As I mentioned in this post my friend Melissa and I went to a cooking class. The menu was perfect for me; risotto, pasta and polenta. I couldn’t have come up with a menu better suited for me if I tried. The only problem was the dessert. The chef, Dave, was making us tiramisu. I do not like tiramisu. I do not like coffee. I do not even like anything coffee flavored. But Dave was making it so I figured I might as well give it a try. Surprise! I loved it. Sometimes, I get it in my head that I do not like something. And then when I actually try it, it turns out I do like it! Why do I do that?
In this case maybe I never should have tried it though. Now I can make delicious homemade tiramisu just like Dave. It is dangerous! Luckily, I was able to bring this over to my friend’s house for dinner. I saved one piece for myself and my friends ate some and they took the rest home. If it were sitting in my fridge I would have eaten it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day until it was gone. I don’t know how this tiramisu compares to other tiramisus but everyone seemed to like it. It is very light and does not have a real strong coffee flavor. It was just perfect for me. Dave made homemade lady fingers but I cheated and bought store bought ones. I have a feeling this will be a dessert I find myself making over and over again!
Here is what you'll need
Whip your cream and add the vanilla
Combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil
Soften the gelatin in water and mix well
Add the gelatin to the sugar/water mixture. Mix.
Begin whipping your egg yolks
Keep going, we are looking for a pale yellow color
There we go! See how light that got?
Add your sugar/gelatin mixture to the eggs
Keep whipping!
Line the pan with ladyfingers and brush with the coffee
While the coffee is being absorbed fold the mascarpone cheese into the whipped eggs
Next, fold in the whipped cream
Spread half of the filling over the ladyfingers
Line with the second layer of ladyfingers, brush with coffee, and spread the rest of the filling over the ladyfingers
Sprinkle generously with cocoa powder
Tiramisu is the perfect dessert to bring to any holiday party!
Ingredients
16 ounces mascarpone cheese
1 cup sugar
¼ cup water
1 packet of gelatin
6 egg yolks
2 cups heavy cream
½ Tablespoon vanilla
2 cups cold coffee mixed with ½ cup of sugar
2 packages (about 60 total) lady fingers
Vahlrona cocoa powder
Directions
Whip your heavy cream to medium soft peaks with the vanilla and transfer to another bowl and set aside. Combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Allow to boil about 1 minute before removing from heat. Soften the gelatin with 3 Tablespoons of water and stir well. Add this to the sugar/water mixture. Set this aside. Whip the 6 egg yolks in your stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Continuing whipping until they become a very light yellow color. Gradually add the sugar/gelatin mixture. Continue whipping. Fold in the mascarpone cheese and the whipped cream. You should do this by hand not with your mixer. Line a 9×13 pan with ladyfingers. Using a brush, coat the ladyfingers with the coffee. Your coffee should be cold and mixed with sugar. Once the coffee has been absorbed by the ladyfingers spread half of the filling over the ladyfingers. Repeat with the rest of the ladyfingers, coffee and filling. Using a sifter cover the top layer with high quality cocoa powder such as vahlrona. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. Overnight is fine.
Source: Dave’s Specialty Foods
