Valentines Day Strawberry Tiramisu (Printable Version)

Layers of mascarpone, macerated strawberries, and coffee-soaked ladyfingers create an elegant dessert cup.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ 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 - Fresh mint leaves for garnish
13 - Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

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 mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip cold heavy cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold whipped cream into mascarpone mixture until fully incorporated.
03 - Pour cooled brewed coffee into a shallow dish. Add coffee liqueur if desired and stir to combine.
04 - Break ladyfingers in half if necessary to fit serving glasses. Briefly dip each piece into coffee mixture, avoiding extended soaking.
05 - In each serving glass, layer 2-3 coffee-soaked ladyfingers on the bottom. Top with mascarpone cream layer, followed by macerated strawberries. Repeat layers, finishing with mascarpone cream on top.
06 - Cover cups and refrigerate for minimum 2 hours, preferably overnight, allowing flavors to meld and textures to set.
07 - Top each cup with fresh strawberries, mint leaves, and a light dusting of cocoa powder. Serve chilled.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It looks fancy enough for a date night but takes just 20 minutes of actual hands-on work.
  • The coffee and strawberries together create this almost shocking depth—bitter, bright, creamy all at once.
  • You can make these the day before, which means less stress and more time to set the mood.
02 -
  • Room-temperature mascarpone is absolutely essential—I learned this the hard way by trying to use it straight from the fridge and ending up with a grainy mess that no amount of folding could fix.
  • Never soak your ladyfingers; dip them quickly because they absorb liquid fast and can fall apart if you linger even a few seconds too long.
03 -
  • Use instant espresso powder mixed into your brewed coffee for a deeper, more concentrated flavor that won't make the dessert watery.
  • If your mascarpone is even slightly cold or your cream isn't whipped to stiff peaks, the whole mousse loses its cloud-like texture—these two details matter more than anything else.
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