Jeff Smiths Tiramisu Recipes

TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Whisk together the coffee, rum and espresso powder in a small bowl until dissolved. Set aside
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the yolks on low until just combined, about 5 seconds. Add the sugar and salt and beat on high until pale yellow, about a minute. Add the mascarpone and coffee liqueur and beat until combined. Scrape the mascarpone mixture into a separate bowl. Pour the cream into the same mixer bowl (no need to clean it) and beat until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute.
• Gently, and in batches, fold the whipped cream and mini chocolate chips into the mascarpone mixture. Set aside.
• Quickly, and I mean quickly, dunk each side of the lady fingers into the coffee mixture, about 1 second per side. Lay the coffee'd lady fingers in rows on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Once you have a crowded layer, add half of the cream mixture and spread evenly. Repeat another layer of lady fingers, lining them in the opposite direction from the previous layer. Spread on the rest of the cream mixture. Wipe the edges, cover in plastic wrap and let sit overnight, 6 to 8 hours.
• Dust in full crust-to-crust coverage with cocoa powder before serving.

TIRAMISU SUNDAE

Steps:

• Beat the cream and mascarpone in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Add the instant espresso and stir gently to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Combine the espresso and coffee liqueur in a shallow bowl. Dip the ladyfingers into the mixture one at a time until soaked but not falling apart, just a couple of seconds. Layer in a glass in the following order: Soaked ladyfingers at the bottom, 1/4-cup-sized ice cream scoop, and whipped cream mixture. Repeat with the ladyfingers, ice cream and whipped cream. Garnish with the cacao nibs and a dusting of cocoa powder. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 3 more sundaes.

CHEF JOHN'S TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Stir espresso and 2 tablespoons Marsala wine together in a shallow bowl.
• Whisk egg yolks, 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1 tablespoon Marsala wine together in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, until thick, pale yellow, and creamy, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolk mixture, mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl until completely smooth.
• Beat egg whites in a glass or metal bowl until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form sharp peaks. Gently stir and fold 1/2 the egg whites into egg yolk mixture; fold in remaining 1/2 egg whites.
• Place 1 heaping spoonful mascarpone mixture into a single-serving cup or glass. Dip 2 ladyfinger cookie halves briefly in espresso mixture and turn 3 to 4 times to coat. Place cookie halves in the bottom of the glass on top of mascarpone.
• Fill the glass halfway with mascarpone mixture. Dip 5 ladyfinger halves in the espresso mixture and place vertically along the inside of the glass, dipping and placing more ladyfinger halves as necessary to fit the glass. Place 2 dipped ladyfinger halves horizontally on top of the mascarpone mixture. Fill glass to the top with mascarpone mixture. Repeat for the second serving glass.
• Wrap both glasses in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Remove plastic wrap and dust tops with cocoa powder and grated chocolate.

JEFF SMITH'S TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Stir the expresso, sugar and brandy/amaretto together until the sugar dissolves.
• Remove 1/3 of the coffee mixture to another bowl and set the remainder aside. Whisk the egg yolks into the 1/3 cup mixture. Add the marscapone and whisk together until smooth. Don't overmix.
• Line a loaf pan with a large sheet of wax paper. Tuck it carefully into the corners. There should be a lot of wax paper remaining outside the pan.
• Dip the ladyfingers one at a time into the reserved coffee mixture and begin to place them crosswide in the lined pan. They will expand when soaked with coffee. This will take only a few seconds, don't leave them too long or they will fall apart. Line the whole bottom of the pan (7 ladyfingers). Spread with half the cheese mixture. Sprinkle with 2 oz of the shaved chocolate.
• Repeat layers of ladyfingers, cheese and shaved chocolate.
• Top the pan off with the remaining soaked ladyfingers.
• Fold the wax paper up around the top of the pan, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours.
• Invert the chilled loaf pan onto a serving platter and tap the bottom of the pan to remove the loaf. Remove the wax paper.
• Place the cream, vanilla and confectioners sugar in a bowl and whip until stiff. Spread the whipped cream all over the cake in an attractive manner.
• Dust the cake with cocoa and decorate with shaved chocolate.
• Slice to serve.

CHEATER'S TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the bottom only of a 9x13-inch glass baking pan.
• Combine cake mix, water, oil and eggs in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until well combined. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 29 to 34 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Poke 12 holes in the cooled cake with the base of a serving spoon or any utensil that has a rounded bottom.
• Whip whipping cream, adding sugar and vanilla when it's about halfway whipped; you want it to hold its shape, but don't overwhip.
• Pour coffee over the cake, then immediately spread whipped cream evenly over top. Dust with cocoa powder, covering it completely. Cut and serve or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.