This cheat tiramisu recipe is a much easier rendition of the classic Italian dessert. Traditionally, tiramisu includes layers of Savoiardi biscuits filled with a filling made up of Mascarpone cheese. My simpler version includes simpler alternatives to Mascarpone cheese and ladyfingers.

Baking can be a huge stress-buster! And this ‘pick-me-up’ dessert cheat tiramisu recipe can be just what you need to cheer yourself up. Start by baking a base of vanilla sponge cake and then layer it with my special tiramisu filling. You will see how surprisingly decadent yet easy this recipe is.

Some research and encounters with some of the top chefs helped me with this cheat version of classic tiramisu.

With my tweaks to this classic tiramisu recipe, it is perfect for those who are new to baking. This is a beautiful and delicious sweet dish that deserves to be made in your kitchen. So all the Italian dessert traditionalists out there, please pardon me for making these changes. And all the baking beginners, you are most welcome to this recipe.

Table of Contents

Ingredient substitutions in this cheat Tiramisu recipe

Got no Savoiardi biscuits? I have replaced Savoiardi biscuits with plain vanilla sponge cake. You can either bake one at home or buy one from stores.

Are you looking for an easy tiramisu recipe without mascarpone? Hung Curd or Greek Yoghurt is an excellent substitute for Mascarpone Cheese. It gives the same taste and a brilliant texture to the filling without calories.

Or, are you looking for an easy tiramisu recipe without alcohol? This tiramisu recipe has no alcohol, as I have omitted Kahlua so that kids can enjoy this lovely dessert.

Looking for an easy tiramisu recipe without eggs? Use an eggless vanilla sponge cake recipe for the base. Also, replace the gelatin with agar agar for the assembly of this dessert. For gelatin-agar agar conversion, simply use an equal amount of agar agar flakes for the gelatin used in the recipe.

Step-by-step easy recipe for Tiramisu

This cheat tiramisu has been a hit with my family and friends. It can be made earlier and assembled on the day of the party, making it the perfect party dessert.

Easy Tiramisu Recipe

My simple tiramisu recipe includes alternatives to some of these ingredients which are not readily available in our pantry, when our heart is consumed with an urge for some ‘Pick Me Up’ dessert.

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Prep Time 45

Cook Time 30

Total Time 1 15

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4 People

Equipment

Electric Hand Beater
Convection Microwave Oven

Ingredients

For Vanilla Sponge Cake

1 cup Cake Flour That is, 1 cup All Purpose Flour which includes 2 tbsp. Corn Flour
2 Eggs
1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 cup Odorless Refined Oil
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
¼ cup Milk

For Tiramisu Filling

2 tbsp. Greek Yogurt or Fresh Hung Curd With absolutely no whey
½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream Chilled
¼ cup Warm Water
2 tsp. Gelatin Powder

For Assembly of Dessert

¼ cup Hot Boiling Water
2 tsp. Instant Coffee Powder I used Davidoff. Nescafe is good.
Dark Cocoa Powder to Dust on Top

Instructions

Vanilla Sponge Cake Procedure

Take a mixing bowl and whisk the eggs till fluffy and almost double in volume.
Add the granulated sugar and whisk till dissolved.
Take another mixing bowl and sieve the dry ingredients together.
Add oil and vanilla extract into the egg-sugar mix and whisk till smooth.
Fold in the dry ingredients in the wet ingredients in three parts. Loosen the batter by adding the milk alternatively.
Mix till incorporated. Do not whisk vigorously.
Pour the batter in a greased and dusted cake tin, and tap it hard on the kitchen surface 2-3 times to knock out any large air bubble trapped in the batter.
Bake it in the pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes at 190c or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Take the cake out and allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes in the cake tin.
De-mould it and allow it to cool down completely on a wire rack.

Tiramisu Filling

Soak the Gelatin in Warm Water and allow it to bloom. That is, allow it to soak for 15-20 minutes.
Whisk the Greek Yogurt in a mixing bowl till it softens.
In another mixing bowl, whisk the chilled Whipping Cream till soft peaks. If you are using unsweetened cream, then add 3 tbsp. Caster Sugar along with the soaked Gelatin and whisk till it dissolves and develops stiff peaks.
Gently fold the Yogurt in the whipped Cream without knocking out the air.

Assembly of Tiramisu Dessert

Prepare the coffee liquor by adding the coffee powder in the hot boiling water. Keep it aside to cool down completely.
Take the vanilla sponge cake and cut off the top dome to make it uniform and smooth.
Slice the cake horizontally in three thin slices and keep them separate on a kitchen board.
Take the serving dish where you want to allow the Tiramisu to set. Line the base with a slice of Vanilla sponge cake. Take the coffee liquor and brush it throughout the slice of cake so that is nicely soaked.
Add almost 1/3rd of the Tiramisu filling that we prepared and spread it evenly on the top of the cake layer.
Repeat this process till you reach the top layer of the filling. Make the top smooth with a palette knife or back of a spoon and allow it to set in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
Before serving dust some cocoa on the top and then slice.