How to Do an Easy Make Ahead Tiramisu

Need an easy but fancy dessert? Tiramisu! And this version needs to be made a day ahead, and refrigerated overnight. So easy to whip up – and then grab and go!

Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert – a refrigerator dessert with no baking involved! This version starts off classic with ladyfinger cookies, which by themselves are rather bland, soaked with coffee, then layered with cream cheese and / or Marscapone cheese that is whipped with a little sugar, a little booze, sour cream and vanilla.

I used instant espresso powder, dissolved in hot water, but regular strong coffee works just as well. A little Irish cream or coffee liquor – your choice – adds more flavor.

This recipe will make a full 9 x 13″ baking pan. Enough to feed a crowd, take to a church supper or family gathering. It really does need to be made ahead and given some time, at least 8 hours, but better overnight, for the flavors to meld together. Leftovers, if there are any, will keep in the fridge for a couple more days.

I like to use a combination of cream cheese and Marscapone, though all Marscapone is more traditional. And if you can’t find Marscapone locally, it’s still delicious made with only cream cheese. And on top, cocoa powder is sprinkled all over.+6

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Overnight Tiramisu

An Italian dessert made easy in less than half an hour, a day ahead, and with no baking!

Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Keyword easy dessert, make ahead tiramisu, overnight dessert, refrigerator dessert, tiramisu
Prep Time 30 minutes
refrigeration overnight 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Servings 12 people

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup strong coffee or espresso instant espresso will work
  • 2 tbsp Irish Cream
  • 2 8 oz package cream cheese
  • 1 8 oz marscapone cheese or a thris package of cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 7 oz packages ladyfinger cookies
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. Make and cool the coffee or instant espresso. Add the Irish Cream and stir. Set aside.

  2. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, marscapone and sugar together until smooth and sugar is dissolved. Beat in sour cream, milk and vanilla.

  3. Lay out one package of ladyfingers in a flat layer in a 9 x 13" baking dish. It will use almost all of them. Brush with half of the coffee mix. It should soak into the cookies.

    Top with half of the cream cheese mix. Spread to the edges.

  4. Repeat with the second package of ladyfingers and cheese mix.

  5. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate a minimum of 8 hours or up to 24 hours.

  6. Just before servings, sprinkle with cocoa.