Chocolate Tiramisu

Chocolate lovers are going to be happy with this non-traditional version of the famous Italian dessert. Chocolate soaked ladyfingers are layered with mascarpone cream and chocolate custard in this alcohol and coffee-free take on the classic tiramisu.

Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert where ladyfingers are dipped into variations of rum and coffee and topped with a mascarpone cream mixture. We are totally chocolate lovers so I’ve come up with a family-friendly tiramisu recipe that focuses on chocolate. In this delectable alternative version, lady fingers are dipped into hot chocolate, and layered with a mascarpone cream mixture and a chocolate custard layer. The result is a heavenly dessert that everyone in the family can enjoy!

Ingredient Notes

• Ladyfingers: Sometimes hard to find, but typically in the fancier cookie aisle, the Italian foods section of your supermarket, or they can easily be found online.
• Dark Chocolate: We used a dark chocolate bar, chopped, or you can use dark chocolate chips.
• Hot Chocolate: This will be cooled and used to soak the ladyfingers. You can use any hot chocolate mix from your local supermarket.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract gives the best flavor, but imitation vanilla also works.
• Egg Yolks: Make sure to separate them carefully. If you’re wondering what to do with the leftover whites, you can save them and make an omelet the next day.
• Heavy Cream: You’ll need full-fat heavy cream—none of that milk or half-and-half business, or you’ll end up with a runny custard.
• Mascarpone Cheese: You can typically find this in the specialty cheese section with fresh mozzarella and burrata or near the cream cheese.
• Cocoa Powder: This is optional, for dusting the top of the tiramisu. We recommend Hershey’s cocoa powder as it’s widely available.

Ladyfinger Substitutes

You should be able to find ladyfingers in most grocery stores, but we have come across a few stores that don’t keep them in stock. If you can’t find them, you can always order them online. Substitution options include sponge cake, pound cake, or biscotti. Think of it like a dessert trifle!

Mascarpone

Traditional tiramisu must use mascarpone (ma-scar-poe-nay) which is found either in the same section as you find cream cheese, or in the specialty cheese section. It’s a soft cheese sold in a small tub.

If you have trouble finding it, you can substitute it with cream cheese. The flavor and consistency will be affected if you do this as cream cheese has a stronger flavor and isn’t quite as soft. Whichever you use, make sure that it is full-fat. Using a low-fat mascarpone or cream cheese can result in a runnier custard.

Presentation Ideas

Chocolate Tiramisu is going to taste delicious no matter how you serve it, but there are a few options for serving it that you may want to consider depending on how casual or fancy or individual you want to make it.

Classic Slices – Make it in an 8×8 or 9×9-inch dish and slice it up like cake or brownies. Use a sharp knife for clean edges and a spatula to lift each piece out smoothly. Perfect for that classic tiramisu look!

Freeform on a Platter – Want a more rustic, no-fuss look? Assemble your layers directly on a serving platter instead of a dish. When it’s chilled, just slice and scoop sections to serve. It’s elegant, but in that effortless kind of way. You could even make it into a shape like a heart for a special occasion.

Individual Cups – Layer tiramisu in plastic cups, ramekins, mini glass jars, or even small cocottes for an easy, grab-and-go dessert. It looks cute and makes serving a breeze!

To Decorate – Keep it classic by using a fine mesh sieve to give it a light dusting of cocoa powder. Make it fancy with chocolate shavings. Just take a vegetable peeler and use it to shave a chocolate bar into little chocolate curls. Or give it a drizzle of thick chocolate syrup.