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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Tiramisù

6 Servings

30 minutes plus chilling

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In Treviso, where tiramisù was born, we were shown how to make the dessert by Linda Maria Botter of Camelia Bakery, whose tiramisù was voted best in the city. The lesson: Simplicity is best. Many recipes start with cooking a zabaglione, a yolk-rich custard that requires careful monitoring, so it was a revelation that raw egg yolks and sugar simply whipped until voluminous make a lighter, better tiramisù. Mascarpone gently whisked into the base completes the filling. Espresso is the classic soaking liquid for the ladyfingers, but we found strong brewed coffee to be equally good. Avoid espresso made from instant powder; it tastes thin and flat. The lack of rum is not an oversight; it’s not common in Italy. The type of ladyfingers to use here have the texture of dry sponge cake. On package labels, they sometimes are called savoiardi biscuits; you will need one 7-ounce package. In Treviso, tiramisù often is assembled in individual portions. We offer the option to make six servings in 8-ounce ramekins or a family-style version in an 8-inch square dish. This is an ideal make-ahead dessert. Once assembled, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to two days. Note: the egg yolks in this recipe are not cooked.

6

Servings

Tip

Don’t remove the mascarpone from the refrigerator until ready to use it. Cold mascarpone is less likely to “break” during mixing. For the same reason, do not overmix once the mascarpone is added. Keep the speed on low and the timing to a minimum. Lastly, soak the ladyfingers in coffee for only 1 to 2 seconds. The cookies become soggy if overmoistened.

30 minutes

plus chilling

Ingredients

  • 7

    large egg yolks

  • 71

    grams (⅓ cup) white sugar

Directions

Reviews
ELLEN D.
April 15, 2026
Best Tiramisu Ever!
I'd been craving tiramisu for quite a few months when I discovered this recipe. Most of the recipes I'd seen had lots of add-ins like cream, egg whites, and liqueur, and too much sugar , but I wanted something old school and pure. I made this exactly as written, except that I substituted 3/8" slices of one of my other Milk Street favorites, the Whipped Cream Cake because I needed something that would make the dish a little sturdier. It came out perfect! I briefly dipped both sides of each little slice of cake in my everyday espresso from a legacy roaster in San Francisco. Once the dessert was set I carved out a square and froze it in a 2-cup Souper Cube so that we could enjoy it again on a whim. I served it with a thick layer of Ghirardelli Majestic cocoa powder, which is 20-22% cocoa butter. The super robust espresso and the rich cocoa powder, both black as the devil, made the tiramisu a heavenly treat.
Elizabeth M.
January 6, 2026
The best!
First I made this for our family Christmas dinner and everyone loved it. Then I had to use up the rest of the lady fingers that were imported from Italy - but bought online from Walmart ! ( I live in a small rural town so that was my best option. They worked perfectly. ) So I made it again and shared with friends and neighbors who all rated it higher than any versions they had ever eaten from specialty stores or restaurants. So great to make people happy with this simple but fabuous treat.
BLAKE O.
December 26, 2025
Easy, accurate, delivered a winner
One of the simpler recipes that I have found on MS, and it delivered. Not having to make a true zabaglione made the process painless. I wanted to stick to using as close to true espresso flavor as possible, so I used my wife's Nespresso machine. That took quite a few pods but I didn't have to try to mess with making stronger coffee. Please follow the clear instructions to not let the lady fingers soak in the espresso; it truly is a "dip" as they become soggy faster than you think, particularly once they are set and chilled with the rest of the ingredients. And as they say in the episode, you will not miss the rum as this tastes much cleaner. As always, use as good quality ingredients as you can find especially with there being so few. The family will definitely be bugging me to make this on the regular.
ARIA R.
December 3, 2025
BEST RECIPE EVER!!!!
my whole family LOVES this recipe and we make it at least once a month. The creamy texture is just unbeatable. love love love
Adam A.
August 2, 2025
True Tiramisu.
Absolutely authentic Tiramisu. Most recipes get it all wrong by adding heavy cream, gelatin, even pudding mix (travesty). This is the real deal and the flavors are all balanced. Make it immediately and you will definitely make it repeatedly. Perfection.

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