The Best Tiramisu In A Glass

This easy tiramisu in a glass recipe was first published on 13th February 2023.

You’ll be glad to know, before everything happened on this new blog of ours, tiramisu was made. And not any single serve tiramisu, but the best tiramisu in a glass you’ll ever make yourself. We have this recipe for an easy tiramisu that you are bound to fall in love with. And that’s simply a fact. Fight me if you want, you know I am right.

Any big decisions in this household are taken in front of a freshly-made, just-out-of-the-fridge individual tiramisu cups. Why, you might ask? Because sugar and coffee make our brains work. And the ideas start flowing. And because we are too busy eating, there is no time for fighting. Tell me this is not the most brilliant idea you have ever heard – I dare you. Seems like I am in a fight-y mood today, uh?

This recipe for the tiramisu in a glass is nothing major, of course. And we won’t be claiming it as the original one, for that matter, oh no. God knows who can claim that. Our recipe for these tiramisu cups is, though, aside from being extremely delicious, simple, quick to make and kid-friendly. No alcohol, none of it. We have tried it, but we just don’t like it. Of course, you are welcome to add alcohol should you wish, but we won’t be recommending anything in particular.

And this recipe for the tiramisu in a glass is one our mum has passed on to us. Not sure how or when precisely, and no idea where she got it from. We just found it to be the only one we always go back to, so we wanted to share the gold pot with you, our readers & friends.

What is tiramisu and where is it from?

Tiramisu is a coffee-flavoured dessert originating from Italy. As I was researching who actually owns the rights to this dessert, I stumbled upon this website called Accademia Del Tiramisu where there is plenty on the story and origins of this brilliant dish. But to summarise it quickly, Tiramisu was born in Treviso in 1970, when the restaurant ‘Beccherie’ created this layered cake made of biscuits soaked in coffee and a cream made with mascarpone cheese, all finished with a dust of cocoa powder. The name comes from the local dialect tireme sù, which literally translates as ‘lift me up’. And how could it not? With the caffeine running wildly through this dessert, it would be hard not to!

What ingredients do I need to make this tiramisu in a glass?

Our tiramisu in a glass is very simple, and has no added bonus of alcohol as we don’t particularly enjoy it. But you’ll find the original ingredients of eggs, sugar, mascarpone (what a lot of people call Italian cream cheese, even if by definition is not the same) and coffee.

When it comes to the biscuits, we’re also very much tied to what people would address as the wrong kind, which is Pavesini. These are light sweet biscuits which melt in the mouth. They are simply made with flour, sugar, fresh eggs and nothing else. Thinner than any ladyfinger biscuits, they are definitely not a traditional choice.

You can use anything you like, but the original tiramisu is made with Savoiardi biscuits, which are thick and crispy. By soaking them in coffee, and resting the dessert in the fridge, they will turn into a soft sponge-like consistency you will absolutely enjoy. I am pretty much happy for you to use any cookies or biscuits you like, at the end of the day tradition is gone out the window already with us ha!

You will also need cocoa powder, of the best quality as you will be definitely tasting it throughout. And we also added some cheeky mini chocolate chips through the layers, but it’s not a requirement and definitely not part of the traditional recipe.

And last, but most definitely not least in the ingredients list of tiramisu is coffee, espresso coffee to be more specific. Brew it using the traditional Italian stovetop for extra brownie points.

How do I make the tiramisu in a glass?

This classic Italian dessert is one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever find in our cuisine. And it doesn’t need any vanilla extract or heavy cream or even whipped cream. You will need some fresh eggs, at room temperature. Some granulated sugar – not powdered sugar! – and biscuits, plus coffee – not the instant coffee, unless you have nothing else available. We have also not used coffee liqueur, but we can chat a little more about this a little further down this post.

But making tiramisu it’s extremely easy: you will beat the eggs with the sugar until it gets light and fluffy and they have doubled in size. Some people do separate the egg whites from the egg yolks, then beat them with an electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form and then fold them in after the mascarpone cheese, but we haven’t found a reason for this to have to happen.

When the eggs and sugar are light and fluffy, you can add the mascarpone cheese and mix it in until completely incorporated, then add a tablespoon or two of freshly brewed espresso to give it a good coffee taste. This is the mascarpone mixture ready to build your tiramisu!

Grab your ingredients, the mascarpone cream and the glasses you’ll be serving your individual tiramisu. And it’s just as easy as to layer the cream, the biscuits soaked in the coffee mixture, the chocolate chips and the cream again until you are out of space. Make sure your last layer is the mascarpone cream, so that you can then dust it with cocoa powder before serving them.

Can I make this a full-size one instead?

If the idea of a small batch tiramisu is not for you, or if you don’t need to be this fancy (I mean tiramisu in a martini glass would be even fancier!), then a good old tray is perfect here! You will still repeat the cream, chocolate chips, soaked biscuits and cream again and again until you are almost out of mascarpone cream. Then you will rest it in the fridge like you would have done for the ones in glasses and dusted with cocoa powder just before serving.

Can I add alcohol to this tiramisu in a glass?

While we don’t enjoy tasting alcohol in our tiramisu, whether that’s in a glass or not, you might decide otherwise. What I would recommend here is to use either a coffee-based liqueur, or Marsala wine, a sweet wine from Sicily. The recommended replacement here is to do the below:

• for the coffee liqueur, replace the one-two tablespoon in the mascarpone cream with the same amount of coffee liqueur;
• for the Marsala wine, add a teaspoon or two in the espresso you’ll be using to soak your biscuits;
• if you are after a dessert with liquer, you have to try this easy limoncello panna cotta recipe.

If you loved this tiramisu recipe, why not check out some other Italian desserts? Biancomangiare is the most delicious and quick pudding you can think of, or try your hand at making this heavenly torta paradiso, frollini for a delicious biscuit or baci di dama, and this unmissable bigne. And if you are after something savoury, check out these friselle and casatiello recipes.

Delicious Tiramisu In A Glass

Simona

The easiest, quickest and tastiest tiramisu in a glass you’ll ever get to try, you can thank us later.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Resting Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Sweet

Cuisine Italian

Servings 8 glasses

Ingredients

  

• For the mascarpone cream
• 3 eggs
• 4-5 tbsp granulated sugar
• 500 g fresh mascarpone cheese
• 1-2 tbsp freshly-brewed espresso coffee
• For the tiramisu
• the mascarpone cream from above
• 1 pack of savoiardi or pavesini biscuits
• freshly-brewed espresso coffee
• mini chocolate chips
• cocoa powder

Instructions

 

• Beat the eggs with the sugar using a standing mixer until they are light and fluffy, but also doubled in size.
• Add the mascarpone cheese and mix it in until there are no big lumps.
• Add the espresso and fold it in by hand, and you are ready to assemble.
• Soak the biscuits of choice in the espresso, then layer them on top of a layer of cream and chocolate chips. Continue until the glasses are full and end with a layer of mascarpone cream.
• Let the glasses rest in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or even overnight.
• Dust with cocoa powder before serving and enjoy!

Notes

Not that they will, but these tiramisu in a glass will last up to three days in the fridge.

Keyword tiramisu, tiramisu in a glass

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I hope you have enjoyed reading this easy tiramisu cups recipe and that you will make this easy individual tiramisu recipe as soon as humanly possible! This dessert recipe is a family heirloom, so you know it’s a good one!

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