Limoncello tiramisu is an easy dessert made with limoncello, mascarpone cheese, lemon curd and ladyfingers. This make-a-head recipe is perfect for every holiday.
Tiramisu is one of my favorite types of dessert. Not just because of the coffee and chocolate but because it quickly comes together, and you can make them ahead.
If you are like me and can't get enough of this easy Italian dessert, you should definitely check out my recipe for tiramisu with speculaas!
Why you will LOVE this recipe
- You can easily make this tiramisu alcohol-free! Just replace the limoncello with some (homemade) lemonade.
- It has an amazing color.
- Super easy to make.
- Lemon curd... Need I say more??
- You can make the tiramisu ahead.
Ingredients
Lemon curd - tangy sweet lemon curd goes amazing with the creaminess of the heavy cream and mascarpone. I always use homemade lemon curd, but you can absolutely use store-bought.
Limoncello - limoncello is an Italian liqueur made with lemon and alcohol like vodka.
Are you making this recipe for children, or are you pregnant? You can make this tiramisu alcohol-free by using lemonade instead of lemon liqueur.
Mascarpone cheese - traditionally, mascarpone cheese is used for tiramisu, but you can substitute this for cream cheese. It will affect the flavor, but your dessert will still be amazing.
Did you know you can make mascarpone cheese at home with just some heavy cream and lemon juice?
Heavy cream - make sure the heavy cream you are using has at least 35% fat.
Ladyfingers - ladyfingers or savoiardi cookies are long and narrow cookies often used in desserts like tiramisu and Charlotte.
These crisp cookies will soak up a lot of moisture, so make sure you don't keep them in the limoncello mixture too long, or they will become soggy.
Lemon juice - adding a little lemon juice to the mascarpone gives this limoncello tiramisu an amazing summery flavor.
Make sure that you use fresh juice and not bottled kind if you want that fresh lemon flavor. It will make a huge difference in the end result.
Instructions
You start by making the lemon curd. The lemon curd needs to cool completely before you can continue, so I recommend making this a day earlier.
Next, we need to make the filling. Whip up the heavy cream with the sugar and set it aside. In another bowl, mix the mascarpone with two tablespoons of lemon curd.
Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until completely combined.
Add the limoncello, lemon juice, water, and two tablespoons of sugar to a shallow bowl, dip one ladyfinger at a time, and place them into the bottom of the pan.
Spread half of the mascarpone mixture and lemon curd over the ladyfingers and repeat with the leftover ladyfingers, lemon curd, and mascarpone.
Cover the tiramisu with some plastic wrap and let it set in the fridge for at least four hours.
Tips and tricks for making limoncello tiramisu
Don't let the ladyfingers sit in the limoncello mixture too long. Ladyfingers are little singles that will soak up everything they can if you let them. Because no one likes a soggy tiramisu, make sure you only keep them in the liquid for a few seconds.
Give the tiramisu enough time to chill and set in the fridge. I know this is a hard one because who doesn't want just to dive in and eat all of it but letting it set in the fridge is important for both the flavor and texture of the dish.
Safe time and use jarred lemon curd. Although homemade lemon curd is fantastic, you can use store-bought. This is also a great option if you don't feel comfortable using raw eggs for the curd if you are pregnant.
Don't over-mix. If you keep whisking the heavy cream too long, it will become grainy or turn into butter. You don't need stiff peaks for tiramisu, so make sure you stop in time.
Equipment
- Two large mixing bowls and a hand mixer or whisk.
- A small bowl to soak the ladyfingers.
- A dish and some plastic wrap to make the tiramisu.
Storage
You can keep this lemon tiramisu in the fridge for up to four days. Keep in mind that the ladyfingers will become softer.
If you want to keep it longer, I recommend freezing the dessert. Wrapped in some plastic wrap, you can store it in the fridge for about two months.
Let it thaw in the fridge, or serve it as a fantastic ice cream dessert!
More amazing lemon recipes
Limoncello tiramisu
Limoncello tiramisu is an easy dessert made with limoncello, mascarpone cheese, lemon curd and ladyfingers. This make-a-head recipe is perfect for every holiday.
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 250 gram mascarpone cheese
- 33 ladyfingers
- 1 lemon
- 1 jar lemon curd, about 13 oz or 400 gram
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 100 ml water
Instructions
- Beat the whipping cream with three tablespoons of sugar until stiff, and stir in half of the lemon curd.
- In another bowl, stir together the mascarpone and gently fold in the whipped cream.
- Squeeze the lemon and stir this together with the water, limoncello, and one tablespoon of sugar until the sugar has dissolved.
- Dip the ladyfingers into the limoncello mixture and cover the bottom of a 20x20 dish with it.
- Spread half of the whipped cream over the long fingers and spread half of the remaining lemon curd on top.
- Repeat the last two steps and put the lemon tiramisu in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to stiffen.
Notes
- When you are serving this tiramisu to children or to someone pregnant, you can leave out the limoncello to make this recipe alcohol-free!
- You can make individual limoncello tiramiso! Use 3 ladyfingers per person for each layer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 727Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 302mgSodium: 372mgCarbohydrates: 69gFiber: 1gSugar: 31gProtein: 11g
Leave a Reply