Italian · serves 2

Tiramisu

A sheet cake soaked in espresso instead of sponge fingers. Easier and better soaked.

70 min A proper cook Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • Cake: 180g plain flour, 200g caster sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 180ml water, 120ml sunflower oil, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp vanilla
  • Espresso: 190ml water, 3 tbsp instant coffee
  • Filling: 600ml double cream, 255g mascarpone, 35g icing sugar
  • 200g dark chocolate, finely chopped

Method

  1. Sift flour, sugar, soda and salt. Stir water, oil, vinegar and vanilla separately, then combine — whisk only until just mixed.
  2. 200°C for 25-30 minutes. Cool in the tin.
  3. Dissolve the coffee in the water and cool it.
  4. Whisk the cream, mascarpone and icing sugar to soft peaks. Stop before it stiffens or it goes grainy.
  5. Slice the cake into two layers. Brush the first heavily with espresso.
  6. Half the cream over, half the chopped chocolate, then the second layer, more espresso, the rest of the cream.
  7. Chocolate over the top. Chill at least 4 hours, better overnight.

Questions people ask about Tiramisu

How long does Tiramisu take?

About 70 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a proper cook. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What is the one thing to get right in Tiramisu?

Whisk the cream, mascarpone and icing sugar to soft peaks. Stop before it stiffens or it goes grainy.

What can I use instead of maida in Tiramisu?

Use plain atta for a denser, nuttier result, or a 50/50 mix if you want to keep some lift.

Can I make Tiramisu ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Tiramisu vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Tiramisu?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Tiramisu?

A green salad and bread. Nothing else needed. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

If you liked this

Pizza Dough from Scratch
60 min · Some work
Baked Cheese Rice
70 min · Easy
Caprese Salad
10 min · Easy
Bruschetta
12 min · Easy
Pasta Aglio e Olio
15 min · Easy
Cacio e Pepe
15 min · Some work