This delicious, no-bake Italian dessert includes pillowy ladyfingers lightly soaked in coffee and coffee liqueur, then spread with a heavenly mascarpone cream and topped with cocoa powder. This easy version is as luscious as traditional tiramisu, but without raw eggs! A non-alcoholic option is also included. 

If you’re looking for an easy, no-bake dessert, you will love this tiramisu! I guarantee that everyone will be asking you for the recipe!

I absolutely LOVE tiramisu! It is definitely one of my family’s favorites and one I get asked to make often!

As much as I love it, I do not want to eat any raw eggs!  So, I’ve been making this eggless version for years, instead, and it’s delicious!

Why you will love this recipe!

• It’s INCREDIBLY easy to make and it’s a recipe that works!
• There are only 8 ingredients!
• You don’t need any fancy equipment, just a hand mixer!
• There are no raw eggs, unlike traditional tiramisu!
• It’s a no-bake dessert!  You just mix, assemble and refrigerate!It’s a perfect make-ahead dessert!
• It’s a wonderful after-dinner dessert! It’s very light, creamy and airy, but not heavy or too boozy – just perfect for a dinner party!
• You can omit the alcohol all together if you want, or  play around with different kinds of coffee. You could even add decaffeinated coffee, instead!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is tiramisu?

Tiramisu is a popular Italian dessert. It’s made with ladyfingers dipped in coffee that’s been mixed with coffee liqueur and layered with a creamy mascarpone cheese mixture. It’s then topped with cocoa powder.

What are ladyfingers?

Ladyfingers are crispy long or oval-shaped sponge cookies. My favorite are the Italian Savoiardi cookies.

What is mascarpone cheese?

Mascarpone cheese is a thick, Italian cheese made from cream. It is similar to cream cheese. It’s used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Can I use cream cheese instead of mascarpone?

You could substitute the mascarpone cheese with equal amounts of softened cream cheese mixed with 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt.

The mascarpone is more subtle in flavor than the cream cheese. I think cream cheese gives it a nice tang and it’s definitely a flavor I’m more used to compared to the mascarpone. So, there is a slight difference between the two types of cheeses, but overall, I think they can be used interchangeably for this recipe.

Can I substitute the coffee liqueur?

Sure! You could use Amaretto, cognac or brandy. I have tried them all! My favorite, though, is Kahlúa – I absolutely love the combination of rum, sugar and coffee!

Can I make this without any coffee or alcohol?

Yes! For a non-boozy, kid-friendly alternative, just replace the coffee and alcohol with hot chocolate or plain milk! 

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! This is the perfect dessert to make ahead because it needs to be refrigerated for a few hours. Personally, I think this dessert tastes even better overnight because the the flavors have time to develop and the ladyfingers soften up. 

Can this tiramisu be frozen?

Oh, yes! I freeze individual slices. In the summer when it’s frozen, it’s almost like a semifreddo dessert!

What can I serve with this?

COFFEE!!!! It is amazing with tiramisu!  I also think bananas and chocolate covered nuts would be nice!

Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

heavy whipping cream

mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese)

sugar

vanilla

ladyfingers (savoiardi)

strong brewed black coffee

Coffee liqueur (I use Kahlúa). If you don’t have any coffee liqueur, you could use cognac/brandy or Amaretto, but it will taste slightly different.

unsweetened cocoa powder (for dusting)

HOW TO MAKE TIRAMISU WITHOUT RAW EGGS

A NOTE ABOUT PAN SIZES

Your pan size will determine how many ladyfingers you’ll need.

As you can see in the pictures above, my pan fit 24 ladyfingers (12 in each layer) and  the pan is about 10 x 7.5 inches (25.4 x 19 cm). If your pan is smaller, you won’t need as many ladyfingers and if it’s larger, you’ll need more.

If you want to make this for a larger pan, like one that’s 9 x 13 inches (23 X 33 cm), you can easily double this recipe.

MORE VARIATIONS

• You can get fancy and make this recipe in individual dessert glasses or even make it in a big trifle bowl!
• After spreading the first layer, add some grated chocolate on top for added texture and for more chocolate!
• Replace the Kahlúa (coffee liqueur) with Creme de menthe (mint liqueur) for a minty twist.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• When you dip the ladyfingers in the coffee mixture, make sure you do it very quickly so that they don’t fall apart or become too soggy. You could place them on a kitchen towel to absorb any excess liquid before placing them in the pan for a lighter flavor.
• You need to use cream with a high fat content to get a bigger volume of whipped cream. Use a  cream that contains 35% fat or more.
• The whipping cream needs to be really cold. What I always do is put a metal bowl in the freezer for about 15 minutes before I start and then when I add the cream to the cold bowl, it whips faster.
• Some people dust the top with cocoa powder right before serving, but I always dust it as soon as I assemble the dessert and then refrigerate for a few hours. This creates a nice, dark dense layer of cocoa on top, which I love!
• I suggest making this dessert a day in advance. It really needs time to set – at least 3 hours, but overnight is even better as this allows all the flavors to develop. Just keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
• It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but I promise you it will not last that long!

MORE EASY NO-BAKE DESSERTS!

Easy Egg-free Chocolate Salami – Greek Kormos/Mosaiko

How to Make Ancient Greek Sesami Bars (Pasteli)

No-bake Banoffee Pie Cups

Cheater’s Chocolate Mousse (+Easy Chocolate Garnishes)

Greek Halva Cake (Step-by-step Tutorial + Variations)

Let me know how this Easy Tiramisu without Raw Eggs turns out for you in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!

~Voula