Recommended Recipes: Tiramisu

I found this recipe on the radio. A couple of years ago I was driving home from a gathering of The Alabama State Poetry Society, listening to NPR on the radio as is my custom while driving.  I heard an interview with a man who decided to make tiramisu for his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.  After the segment, the program’s host said that the recipe for tiramisu could be found on the program’s website.  Since tiramisu is a popular dessert in our household, I decided to go searching for the recipe. I found the one on the NPR website and to my surprise, it was a Mr. Food recipe! You can find more complicated recipes for tiramisu, but this one is simple, relatively easy, and you will find that it tastes just as good as any you have had in a restaurant. This is another one that I took to a church potluck and it received rave reviews.

The recipe calls for egg substitute, which I like because egg substitute is pasteurized. The recipe is not cooked, and I am always leery of raw eggs in recipes. Here is the recipe as presented on Mr. Food’s website:

Melt in Your Mouth Tiramisu

"Our melt-in-your-mouth version of the popular chilled Italian-style dessert, Tiramisu, is made with ladyfinger cookies that are flavored with instant coffee granules and liqueur, layered in creamy filling and topped off with a dusting of cocoa."

Serves: 6

What You'll Need:

• 1 cup warm water
• 4 teaspoons instant coffee granules
• 1/4 cup coffee-flavored liqueur
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (8-ounce) container mascarpone cheese (see Note)
• 1/2 cup refrigerated egg substitute
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup (1/2 pint) heavy cream
• 2 (3-ounce) packages ladyfingers
• 1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa

What To Do:

1. In a small bowl, combine the water, coffee granules, liqueur, and vanilla; stir to dissolve the coffee then set aside. In a large bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese, egg substitute, and sugar until smooth; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold half of the whipped cream into the cheese mixture until thoroughly combined. 
3. Line the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish with one package of ladyfingers, slightly overlapping to fit. Spoon half of the coffee mixture over the ladyfingers. Spoon half of the cheese mixture evenly over the ladyfingers.  
4. Layer with the remaining package of ladyfingers and repeat with the coffee mixture and cheese mixture. Spoon the whipped topping over the top and sprinkle with the cocoa. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours before serving.

Note:

Mascarpone cheese is a fresh Italian double cream cheese that is buttery smooth in texture and can often be found in supermarket deli departments. If it's not available, you can substitute cream cheese beaten with a little milk until creamy and smooth.

Note:

If you prefer not to use egg substitute, you may alternatively use 2 eggs (just mix with a whisk before adding).

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