A traditional tiramisu recipe for two people! Ladyfingers soaked in espresso and liqueur are piled with velvety whipped mascarpone custard and shredded chocolate, then dusted with cocoa powder. The ultimate Valentine’s Day dessert!
If you spend Valentine’s Day in an area that gets cold this time of year, I suggest heading to the grocery a few days ahead of time and buying up the ingredients for a nice, romantic supper at home.
Maybe for you, it means steak and wine, or maybe it means preparing mac & cheese from scratch. I’m not going to pass judgment since the latter sounds fantastic.
Could I propose splurging on dessert? Given the choice of devoting extra time and money on an appetizer, dinner, beverages, or dessert. I always go for dessert.
So, whatever your intentions are, I believe this homemade tiramisu recipe should be on the table. And what’s even great is that it’s designed exclusively for two people!
Contents
- What is tiramisu?
- Why small batch tiramisu is better
- Key Ingredients for Tiramisu
- How to Make Small Batch Tiramisu
- Tips for the best tiramisu
- Where can I find ladyfingers at the store?
- What if I can’t find ladyfingers?
- How do I store leftover tiramisu?
- FAQs
- Tiramisu for Two
- FAQs
- Why is my tiramisu soggy at the bottom?
- Why is my tiramisu not creamy?
- Does tiramisu taste better overnight?
- Should you use soft or hard lady fingers for tiramisu?
- Is tiramisu better the longer it sits?
- How long should you let tiramisu set?
- Should mascarpone be room temperature for tiramisu?
- What is a good substitute for ladyfingers in tiramisu?
- What is a substitute for mascarpone cheese in tiramisu?
What is tiramisu?
The short answer: friggin frackin delicious.
Tiramisu is an Italian delicacy made of ladyfingers (or sponge fingers) soaked in freshly brewed espresso and topped with a whipped custard combination of mascarpone cheese, sugar, and eggs, as well as layers of liquor, cocoa powder, and espresso powder.
Why small batch tiramisu is better
Tiramisu is a popular dessert that also contains booze, so you’re indulging on both dessert and beverages. FTW for multitasking. But the problem with most tiramisu recipes is that they create a large pan, which is much too much for two people.
So there are no leftovers when you make tiramisu for two! There will be no giant baking dish of tiramisu to munch your way through or give away to friends. Just a tiny batch of tiramisu for dessert after a romantic supper.
Or after binge-watching The Mandalorian. Both are ideal.
Key Ingredients for Tiramisu
- Savoiardi (pronounced sa-voy-ar-di) are ultra light sponge cake biscuits with an oblong shape that do an excellent job of absorbing up liquids without completely breaking apart.
- The eggs will be room temperature and separated since the yolks will be used for the custard and the whites will be folded in at the end.
- Granulated sugar: This is the sugar that is added to the egg yolks to form the custard. I do not advocate using granulated sugar in place of other forms of sugar.
- Mascarpone cheese is my absolute fave! Mascarpone is used in the custard, but I also prefer to top my tiramisu with dollops of mascarpone whipped cream.
- Liqueur: I like to bathe my ladyfingers in a dirty-sounding blend of brandy and orange liqueur. I vow to you.
- Espresso: Shots of espresso from any brands and beans you like. We’ve been buying DOMA Coffee Roasting Company’s Virgils Organic mix from Trade for years and love it. If you don’t have an espresso machine (affiliate link), you may use strong coffee instead.
- Dark chocolate: grated and sandwiched between layers with
- Sifted cocoa powder and espresso powder combined and put between each layer.
How to Make Small Batch Tiramisu
In a medium mixing bowl, whip the egg whites to firm peaks using a hand mixer. Place aside.
In a large mixing basin, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until mixed. Mascarpone should be added last and combined.
To make the custard, fold in the egg whites until barely incorporated and no white streaks remain.
See? No streaks!
Ladyfinger layer #1: Arrange one sliced ladyfinger in a single layer at the bottom of the trifle dish. 1 tablespoon liquor over ladyfingers (coating is important so they absorb it up). Pour another spoonful of espresso over them.
3 of the custard mixture.Layer #1: Mascarpone mixture 1 coat the ladyfingers with
2 tbsp grated chocolate.Add 1 chocolate layer.
espresso powder blend.2 teaspoon cocoaAdd 1 cocoa espresso layer
Repeat this step twice more to create three layers of each combination.
I also suggest piping dollops of my mascarpone whipped cream on top; you’ve already got the mascarpone out, so why not?
Tips for the best tiramisu
- excellent quality ingredients: Because we’re not baking anything, be sure to use excellent quality ingredients so that all of their tastes show through!
- Otherwise, you’ll be choking it down, and two people furiously coughing and drinking water directly from the tap isn’t delicious. Or it might be romantic. Just a thin sprinkling over the top.Cocoa butter: Make careful not to put on too much cocoa.
- Will you be my Valentine? Since we’re creating tiramisu for two, why not make it extra special? Add a few heart sprinkles (affiliate link) on top for a great little I love you without the life-sized stuffed animals or singing telegrams. Alternatively perform all of the above and give me a video of your partner’s response, please and thank you.
Where can I find ladyfingers at the store?
It varies per grocery shop, but I usually locate them in the baking or cookie aisles.
What if I can’t find ladyfingers?
If you can’t obtain ladyfingers, margherite biscuits may be used in place of them in your tiramisu. However, since the cookies will take longer to absorb the liquids, soak them in your espresso and liqueur in a dish ahead of time.
How do I store leftover tiramisu?
Depending on your tolerance for whiskey and sweets, you may find that these quantities are too much for one sitting, in which case just wrap it firmly in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge to finish later (within the next 5 days) and that is OK. I still have feelings for you.
FAQs
Tiramisu is an Italian delicacy made of ladyfingers (or sponge fingers) soaked in freshly brewed espresso and topped with a whipped custard combination of mascarpone cheese, sugar, and eggs, as well as layers of liquor, cocoa powder, and espresso powder.
It varies per grocery shop, but I usually locate them in the baking or cookie aisles.
If you can’t obtain ladyfingers, margherite biscuits may be used in place of them in your tiramisu. However, since the cookies will take longer to absorb the liquids, soak them in your espresso and liqueur in a dish ahead of time.
If you don’t have espresso, use the same quantity of strong coffee instead.
Refrigerate it for up to 5 days, wrapped securely in plastic wrap.
Tiramisu for Two
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Description
Ingredients
- 6ladyfingers
- 2eggs, room temperature and separated
- 2tablespoonsgranulated sugar
- 4ouncesmascarpone cheese
- 3 oz. brandy or orange liqueur, or a combination of the two, my choice
- 3ouncesbrewed espresso
- 1ouncechocolate, grated
- 2 teaspoon espresso powder, combined 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder + 1 tbsp
- Heart sprinkles, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- To fit them in your individual serving dishes, cut each ladyfinger into three equal-sized pieces. Place aside.
Ladyfingers 6 - In a medium mixing bowl, whip the egg whites to firm peaks using a hand mixer. Place aside.
2 eggs - In a large mixing basin, blend egg yolks and sugar until well incorporated. Mascarpone should be added last and combined.
2 eggs and 2 tbsp granulated sugar - Fold in the egg whites until barely blended and no white streaks remain. Place aside.
Mascarpone cheese, 4 oz. - Arrange one of the sliced ladyfingers (the three pieces you cut before) at the bottom of the trifle dish in a single layer.
Ladyfingers 6 - 1 tablespoon liquor over ladyfingers (coating is important so they absorb it up). Pour another spoonful of espresso over them.
3 oz. brandy or orange liqueur, 3 oz. freshly made espresso - 3 of the custard mixture.
1 coat the ladyfingers with
- 2 teaspoon espresso powder espresso powder combination.
1 ounce chocolate, 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, and 12 tbsp cocoa1 top with 2 tablespoons grated chocolate - Repeat these procedures twice more to create a total of three layers.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days (wrapped in plastic wrap) before serving. Enjoy!
Sprinkles of love