Moist Yellow Cake is brushed with a Boozy Coffee Syrup topped with a Mascarpone Cream Filling and tons of Cocoa Powder & Easy Chocolate Curls. This combination of the Classic Tiramisu and a layer Cake makes an extra special dessert for your next party, you will love this Tiramisu Cake!
Let me tell you about a horrible night in my life. I was sat at home with my sister just relaxing. Daydreaming about some sort of dessert but too lazy to bake anything myself. Lydia wanted Cannoli and I wanted Tiramisu. So naturally, Roman Cucina would be expecting a visit from us. We called in our order and I threw some sweats on and drove down to the restaurant. I made Lydia get out of the car and pick up the desserts.
We got home, Lydia grabber her Cannoli box out of the bag and sat down on the sofa. I made myself some tea, grabbed a fork and picked up my box of tiramisu. At this moment I thought to myself "wow, this feels light, I wonder if they cut back on portions" (Why the hell do I know how heavy a piece of Tiramisu should be? Cuz I have issues!!!) I plopped down on the sofa next to Lydia and opened my to go box.
There it was, leftover spaghetti. No tiramisu, no cannoli or cheesecake accidentally given to me. Leftover spaghetti. Not even my spaghetti.
A strangers leftover spaghetti. And this stranger had my untouched tiramisu. Heartbroken I sank into my seat as my sister looked over and laughed at me. I had driven 15 minutes there and 15 minutes back for spaghetti?!!
Thank goodness Lydia shared her cannoli with me but let's be honest cannoli is no tiramisu!!
Fast forward months later
I feel like tiramisu but don't feel like making or buying ladyfingers so cake, let's make a Tiramisu Cake I thought to myself. And boy am I glad I did. This cake was really quite easy to put together. And it was a show stopper. So gorgeous, mostly because of these chocolate curls. So easy to make and make any cake go from ordinary to glamorous!
What is tiramisu cake made of?
We are going to start off with making a nice yellow cake. Then a gorgeous mascarpone whipped cream filling, a tasty Kahlua coffee syrup and finally a generous dusting of cocoa powder and chocolate curls.
What alcohol is used in tiramisu?
Traditionally Marsala wine is used but rum and coffee liqueur are also great choices. I love Kahlua so that's which liqueur we use in this recipe. Feel free to use Marsala Wine or Rum.
How do you make a Tiramisu Cake?
Let's start off with the cake. Melt the butter and set aside to cool.
Preheat your oven to 325F/162C and grease a 9-inch cake pan. These are my favorite cake pans, for this recipe I used the 9 X 3-inch cake pan.
In a medium bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and all but 3 tablespoons sugar. Then whisk in 2 whole eggs and 3 yolks (reserving whites for later), melted butter, water, vanilla, and Kahlua. Mix until smooth - no lumps remaining, but don't over mix it.
Next in the bowl of an electric mixer beat the 3 egg whites at medium speed until frothy. Keep whisk attachment still running and slowly add in the 3 tablespoon of sugar, beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks for about 1-2 minutes.
Gently fold one-third of egg whites into the cake batter. Fold in remaining egg whites to batter until no white streaks remain. Pour into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Place cake pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes then invert the cake onto the wire rack to cool completely.
How do you make mascarpone filling?
In the bowl of your stand mixer or a large bowl with a handheld mixer whisk the heavy whipping cream until light and fluffy, a few minutes at high-speed. Scrape the whipped cream out into a clean bowl, then add the mascarpone in the dirty bowl and beat that for 2 minutes. Add in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and Kahlua beating until fully combined. Fold in whipped cream until fully combined. Set aside.
What are the ingredients for a coffee syrup?
In a small bowl place instant coffee granules, add boiling water and mix until no granules remain. Then stir in Kahlua.
How do I assemble a tiramisu cake?
Once the cake is completely cool, two hours, cut in the cake in half with a serrated knife or cake saw.
Place the first half of the cake on a serving plate. Using a pastry brush, brush the cake with the coffee syrup, use half of the liquid for the first layer.
Then scoop half of the mascarpone cream mixture on top, dust cocoa powder and sprinkle all chocolate chips on top.
Place the second cake layer, brush with remaining coffee syrup. Top with remaining cream and dust with cocoa powder. Optional to make chocolate curls, check out this video on how to make chocolate curls. Let cake chill and marinate for at least 3 hours, ideally overnight before serving. Store in the fridge.
★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!
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The BEST Tiramisu Cake
Moist Yellow Cake is brushed with a Boozy Coffee Syrup topped with a Mascarpone Cream Filling and tons of Cocoa Powder & Easy Chocolate Curls. This combination of the Classic Tiramisu and a layer Cake makes an extra special dessert for your next party, you will love this Tiramisu Layer Cake!
- Total Time: 4 Hours 10 Minutes
- Yield: 12 Slices 1x
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ¼ cups cake flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp table salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 large eggs (2 whole and 3 separated), room temperature
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
Cream Filling
- 1 ¼ cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 8oz container Mascarpone Cheese, at room temp.
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp Kahlua
Coffee Syrup
- 1 tbsp instant coffee
- 3 tbsp boiling hot water
- 2 tbsp Kahlua
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- cocoa powder for dusting
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease and flour a 9 by 2-inch cake pan.
- In a medium bowl whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and all but 3 tablespoons sugar in mixing bowl. Whisk in 2 whole eggs and 3 yolks (reserving whites), butter, water, vanilla, and Kahlua. Mix until smooth- no lumps remaining.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the 3 egg whites at medium speed until frothy. Keep whisk attachment still running and slowly add in the 3 tablespoon of sugar, beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks for about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir one-third of egg whites into cake batter. Fold in remaining egg whites to batter until no white streaks remain. Pour into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in center of the cake comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes in pan then invert to a wire rack.
Cream Filling
- In a large mixer beat heavy whipping cream until light and fluffy, a few minutes at high speed. Scrape whipped cream out, then put mascarpone in bowl and beat that for 2 minutes. Add in powdered sugar, vanilla and Kahlua beat until fully combined. Fold in whipped cream until fully combined.
Coffee Syrup
- In a small bowl place instant coffee granules, add boiling water and mix until no granules remain. Stir in Kahlua.
Assembly
- Once the cake is cool cut in half. Place first half on the cake plate. Using a pastry brush brush the cake with the coffee syrup, use half for the first layer. Then scoop half of the cream mixture on top, dust cocoa powder and sprinkle all chocolate chips on top. Place the second cake layer, brush with remaining coffee syrup. Top with remaining cream and dust with cocoa powder. Optional to make chocolate curls, check out this how-to on chocolate curls. Let cake chill and marinate for at least 3 hours before serving. Store in fridge.
Notes
This is a great make-ahead dessert, the cake is best after chilling in the fridge for a long while.
**Total Time includes Chill Time
Cake Recipe: Cooks Illustrated
- Prep Time: 30 Minutes
- Cook Time: 40 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian/ American
Keywords: dessert, layer cake, boozy baking, mascarpone frosting, chocolate curls, tiramisu
Johlene says
Hey! This looks very delicious!! I've been wanting to make Tiramisu cake for ages & now not only have you encouraged me, you've given me a recipe 🙂
Have a great weekend!! Xx
Elizabeth says
Thanks Johlene, hope all is well XO
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
Eww! I cant imagine getting somebody elses leftovers but I am glad you finally got your tiramisu in form of a cake no less.
Elizabeth says
Ya, it was scarring!!! LOL
tanya says
I love, love, love Tiramisu!! This cakes is GORGEOUS!
Elizabeth says
Thanks Tanya 🙂
Arthur in the Garden! says
Wow!
Jess says
This looks amazing! Love tiramisu- and your cake looks great 🙂
Elizabeth says
Thank you Jess 🙂
ทัวร์ญี่ปุ่น says
Wow, awesome blog layout! How lengthy have you ever
been running a blog for? you made running a blog look easy.
The entire look of your web site is magnificent, let alone the content material!
Debra Leffe says
I have made Tiramisu and it was delicious!!!!
When I put it in the fridge- the flavor remained awesome-but the Cream on top yellowed a bit- a bit harder texture.
It did it look as appealing- even though it tasted good
Egg whites in the cream maybe- not just yolk?
Any answers ?
Thanks
Deb
Elizabeth says
Hi Deb, glad you made the cake and enjoyed it. I am not sure what you are asking- in this recipe there are no eggs or yolks in the cream? Let me know if I can help any further?