Velvety and Luscious… This Individual Tiramisu takes a classic Italian dessert and give it a simple twist, making it perfect for a prepare ahead individual dinner party dessert!
What is Tiramisu?
Tiramisu is a creamy rich layered Italian dessert, made with mascarpone cheese, ladyfinger cookies, espresso, eggs, sugar, sweet marsala wine (or rum) and cocoa powder.
The cookies are soaked in coffee and masala, then layered with a mixture of mascarpone cheese and an Italian custard, known as Zabaglione, made from egg yolks, sweet marsala wine, and sugar.
The soft pillowy cream is a wonderful contrast to the strong powerful espresso soaked biscuits.
What alcohol can be used in Tiramisu?
- Sweet Masala
- Madeira
- Dark Rum
- Coffee liqueur
- Amaretto
- Brandy
I like to use a sweet masala in my tiramisu, as that is how I was first taught to make it! But when masala isn’t on hand I have successfully made it with dark rum, brandy and coffee liqueur.
Because these Tiramisu contain raw eggs and alcohol, they are not suitable for children or expectant and nursing mothers. There are some recipe online that remove the alcohol and eggs, but they aren’t as light and luscious. If you are serving someone who needs to avoid alcohol/raw eggs then rather than serve an inferior dessert, I would pick something different. If you would like an individual dessert still then try my Individual Strawberry Trifles or perhaps my super simple and super decadent Chocolate Pots.
Why not pin this recipe for Individual Tiramisu for later. Pin it here
Individual Tiramisu
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup warm espresso coffee
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup super fine sugar (castor sugar)
- 8 ounce package mascarpone cheese
- 1/3 cup sweet masala/dark rum
- 24 ladyfingers (savioardi cookies)
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
Instructions
- Mix the coffee and brown sugar together in a small bowl and then place in the fridge to cool.
- Separating the eggs.
- Set the yolks to one side and place the egg whites into a mixing bowl.
- Beat the egg whites until they are stiff.
- In a second mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks and super fine sugar together until the mixture is a pale yellow colour and has started to thicken. (about 4 minutes)
- Whisk in the mascarpone cheese two tablespoon at a time, until well mixed and fluffy.
- Pour in the marsala and continue whisking until everything is smooth.
- Use a metal spoon to carefully fold in the egg whites. Turn gently, so you don't deflate the whites, until just combined. You should be left with a very light pillowy cream.
- Remove the cooled coffee from the fridge and dip a cookie into it until it is just fully saturated, the aim is for a soft cookie, but not to have it fall apart.
- Break the cookie in half and lay it in the bottom of your glass, Depending on the shape of your glasses you might need an extra half cookie on your bottom layer. The aim is for a single even layer of soaked cookies. (See notes)
- Repeat with the remaining glasses.
- Spoon a heaped tablespoon of cream over the cookies, and sprinkle with a little cocoa powder.
- Repeat your layers until your glasses are full.
- Set the tiramisu in the fridge to set, an hour minimum and up to 24hrs.
- To serve dust with more cocoa powder.
Notes
Depending on the shape of your glass you might need more or less cookies on each layer to cover the bottom.
And the height of your glass will dictate how many layers you can achieve.
Nutrition
Individual Tiramisu Anecdote
(aka my recipe ramble for those who love the waffle)
TRUTH….I can eat this cream straight from the mixing bowl…FACT I am working on ways to make this cream a dessert in it’s own right!!!! 😉
Don’t tell anyone but……I actually ate so much of it when I was making this last batch that I only had enough cream to make 5 1/2 portions…OOOPS! Good job we only had 2 friends coming for dinner!!!!
Not much rambling tonight…..I am distracted by George Clooney! Sadly not in person, but in a tux as he masterminds his casino job. Got to love a bit of Ocean’s 11. 😀
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Linda says
Turned out amazing! My guests loved it. Thank you!
Claire McEwen says
Oh Linda, I am so pleased you and your guest enjoyed them 🙂
It is a decadent but delicious dessert isn’t it?!
Cx
Jaimee says
I made this last night, was very yummy, but quite strong in the coffee department. Did you use full espresso? Or instant? Also it was quite ‘wet’ from the bikkies. I may have soaked them for too long?
Thanks
Claire McEwen says
I use espresso from our machine, which I would say is probably not as strong as from a coffee shop. But if the savioardi cookies were soaked for too long, they may have taken on too much coffee? If the finished result was wet I think that could have been the issue.
I dip them in, take them out, turn them over, re-dip the other side and then take them back out. They are still holding their shape and haven’t started to disintegrate or dissolve.
Glad you still enjoyed them though 🙂
Cx
Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says
Tiramisu is one of my favourite ever desserts! These individual ones look amazing!
Claire McEwen says
Oh yeah 😀
mine too!
Amy | The Cook Report says
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try making it for my next dinner party 🙂
Claire McEwen says
I hope your guests enjoy them Amy 😀
Chris says
Oh my goodness, these look SO gorgeous! Almost look too good to eat! ‘Almost’ being the key word, I’ll take all 6 please 🙂
Claire McEwen says
Hehe, I like the way you think Chris 😀
Natalie says
I simply LOVE tiramisu – it’s definitely one of my top favorite desserts in the world! Yours look absolutely delicious and I really love the photographs too!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Natalie….it really is such a yummy classic isn’t it.
Veena Azmanov says
YUM YUM YUM! This Individual Tiramisu really impresses! I want to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Looks very tasty. And very beautiful presentation. I definitely want to try it. Thank you for sharing this great recipe!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Veena 😀
Adriana Lopez Martin says
Oh my Tiramisu dreams! This heavenly cups are so cute and perfect for entertaining. I love Tiramisu is such a classic and a crowd pleaser.
Claire McEwen says
That is exactly what I wanted. Something perfect for entertaining 😀
Dana DeVolk says
I made these last night with Amaretto. They were so light and delicious. We also had a coffee with them, the perfect accompaniment! Thanks so much for this recipe, I will definitely make it again.
Claire McEwen says
So happy to hear that Dana 😀
Thank you for stopping back to comment.
Dini says
Individual desserts are the best. And I love that this is a classic Tiramisu! It’s the perfect recipe I need! I’ll probably eat the cream straight from the bowl too! 😉
Claire McEwen says
It is so good!!!!! I am really trying to work out how I can class it as a dessert in it’s own right 😉
Shannah Coe says
Love that these are individually sized. What an awesome dessert idea.
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Shannah, I just love serving individual desserts at the end of a meal. I think it is such an elegant way to enjoy dessert 😀
jENN says
Loving these detailed instructions for this super tasty recipe! YUM!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Jean, so glad you found them helpful 😀