Traditional Tiramisu is an Italian dessert recipe with layers of mascarpone custard, whipped cream, layered between rum and espresso soaked ladyfingers.
Place egg yolks into medium saucepan, whisking in sugar until well blended. If using all natural cane sugar, whisk a little longer than normal to incorporate the coarser crystals of all natural cane sugar.
Whisk in milk and stirring constantly, cook over medium heat, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Boil gently for 1 minute, then remove from heat and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, custard should be thick and coat the back of a spoon. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 1 hour or more if needed to cool completely.
Once custard is cooled, in a separate large batter bowl, beat heavy cream and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form, refrigerate until ready to use.
Whisk the mascarpone into the yolk/custard mixture, whisking just until smooth, set aside. If your Tiramisu cream is runny, read to the end of the post for reasons and fixes.
In a 1 cup measuring cup, mix coffee and rum (see notes to make without rum). Layer the ladyfingers evenly on the bottom of 9x9 dish or 7x11. Drizzle ½ of the coffee - rum mixture over the top, they do not need to be completely soaked, but should be evenly drizzled, if needed add a few additional tablespoons coffee. Swirl your dish around so that the ladyfingers soak up the liquid.
Layer half the mascarpone custard on top of the lady fingers, smoothing out. I even gave the dish a little gentle "smack" on the counter to get the custard to settle between the lady fingers. Spread half of the whipped cream on top of the mascarpone custard, smooth out evenly. I like using an for this.
In a separate dish or shallow bowl, lay out ladyfingers and pour reserved coffee-rum liquid over the tops, until evenly drizzled. Carefully place ladyfingers on top of whipped cream-custard layer, they should not be too soggy, but a couple of mind did get soaked and it didn't seem to impact the texture or taste of the tiramisu dessert. Repeat layering with custard and whipped cream, cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours.
Before serving, give the top a good dusting with cocoa powder.
Video
Notes
Can Tiramisu Be Made the Day Before? YES!
Why is My Tiramisu Cream Runny and What Can I do About It?
Using a low or non-fat mascarpone can cause it to be runny, there is more water in low and non-fat versions. Go for it with full fat version. Plus I am of the persuasion that non-fat dairy items cause us to be fat...read more about that here.
If you beat the mascarpone too much, it can cause curdling and separation of the cheese curds and water.
Not cooking your custard long enough, it should be thick and pudding like when you take it off the stovetop.
Mixing the mascarpone into the egg custard mixture before the mixture is completely cooled.
Right off the bat, if you notice runniness or separation, pour off the runny portion.
The easiest way however; is to refrigerate your mascarpone custard for a couple of hours, it will set up.
If you've already assembled your tiramisu and it's pretty runny, allowing it to sit in the fridge will firm it up. The moisture will be absorbed by the ladyfingers and all should be good!
Bottom line? These are delicious, simple, quality ingredients, runny or not, it should taste amazing!
Can you make Tiramisu without alcohol?
Yes! Simply increase your coffee or add water or even orange juice to the coffee to equal the liquid portions out.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND OTHER QUESTIONS
What other alcohol works with tiramisu? Try a nice Marsala wine or Madeira, a Tawny Port, but amaretto or coffee liquor are also acceptable choices to add. Other sweet liquors like Irish cream, orange or chocolate liquor will blend well with tiramisu's coffee and cocoa flavors. Change it up!
Individual Tiramisu desserts. You may have to get creative about cutting your ladyfingers, but simply choose your dishes or cups and layer away!
Can I substitute cream cheese for mascarpone? Not easily, but it can be done. "Mascarpone is a cream cheese with a high fat content and a slightly sweet taste. It is difficult to find a substitute and regular cream cheese has a lower fat content and a more acidic flavor. However you could try beating together 225g (8 ounces) full fat cream cheese with 60ml (4 tablespoons/1/4 cup) double or whipping cream and 30g (1 ounce/2 tablespoons) softened unsalted butter until just blended. This will give the equivalent of around 300g (10 ounces/1 ¼ cups) mascarpone."Source
I can't find ladyfingers, now what? Instead of the Italian Savoyardi (ladyfingers/sponge fingers) a vanilla or plain sponge cake would be the best choice. Slice the cake into "finger sized" portions and bake fingers in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes, until dry and crisp or leave it on a wire rack to dry out for a day or two so that when it is dipped into the coffee mixture it absorbs liquid without breaking up too much.