Go Back
Homemade Classic Tiramisu Cups with Cocoa Dust recipe photo
Print Recipe Save it for later

Classic Tiramisu Cups with Cocoa Dust

These Classic Tiramisu Cups with Cocoa Dust are a quick, elegant dessert featuring coffee-soaked ladyfingers and luscious mascarpone cream in individual servings.
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time4 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Coffee, Easy, No-Bake, Quick
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup strong brewed coffee cooled
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese
  • 1 cup heavy cream whipped to soft peaks
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 24 ladyfinger cookies
  • unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

Instructions

  • Start by brewing 1 cup of strong coffee. Pour the coffee into a shallow bowl and let it cool completely before use to prevent the ladyfingers from becoming soggy.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese and sugar. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture to keep it light and airy.
  • Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the cooled coffee, dipping each side for about one second to avoid sogginess. Place the dipped ladyfingers at the bottom of each serving cup to create the first layer.
  • Spoon or pipe a generous layer of the mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers in each cup. Smooth it out gently with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
  • Add another layer of dipped ladyfingers on top of the cream, then another layer of mascarpone cream. Fill the cups almost to the top, finishing with a creamy layer.
  • Cover the cups with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible, to allow the flavors to meld and the texture to set. Just before serving, dust the tops generously with unsweetened cocoa powder using a sifter or fine mesh strainer.

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Electric Mixer or Whisk
  • Small shallow bowl
  • Individual serving cups or small glasses
  • Sifter or fine mesh strainer
  • Spatula

Notes

  • Use cream cheese blended with heavy cream as a mascarpone substitute if unavailable.
  • Swap sugar for honey or maple syrup, adjusting sweetness to taste.
  • Substitute ladyfingers with sponge cake or pound cake cubes if needed.
  • For caffeine-free, use decaffeinated coffee or chai tea as soaking liquid.
  • Dust cocoa powder evenly using a fine mesh strainer or sifter.