Valentines Day Strawberry Tiramisu (Printer View)

Layers of mascarpone cream, fresh strawberries, and coffee-soaked ladyfingers make this dessert elegant.

# Components:

→ Strawberry Layer

01 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ Mascarpone Cream

04 - 1 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream, cold
06 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Assembly

08 - 12 ladyfinger biscuits
09 - 1/2 cup brewed coffee, cooled
10 - 1 tablespoon coffee liqueur, optional
11 - Fresh strawberries for garnish
12 - Mint leaves for garnish
13 - Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

# Method steps:

01 - Combine sliced strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly and let sit for 10 minutes to release juices and develop flavor.
02 - In a large bowl, beat room temperature mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, whip cold heavy cream to stiff peaks. Fold whipped cream gently into mascarpone mixture until fully incorporated.
03 - Pour cooled brewed coffee into a shallow dish. Add coffee liqueur if using and mix to combine.
04 - Break ladyfingers in half if necessary for your serving glasses. Dip each piece briefly into the coffee mixture, ensuring they are moistened but not saturated.
05 - In each serving glass, layer 2-3 soaked ladyfingers on the bottom. Add a layer of mascarpone cream, followed by a layer of macerated strawberries. Repeat layering, finishing with mascarpone cream on top.
06 - Cover cups and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight, allowing flavors to meld and textures to set.
07 - Before serving, top each cup with fresh strawberries, mint leaves, and a dusting of cocoa powder.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No baking required means you can pull this together while your oven stays dark and your stress stays low.
  • The coffee-soaked ladyfingers soften just enough to feel like silk on your tongue, a texture that feels fancier than it has any right to be.
  • Strawberries macerate while you whip cream, so everything comes together like a quiet conversation rather than a kitchen battle.
  • Chilling for two hours lets you stop cooking and actually enjoy your evening instead of standing over a stove.
02 -
  • Room temperature mascarpone is not negotiable—I learned this the hard way when cold cheese refused to incorporate smoothly and I ended up with a lumpy, disappointing cream that no amount of stirring could fix.
  • Never soak your ladyfingers; dipping for one to two seconds changes everything because these biscuits absorb liquid faster than you'd expect, and oversaturated ones fall apart into coffee-flavored mush.
03 -
  • If you can't find Italian savoiardi ladyfingers, store-bought sponge cake cut into fingers works in a pinch, though the texture will be slightly spongier and you'll want to dip even more briefly.
  • A splash of strawberry liqueur in with the macerated berries changes the game if you want to add another layer of flavor without making the dessert feel heavier.
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