake?
This sponge cake can be used in so many different ways. One of my favorites (besides tiramisu, of course!) is Prune Walnut Cake. Despite the prunes, this isn’t your grandmother’s prune cake. It’s a classic Slavic cake, meaning it’s very sweet, rich and baked with sweetened and condensed milk. Enjoy!
More Cake Recipes
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 sponge cake
- 7 oz chocolate bar
Tiramisu Frosting
- 2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 16 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
Coffee Syrup
- 2 cup coffee
- 4 tbsp liquor
Instructions
Tiramisu Frosting
- Beat softened cream cheese with sugar until smooth.
- Add heavy whipping cream and beat until cream is stiff. Keep frosting refrigerated until ready for use, its easier to spread on to the cake.
Coffee Syrup
- Make 2 cups of really strong coffee of your choice. I used a bold flavor, it makes the cake have more taste. Let the cake cool down, add liquor and mix well.
Finalizing Cake
- Split your cake into 2 or 3 layers. Place first layer on the cake plate. (Be sure to let baked Beskvit cool off for bit, this way it's not mushy.)
- Using a spoon, pour 1/3 of the syrup evenly over the first cake layer.
- Spread 1/3 of the frosting over the first layer. Sift some cocoa powder; I used about 2 tsp. Center the second cake layer over the frosting. Repeat with second layer.
- For the top layer, pour syrup only on the bottom side. Place it on your cake and cover with frosting. Shift some cocoa to decorate the top. Decorate the sides with grated chocolate.
Hi Momsdish ! I don’t see where the bar of chocolate is used ?
Hi Maria, that can be very confusing, thanks for catching this for me. 🙂 Its only for decoration on top, so you dont even need it, unless you want to decorate with it. Happy baking!!!
Can you substitute marscapone cheese?
Hi Diane, so in my rendition, I swap cream cheese for mascarpone. So this recipe does not need mascarpone cheese.
I meant could you use mascarpone cheese instead of cream cheese or would the consistency be off
Hi Diane, I only tested the measurements with cream cheese but I am pretty sure you can replace it with mascarpone. Let me know how goes. Thanks
What is the difference coffee and liquor I don’t get it please answer me
Sumona, I am not understanding your question. Difference between what?
I do have Bailey in my fridge .Thank you for a beautiful recipe cake that you made .I have Mascarpone not cream cheese today .I will try both ways .
Let me know how it goes!
Tiramisu doesn't have liquor traditionally. Also is made with mascarpone cheese, cream cheese is simply not an option. I like the idea of trying it as a cake, it makes sense not to use ladyfingers.
This is just our twist on it, I hope you try it!
Looks delicious! I'll try , which liquor can i use ?
Hi Nanu, something like Bailey Liquor. Something similar to that would work.
Hi,
I am in Australia. Trying to convert to metric . Our cream cheese comes in 250gm blocks. Which I think 16oz would be nearly 2 blocks? But in your photo it only shows 1 block with the sugar.
Thanks for your receipe looks great.
You are correct, it is 2 blocks of cream cheese. The photo just has one but I did use two.
Hi what can I use instead of rum or can I just not use it
I use Brandy or Marsala wine
You can just skip out on it. 🙂
On the ingredient list you wrote 2 cups of coffee, but on the directions it says 3 cups... Which one should I use?
Looks like I am playing a trick here 🙂 sorry. It would be 2 cups
They are pretty thin. I think I use 10 inch baking sheet so it makes little taller, not hard to cut it into three parts.
my favorite dessert..i as well prefer it w biskvit rather than w ladyfingers... i am surprised that u were able to cut the sponge cake in three parts , were the pieces very thin?