Irish Cream Tiramisu
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Whip up this Irish Cream-infused tiramisu from Nigella Lawson—a dinner party favorite that’s ridiculously easy to assemble in just 20 minutes!
If you’re a fan of Baileys Irish Cream, you’ll love this fun twist on the Italian dessert tiramisu from one of my all-time favorite cookbooks, Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson. The first time I made it, my husband proclaimed it one of the best desserts he’d ever had. Since then, it’s become a dinner party regular at our house. With layers of espresso and Baileys-soaked ladyfingers and light mascarpone cream, it looks and tastes impressive yet is almost ridiculously easy to make (and I love that it’s a no-bake dessert). You spend 20 minutes putting it together, then just pop it in the fridge overnight.
“Excellent recipe! My favorite tiramisu recipe ever. Turned out beautiful, smooth, and creamy.”
What You’ll Need To Make Irish Cream Tiramisu
- Espresso: Soaks the Savoiardi cookies, infusing them with rich coffee flavor, a staple element of tiramisu. Very strong black coffee will also work here.
- Baileys Irish Cream: A liqueur that adds a luxurious and indulgent twist to the classic tiramisu, imparting creamy richness and a hint of Irish whiskey flavor. You can use Baileys in other desserts, like mudslides, Baileys chocolate truffles, or Baileys cheesecake marbled brownies. You can replace the Baileys with rum, marsala, or sweet wine (or for a non-alcoholic alternative, heavy cream).
- Savoiardi Cookies: Also called ladyfingers, these crisp cookies serve as the base, soaking up the coffee and Irish cream mixture to create layers of flavor and texture. You can find them in the cookie aisle of your supermarket. Do not use the soft spongecake ladyfingers sold in the bakery section.
- Eggs: Used to make a light and airy zabaglione custard, adding richness to the mascarpone cheese layer.
- Superfine Sugar: Adds sweetness to the mascarpone cheese layer. Superfine sugar is used here as it dissolves more quickly than granular sugar. See the FAQ’s for more details.
- Mascarpone Cheese: Provides the creamy, luscious texture characteristic of tiramisu and forms a smooth layer between the coffee-soaked cookies.
- Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Dusts the top of the tiramisu, adding a bitter contrast to the sweetness and enhancing the dessert’s visual appeal.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Begin by combining 3/4 cup of the Baileys with the espresso or strong coffee. Set that aside.
Next, in a mixing bowl, separate the eggs, keeping only one of the whites. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale.
Then add the mascarpone and remaining Baileys.
Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white until soft peaks form when you lift the whisk out of the bowl.
Using a rubber spatula, fold the egg white into the mascarpone mixture. Set aside.
Now, time to assemble the tiramisu. Dip the lady fingers, one at a time, into the espresso/Baileys mixture. Only dip it for 2 to 3 seconds, until just damp but not soggy.
Arrange the espresso-dipped ladyfingers in a baking dish.
Top with half of the mascarpone cream and another layer of dipped cookies.
Spread the remaining mascarpone cream over top.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill until the cream is set, at least 8 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, place the cocoa powder in a fine sieve and dust evenly over top. Cut into squares and serve.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions
It is necessary to make tiramisu ahead of time, as it requires refrigeration for 8 to 10 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld. You can also prepare it up to two days ahead of time. It can also be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like chocolate mousse, tiramisu is made with raw eggs. If that is a concern, try to find pasteurized eggs. Pasteurized eggs have been briefly exposed to heat to destroy any potential bacteria. Whole Foods usually carries them but call your local store to be sure before making a special trip. (Note: eating raw eggs is not advisable for pregnant women, babies, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system.)
Superfine sugar is a type of granulated sugar with a very fine texture. It’s finer than regular granulated sugar but not as fine as powdered sugar. Superfine sugar dissolves more quickly than regular granulated sugar, making it ideal for use in recipes where you want a smooth texture, such as meringues (like this pavlova), cocktails (like these mojitos), and tender cookies (like these nutty jam thumbprints). If you don’t have superfine sugar, you can make your own — just process regular granulated sugar in a food processor for 30 seconds until fine.
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Irish Cream Tiramisu
Whip up this Irish Cream-infused tiramisu from Nigella Lawson—a dinner party favorite that’s ridiculously easy to assemble in just 20 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1½ cups espresso or very strong black coffee, cooled
- 1 cup Baileys Irish Cream, divided
- 14 oz (or two 7-ounce packs) Savoiardi cookies or ladyfingers (see note), although you won't use all of them
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup superfine sugar (to make your own, process regular granulated sugar in food processor for 30 seconds until fine)
- 1 pound mascarpone cheese
- 2½ teaspoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Hershey's
Instructions
- Mix the cooled espresso with ¾ cup of the Baileys in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
- Separate the eggs, but keep only one of the whites. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until the mixture is thick, pale yellow, and forms a ribbon when the whisk is lifted out of the bowl, about a minute. Add the remaining ¼ cup Baileys and mascarpone and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- In a separate bowl, vigorously whisk the single egg white until soft peaks form when you lift the whisk out of the bowl (you can do this by hand with such a little amount). Fold the egg white into the mascarpone mixture. It will seem thin but don't worry: it will set up in the fridge.
- Dip the cookies, one at a time, into the espresso/Baileys mixture; let them soak just long enough to become damp but not soggy. Line the bottom of a 9-inch square glass dish (or 7x11-in rectangular dish) with a layer of soaked cookies, then spread half of the mascarpone mixture over top. Repeat with another layer of soaked cookies, then top with the remaining mascarpone mixture. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and leave in the fridge until the mascarpone mixture is set, 8-10 hours or overnight.
- When you are ready to serve, place the cocoa powder in a small sieve and dust over the top of the tiramisu.
- Note: Savoiardi cookies are also called ladyfingers. But be sure to buy crisp cookies -- not the soft sponge cake ladyfingers sold in the bakery section of the grocery store.
- Note: This recipe uses raw eggs. Be sure to use only fresh, properly refrigerated and clean grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.
- Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: The tiramisu can be made up to two days ahead of time. It can also be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (12 servings)
- Calories: 392
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Sugar: 11g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 6g
- Sodium: 269mg
- Cholesterol: 108mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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What do you think of substituting Irish Cream coffee whitener for the Bailey’s in the Tiramisu?
Hi Elizabeth, Unfortunately, I’ve never tried that product so I can’t say for sure. But if you have to avoid alcohol, it might be a good substitute.
Hi Jenn,
I made this last night and it really was so delicious! All layers tasted great except the bottom layer, which tasted too boozy and left a shallow layer of baileys on the bottom of the baking dish. I soaked the fingers for a 2-3 second count. Any advice on what I could do differently next time because 90% of it tasted amazing!
Hi Kelly, I’m glad you enjoyed most of the recipe :). How long did you leave the tiramisu in the fridge to set up? Was it at least 8 hours?
I did. I’m remaking it tonight and only dunking those fingers for 1-2 seconds and will see if that makes a difference. I will let you know!
Please do!
Hi Jenn,
So I made it again, soaking the fingers for a quick 2 seconds, then shaking each one off of excess Baileys before placing it in the dish, and it turned out absolutely perfect! The key is to shake them off which I didn’t realize, never having worked with lady fingers before. Thank you for a really simple and delicious dessert.
Glad to hear your tweak worked and you enjoyed it Kelly!
Thanks so much, Elizabeth! Glad you’re enjoying the recipes. You can freeze tiramisu — it’s even good frozen, like ice cream cake 🙂
Hi Jen! I’ve made this tiramisu recipe before and absolutely LOVED it. I was all excited because I finally found the soft lady fingers in the grocery store– and as I was just reading I saw your note not to use them! Any recipe suggestions from your site where I can use the soft lady fingers? I don’t want them to go to waste!
Hi Erin, I’m not a huge fan of the soft lady fingers, so unfortunately I don’t have any recipes that use them. Sorry!
In Scotland we use “trifle sponges” in our traditional sherry trifle. These are not available in America, I therefore substitute soft ladyfingers. They work perfectly, spread with some raspberry jam, topped with a sliced banana, drizzled with sherry. Add some frozen raspberries and cover with homemade custard whipped heavy cream and slivered almonds……delicious:-)
The tiramisu looks delicious. The step by step instructions make it easy to follow the recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Yum!!!!! And I love the suggestion made to add the extra Bailey’s sauce to a cup of coffee!
I was very excited to try this recipe but was disappointed in how strongly the alcohol taste was..It was very Boozy!!Also agree with several other people who stated there was so much leftover espresso/Bailey mixture. Not sure if I would make again..needs a lot of tweaking for my and my family’s taste.
Hi there
Is there any other substitute for the alcohol?
Hi Fatima, You could use more coffee but the flavor will be a little flat — sorry!
Hi. I’m hoping this is useful to those who don’t want the alcohol. I make homemade baileys with double cream, condensed milk, vanilla, camp coffee and Irish whiskey.
I have a friend who doesn’t drink alcohol. I just leave out the whiskey and she uses this non alcoholic Irish cream in her coffee etc. She was overjoyed to finally have the taste of baileys again, without the alcohol! Ps. I’ve used this recipe before with my homemade Irish cream and will be making it again for Christmas! Thank you
Is there any other ingred. that can be used
for mascarpone?
Hi Terry, I’d stick with mascarpone; cream cheese is similar but not quite the same.
Love this! I made this for an Irish-Italian St. Patty’s Day party and I swear someone licked the pan clean! I wound up only needing one package of cookies for an 8-inch square pan…which means I’ll have to make it again…yay!