Tiramisu...for Dummies?

Question

So I am really VERY bad at cooking. But I love tiramisu I had a bet with my mom that I will learn how to make a great one. I really need suggestions of any form (recipes, advices, secret ingredients).

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Tiramisu can be a really easy dessert. Presentation can go a long way to impressing your mom - I made individual servings for a baby shower and assembled them in wine glasses. I used the recipe in the book "Food Network Kitchens - Making it Easy", which you can find here:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tiram...

One thing I really like about this recipe is that it doesn't use eggs. Tiramisu isn't baked so raw eggs make me a little nervous. Instead of espresso powder, I used instant coffee. It really is fast and easy to make. If you don't have Kahlua (coffee liqueur) you can substitute brandy. You can usually find the ladyfingers in the frozen desserts section at your grocery store.

You can do this!

Answer 2

Well, lucky for you, tiramisu doesn't involve cooking.  Just "assembling!"

Tiramisu

6 extra-large egg yolks, at room temperature

¼ cup sugar

½ cup good dark rum, divided

1½ cups brewed espresso, divided

16 - 17 oz. mascarpone cheese

30 Italian ladyfingers, or savoiardi**

Bittersweet chocolate, shaved or grated

Confectioners' sugar, optional

Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on high speed for about 5 minutes, or until very thick and light yellow. Lower the speed to medium and add 1/4 cup rum, 1/4 cup espresso, and the mascarpone. Whisk until smooth.

Combine the remaining 1/4 cup rum and 1 1/4 cups espresso in a shallow bowl. Dip 1 side of each ladyfinger in the espresso/rum mixture and line the bottom of a 9 by 12 by 2-inch dish. Pour half the espresso cream mixture evenly on top. Dip 1 side of the remaining ladyfingers in the espresso/rum mixture and place them in a second layer in the dish. Pour the rest of the espresso cream over the top. Smooth the top and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.

Before serving, sprinkle the top with shaved chocolate and dust lightly with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Notes: To make espresso for this recipe in your electric drip coffee maker, use enough water for 4 cups of coffee plus 1/3 cup of ground espresso.

**You can find savoiardi and mascarpone in an Italian specialty store.

--Ina Garten

Answer 3

Here is the ultimate recipe for tiramisu brownies.

Tiramisu Brownie Squares

1 pkg. (9x13) brownie mix, but ingredients to make cake like brownies (an extra egg)

1 c. milk

1/4 c. instant coffee granules

2 (8oz) containers of cool whip

2 pkg. cheesecake flavor instant pudding

20 oreos, coarsely chopped

2 squares semi-sweet chocolate

1/4 t. cinnamon

     Preheat oven to 350. Prepare brownie mix according to package direction for cake-like brownies; pour batter into greased pan and bake 25-30 min or until done. Remove from oven and cool completely. In lg. bowl comgine milk and coffee granules. Stir with whisk until disolved. Add 8 oz. of  cool whip and all of pudding mix; whisk until smooth. Fold in chopped oreos. Spread evenly over brownies. Top with remaining cool whip and grate chocolate over cool whip. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Refrigerate at least 30 min. Cut into squares and enjoy :)