Tiramisu: A Traditional Italian Dessert

When was the last time you went to an Italian restaurant and didn’t see tiramisu on the menu? Although its origin and ingredients may be shrouded in mystery, tiramisu has been a mainstay of restaurant dessert menus for the last 20 years. Described by some as a “very light chocolate pudding” and others as “fluffy coffee-flavored goodness,” tiramisu has been said to have a personality of its own. But, after the wonderfully sweet coffee flavors have drifted from the palette, many tiramisu-lovers are left asking questions like “Where did tiramisu originally come from?” “What exactly does the name mean?” and “Where can I find an easy tiramisu recipe?” Well, like all mysteries, this one has been solved, so continue reading in order to learn about this classic dessert.

What is Tiramisu?

                      
Tiramisu is a type of Italian dessert that is primarily flavored with coffee and, sometimes, rum or other types of liquor. Nowadays, there are as many varieties of tiramisu as there are myths about its origin. Classic tiramisu is made by soaking ladyfingers or other types of dry sponge cake in espresso coffee. The soaked sponge cake is then layered with mascarpone and zabaglione – a type of Italian whipped custard made from marsala wine, eggs and sugar. The finished tiramisu dessert is then sprinkled with cocoa powder or chocolate flakes.

Of course, as with any iconic dessert, there are a number of variations of the classic recipe. Some people like to sprinkle biscotti throughout the layers to add a bit of crunch; others like to substitute ricotta cheese for the traditional mascarpone. Some chefs like to stamp their own heritage onto the dessert.