Description
A luscious and creamy Italian dessert featuring layers of coffee-dipped ladyfingers and rich mascarpone cream, perfect for entertaining or treating yourself.
Ingredients
16 oz (450 g) mascarpone cheese, cold
4 egg yolks
⅔ cup granulated or caster sugar (or ⅓ cup if using egg white option)
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cup heavy cream, chilled (or 4 egg whites + ⅓ cup sugar for meringue option)
30–36 ladyfingers
1 ½ cup strong black coffee, room temperature
2 Tbsp cocoa powder (for dusting)
Instructions
- Prepare Cream (Heavy Cream Option): Whisk mascarpone until smooth. Over a double boiler, whisk yolks and sugar for 2 minutes until light. Remove from heat, fold in mascarpone, vanilla, and salt. Whip heavy cream to medium-stiff peaks and fold into mascarpone mixture.
- Prepare Cream (Egg White Option): Whisk mascarpone until smooth. Over a double boiler, whisk yolks and ⅓ cup sugar until fluffy. Fold in mascarpone, vanilla, and salt. Whisk egg whites and remaining sugar over double boiler to 160°F, then off-heat to stiff peaks. Fold into mascarpone mixture.
- Assemble: Dip ladyfingers quickly into coffee and layer them in an 8×9.5 inch dish. Spread half of mascarpone cream over. Repeat with another layer of dipped ladyfingers and remaining cream.
- Cover and chill for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, dust generously with cocoa powder. Slice and serve chilled.
Notes
- Use room-temperature coffee to prevent over-soaking or under-soaking ladyfingers.
- Use a double boiler to safely heat eggs.
- Choose meringue for a lighter cream or whipped cream for a richer version.
- Can add optional liqueurs like Marsala or rum to the coffee soak.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
