Strawberry tiramisu: Refreshing twist on an Italian classic
Everyone knows the classic tiramisu – coffee, cocoa, mascarpone, and ladyfingers. But as soon as strawberry season starts, I'm certain: I trade coffee for fruit, and classic for lightness and freshness. That's how my favorite strawberry tiramisu comes to be – the perfect dessert for a Sunday. It's elegant, impressive, and... childishly simple to make.
Tiramisu is a dessert that almost everyone knows – fluffy, creamy, and elegant. But when strawberry season arrives, I can't resist combining the Italian classic with the taste of summer. And so comes my favorite version: strawberry tiramisu. No coffee, but with fruit that smells of sunshine and childhood. It's the perfect dessert for Mother's Day – light, fresh, and simple, yet it looks like it's from the finest bakery. And most importantly, it tastes even better.
Recipe for strawberry tiramisu
Strawberry tiramisu is a dessert that appears sophisticated but is surprisingly easy to prepare. Fresh fruit, delicate cream, and ladyfingers come together to create a light, summer classic that's perfect for Sundays, family gatherings, or as a sweet excuse to celebrate.
Ingredients:
- 4 lbs of strawberries
- 1 lb mascarpone
- 12 oz ladyfingers
- 11 oz heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Wash the strawberries, dry, and set aside a few for decoration. Slice the remaining fruit, then blend half of it with sugar and lemon juice into a puree. Keep the other half in slices.
- Combine mascarpone with powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Whip the heavy cream until stiff and gently mix it with the mascarpone cream.
- Quickly dip the ladyfingers in the strawberry puree to prevent them from getting soggy, and place them in a dish.
- Layer with cream, then add strawberry slices, followed by more ladyfingers, cream, and so on, until all the ingredients are used up.
- Decorate the top with strawberries and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight).
Why does tiramisu "like" fruit?
Although classic tiramisu is an Italian dessert based on coffee and cocoa, its structure – a layered combination of ladyfingers with mascarpone cream – invites culinary experiments. Fruit-based versions, especially those featuring strawberries, raspberries, or mango, have gained popularity in modern cuisine due to their lightness, freshness, and versatility. The tart-sweet fruit cuts through the richness of the cream, and its juiciness softens the ladyfingers without making them soggy. It's an excellent alternative for those who aren't fond of coffee or want to serve something more suitable for spring or summer.
