Tiramisu Cake Luscious Layered Dessert (Printable)

Luscious Italian dessert with coffee-soaked sponge layers and creamy mascarpone filling, finished with cocoa powder.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake Layers

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup whole milk
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 4 large eggs
06 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Coffee Syrup

09 - 3/4 cup strong brewed espresso or coffee, cooled
10 - 3 tablespoons coffee liqueur (optional)
11 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

→ Mascarpone Filling

12 - 1 1/4 cups heavy cream, cold
13 - 1 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
14 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
15 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ For Assembly

16 - Unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting
17 - Dark chocolate shavings (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes. Add butter and vanilla extract; mix well.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 22–25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
06 - Let cakes cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
07 - For the coffee syrup, stir together espresso, coffee liqueur (if using), and sugar until the sugar dissolves.
08 - For the mascarpone filling, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks in a chilled bowl. In another bowl, beat mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Gently fold whipped cream into mascarpone mixture until fully combined.
09 - To assemble, slice each cake layer horizontally for a total of four layers. Place one layer on a serving plate and brush generously with coffee syrup.
10 - Spread a quarter of the mascarpone filling over the cake. Repeat layering with remaining cake, syrup, and filling, ending with a mascarpone layer on top.
11 - Cover and chill the assembled cake at least 4 hours or overnight for best flavor.
12 - Before serving, dust the top with cocoa powder and optionally garnish with chocolate shavings.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the coffee-soaked comfort of tiramisu without the fuss of ladyfingers that go soggy too fast
  • The mascarpone cream is stable enough to slice cleanly, making it actually serveable for a crowd
02 -
  • Slicing cake layers horizontally feels terrifying the first time, but a gentle sawing motion with a serrated knife makes it nearly foolproof
  • Assemble this cake on the exact plate you plan to serve it on, because once it is filled, it is impossible to move
03 -
  • If your kitchen is warm, chill the assembled cake for 30 minutes before applying the final cocoa powder so it does not melt into the cream
  • Use the back of a spoon to create swoops in the top mascarpone layer before dusting, it looks much more professional