The name tiramisu cups or quick tiramisu isn’t just for show, this dessert really does come together in no time! Even better, this tiramisu recipe is made without raw egg yolks and without alcohol, exactly the way I like it. One thing to note: the lady fingers used in this recipe do contain eggs.
Tiramisu is a true classic Italian dessert that’s especially popular during the holidays, but these individual tiramisu cups are definitely my favorite. And I have a feeling it’ll become one of your favorites too!
Making this quick tiramisu in individual cups or individual glasses really doesn’t need a lot of ingredients. In terms of the glasses you can pick whatever size you want.
Tiramisu is a traditional Italian dessert. In Italian it’s actually spelled tiramisù, which literally means “pick me up.” Apparently, it was often served to people who were sick to help lift their spirits or give them a boost.
Personally, I’m not sure I’d crave tiramisu when I’m under the weather, but it certainly puts a smile on my face any other day!
A traditional tiramisu is made with the combination of ladyfingers, coffee, cocoa powder, sugar, mascarpone, and eggs. Some recipes also include alcohol, although that’s not part of the authentic Italian version.
You actually have my sister to thank for this tiramisu recipe (without raw eggs and without alcohol). Many years back, she prepared a delicious Italian dinner one evening and served this for dessert.
Since then, the recipe has been hanging on my microwave and makes a regular appearance at family dinners. It’s easily one of my favorite quick desserts.
When you start making these tiramisu cups you start with brewing the coffee, so it has time to cool down. Break the ladyfingers (store-bought or make your own ladyfingers) into smaller pieces.
Whip the cream with the sugar until you have stiff peaks. In a separate bowl mix the mascarpone with the milk until you have a smooth mixture. Fold the whipped cream in with a spatula.
Now take your glasses and start building the layers. You start with a layer of ladyfingers and drizzle about a tablespoon of cooled down coffee over them. On top of that you add the first mascarpone layer. You can do this using a spoon but I find it is usually easier and less messy with a piping bag.
Keep layering until the glasses are full. Finish with mascarpone and dust them generously with cocoa powder.
Garnish with a piece of ladyfinger just before serving.
You can easily prepare these tiramisu cups in advance. They will keep quite well in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can add the cocoa powder at the last minute for the prettiest effect.
You can! Make sure you thaw them in the fridge. In the freezers they keep up for up to 3 months.
I love serving easy desserts in a glass and make sure to have a look at some of the below examples.
Of course I also have lots of different tiramisu variations so if you love those creamy desserts, make sure to check the recipes below as well.
Absolutely. Replace the coffee with whole chocolate milk if you prefer. Personally, I’m not a big coffee fan either, so I only dip the ladyfingers very briefly in the coffee to keep the flavor mild. You can also use a mixture of half coffee and half chocolate milk.
Not a fan of chocolate milk either? Then you may enjoy another type of tiramisu, such as Strawberry Tiramisu or limoncello tiramisu.
Simply stir your favorite liquor into the coffee. Coffee liqueur, Marsala wine, or amaretto all pair wonderfully with tiramisu. Replace about 2-3 tablespoons (30–40 ml) of the coffee with the same amount of alcohol.
Mascarpone is one of the key ingredients in tiramisu and contains about twice as much fat as regular cream cheese. For the best flavor and texture, I don’t recommend substituting it.
Definitely! Cover the glasses with plastic wrap and refrigerate them. Wait until just before serving to insert the ladyfinger garnish. If you use a star piping tip like I do, the piped topping may lose a little of its shape after sitting overnight. If you’d rather avoid that, simply spoon the mascarpone mixture into the glasses or use a plain round piping tip instead.
Absolutely! Feel free to get creative. Biscoff cookies, amaretti cookies, cantuccini, speculoos cookies, or chocolate hazelnut wafer cookies all work well. Just don’t tell the Italians. 😉
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