• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Bread
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

October 12, 2015 by Joy the Baker 35 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu (10)

I’m trying to hold on to something.  It’s feels big and elusive… and I just looked down at my fingernails to find that at some point during the day I must have bitten them all off.  I’m trying to hold on to an idea.  It’s baby (not literally, I’m not good at those).  It’s new.  It means that I would be pushing myself to create something I’ve never created before.  

Sometimes you walk into a room… a room that you’ve been in a million times before… and there’s a new idea sitting there, and you can’t ignore it even though it’s big and kinda scary and definitely daunting.  And maybe you try to wrestle with the idea to make it smaller or more manageable but the idea says… NO.  I am this and we can do it.  Except the idea doesn’t really have to do anything but be, and I have to do all the heavy lifting to make it real for other people too.  

At least… that’s what if feels like when I have something not food related I want to write.  Feels like a beast of a thing.  

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

To manage my big idea… I made food.  Because I’m good at making food, better than I am at wrestling with big ideas.  Making food is soothing.

This, from the bucket list of recipes I’d like to make:  tiramisu!  

Sweet goals and big ideas.  Getting things done.  

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

Tiramisu is mostly about whisking and assembly.  

Rich egg yolks are whisked with granulated sugar.  

Because tiramisu isn’t a baked dessert, we’re gong to heat the eggs gently over a double boiler.  

I used a hand mixer to beat the eggs  over a pot of simmering water.

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

Five minutes of vigorous mixing over simmering water creates a pale yellow, thick, warm, sweet egg mixture.  

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

Mascarpone cheese, the light and love of tiramisu, is gently whisked into the egg and sugar mixture.  

Mascarpone is a soft, creamy, delicate cheese… slightly sweet, definitely spreadable, way delicious.  It adds just the right sweetness and density to the tiramisu.

The eggy mascarpone is folded with lightly sweetened whipped cream, adding fluff and volume.   

We have our eggy mascarpone mixture ready for spreading.  We’ve got extra whipped cream ready to go.  And a sweetened, very dark coffee mixture spiked with rum.  

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

I used little amaretti cookies as the cookie base for the tiramisu.  Amaretti cookies are little, crisp, almond cookies.  

They’re soaked in sweet black coffee and set to line a ceramic dish.  

The cookies will be almond, coffee, and rum flavored.  A very good base for creamy toppings! 

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

Atop the coffee-soaked cookies goes half of the sweet eggy, whipped, mascarpone mixture.  Spread evenly.  

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

More coffee-soaked amaretti cookies to top the mascarpone.  

Easy, right? 

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

The remaining mascarpone is spread over the second layer of cookies and… if you think we’re already good… we can be even better.

You know it’s true. 

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

Soft and sweet whipped cream is spread over the top of the mascarpone and cookies.  

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu (10)

Cocoa powder is dusted, liberally and with enthusiasm over the whipped cream and the pan spends some time in the refrigerator to chill, meld flavors, and soften.  

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

There’s no need to keep up appearances when it comes to serving.  A big spoonful of a little plate.  Extra cocoa and hot coffee.  

Now, back to those brewing big ideas.  This time, slightly more caffeinated.  

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Amaretti Cookie Tiramisu

  • Author: Joy the Baker
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 120
  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Pin Recipe
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 10-ounce bag small amaretti cookies
  • 2 cups very strong brewed coffee
  • 1 tablespoons rum (optional, but delicious)
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 pound (about 1 1/4 cup) mascarpone cheese
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. In a shallow bowl, stir together coffee, rum (if using), and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
  2. Bring 2-inches of water to simmer in a small saucepan.
  3. In a medium, heat-proof bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Place the bowl over the simmering water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water), and use an electric hand mixer to whip the eggs and sugar until pale, thick, and the sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
  4. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the mascarpone cheese until just combined.
  5. In a large bowl, beat heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft but stiff peaks form.
  6. Add just under half of the whipped cream to the mascarpone mixture and fold to combine.
  7. Now, set yourself up for assembly. You’ll have your small amaretti cookies, sweetened coffee, mascarpone mixture, whipped cream, and cocoa powder.
  8. Start by dipping and lightly soaking cookies in coffee syrup. You don’t want them to be completely soggy, but rather, just soaked through. Use the soaked cookies to line the bottom of a 9×9-inch square pan. I used an 8×10-inch pan. Something in that size range will serve you well.
  9. Top the soaked cookies with half of the mascarpone mixture and spread evenly.
  10. Top the mascarpone mixture with another layer of coffee soaked cookies. Top the cookies with the remaining mascarpone, then the whipped cream. Dust liberally with cocoa powder.
  11. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve chilled with hot coffee.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Cakes, Holiday, Recipes

Previous Post: «
Next Post: Fruit Sugars »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sara

    October 12, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    WHAT. IS. LIFE.

    -sara
    https://almostpaleokitchen.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  2. Kayla

    October 12, 2015 at 11:29 am

    This looks so good! I love the idea of using amaretti cookies instead of lady fingers.

    Reply
  3. Ariana Sparkle {A. Sparkle Says Design}

    October 12, 2015 at 11:04 am

    Tiramisu is one of those things that seems to look and sound intimidating, but you make it look very easy. And delicious! I think this may be a wonderful dessert for my upcoming housewarming party. :) Fancy, yet simple.

    Reply
  4. Considering The Radish

    October 12, 2015 at 8:55 am

    I’ve always found that cooking is a great way to work through ideas. I love your recipes, but also your writing. Here’s to big, exciting, scary new things.

    Reply
  5. Ash

    October 12, 2015 at 8:52 am

    I need this in my life, pronto. Since I practically run on coffee. I’m loving that this is an approachable Tiramisu for us home bakers.

    Reply
  6. Sydney | Modern Granola

    October 12, 2015 at 8:51 am

    Yum! This looks and sounds heavenly! I love that you used amaretti cookies instead of lady fingers. It makes my wheels churn with all the other cookie swap possibilities. Can’t wait to give this deliciousness a try!
    xx Sydney

    Reply
  7. Gerry @ Foodness Gracious

    October 12, 2015 at 8:26 am

    Great idea using the cookies, ladyfingers can be hard to find :)

    Reply
  8. Madeline | madeline marie

    October 12, 2015 at 7:19 am

    Well it looks like you definitely succeeded in making this tiramisu and can knock that off your bucket list!! Looks so decadent and delicious <3

    Reply
  9. dessertfortwo

    October 12, 2015 at 7:12 am

    Gorgeous! I could eat all 50 of those little Amaretti cookies by myself. But I shouldn’t. I should make this. Plus rum! For breakfast!

    Reply
  10. Courtney

    October 12, 2015 at 5:42 am

    Your little dishes are gorgeous!!!

    Reply
  11. emilyinutah

    October 12, 2015 at 5:00 am

    Joy, hooray for your non-food big idea!!! I emailed you some unsolicited feedback a few years ago, when you were struggling with book #2, about how much I loved your non-food posts. Be brave, Joy! We want to read your food AND non-food words!!

    Reply
  12. Kristina

    October 12, 2015 at 4:40 am

    Yes to amaretti, they are delicious dipped in coffee! I love your twist on the tiramisu.

    Reply
  13. Tori

    October 12, 2015 at 4:20 am

    I love that you used the amaretti cookies over traditional lady fingers for your maiden voyage with tiramisu! I’ve always felt like things are better when you put a twist on the classic! You’re tiramisu is gorge!

    Reply
  14. WhileHeWasOut

    October 12, 2015 at 4:05 am

    I just used tiny (5mm diameter!) amaretti cookies last week to decorate my classic ladyfinger tiramisu for mom’s Bday, never thought about replacing the ladyfinger layer! Thanks for the great idea ;)

    Reply
  15. Jerry / butter + scotch

    October 12, 2015 at 3:49 am

    I’m obsessed with tiramisu and obsessed with amaretti cookies. This is officially what I want to have on my birthday in a few weeks… And the rum won’t be optional for me!

    Reply
Newer Comments »
Comments Page 1 of 3
1 2 3 Next »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Cakes

A slice of lemon blueberry gooey butter cake held on a cake slicer.
Lemon Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake

What if I told you there’s a cake that tastes like buttery baked cake AND cake batter at the same time?  These are dreams appropriately named Gooey Butter Cake. I didn’t have nearly enough early exposure to the concept of a Gooey Butter Cake save for all the batches of blondie brownies I under-baked due…

Read More

Slice of Chocolate Guinness Cake on a small pink plate
Chocolate Guinness Loaf Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

It’s that time of year! Time to dye the rivers emerald green in honor of Ireland’s ride or die, St. Patrick!  While I don’t need my rivers or my food tinted green, if the question is “Would you like an Irish beer?” the answer is a resounding “HECK YES!”.  I had my first Guinness worth…

Read More

Sliced and plated funfetti cake slices.
Funfetti Birthday Bundt Cake

I want the best for you, and that sentiment extends all the way to your birthday cake.  Growing up, my favorite birthday cake was a boxed cake mix – Funfetti Cake. For all the homemade baked wonders my family produced there was literally nothing better than that sweet, slightly metallic tasting, rainbow sheet cake.  Now…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Jump to Recipe

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Jump to Recipe

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

Jump to Recipe

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

Jump to Recipe
joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

Jump to Recipe

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Jump to Recipe

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

FAVORITE FRUIT RECIPES

Strawberry pie filling inside of unbaked crust with crumble top.

My Best Strawberry Crumble Pie Recipe

A slice of lemon blueberry gooey butter cake held on a cake slicer.

Lemon Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake

Strawberry white chocolate chai sugar cookies on a cooling rack.

Taylor Swift’s Strawberry White Chocolate Chai Sugar Cookies

POPULAR CAKES

A slice of lemon blueberry gooey butter cake held on a cake slicer.

Lemon Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake

Slice of Chocolate Guinness Cake on a small pink plate

Chocolate Guinness Loaf Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Sliced and plated funfetti cake slices.

Funfetti Birthday Bundt Cake

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

I’m calling it, friends. IT’S SUMMER and to ce I’m calling it, friends. IT’S SUMMER and to celebrate you’re going to need the latest issue of Joy the Baker Magazine. ⁣
⁣
This issue is packed with road-trip inspiration, summer’s best burgers, backyard margaritas, no-churn ice cream and cakes that bake without an oven. ⁣
⁣
We get crafty, we get campy, there’s so much ice dye… this one’s more than food - it’s our summer bucket list in magazine form. ⁣
⁣
Pick up your copy wherever magazines are sold across the US and Canada or buy a copy online using the link in my profile. ⁣(🙌 free shipping!) 
⁣
Also, look at this cover shot by @emferretti! The whole magazine is that mouthwatering. 👏☀️🍓
I spent part of this fine weekend cleaning this ve I spent part of this fine weekend cleaning this very hardworking pantry. It’ll never be rainbow organized or picture perfect but I’ll tell ya, a few sets of @rubbermaid containers, @ballcanning jars and brown packing tape with a @sharpie marker make this a high functioning space for recipe testing and life living. 
⁣
Swipe to see my supervisor 🦁 inspecting my work. ⁣
⁣
#organized #pantryorganization #joythebaker #weekendwork
Not gonna lie, peanut butter was my main food grou Not gonna lie, peanut butter was my main food group this week - either smeared on fruit or baked as cookies. ⁣
⁣
If you feel me on this, my top 10 peanut butter recipes will serve you well. 👏 Find the link in the bio, like we do. ⁣
⁣
#peanutbutter #cookies #cobbler #joythebaker
I either need a pep talk or chocolate cake though I either need a pep talk or chocolate cake though I think I actually need both - stat.⁣
⁣
This particular cake is gluten and dairy free though you’d never know it based on its tender chocolate crumb and swoopy coconut based frosting. ⁣
⁣
I’ll leave the 🍫 recipe linked in the bio. Please leave any pep talk thoughts in the comments below (lol I’m not even kidding). xo
Mmkay you can take one pie and one sweater to the Mmkay you can take one pie and one sweater to the deserted island. I suppose I’m set! 🤪
⁣
My Very Best 🍓 🍓 Crumble Pie recipe linked in the profile and the sweater is an old gem from Forever21 and sure it’s getting a little tighter every year it’s weird how sweaters shrink sitting in drawers waiting for strawberry season. ⁣
⁣
#strawberrypie #joythebaker #mothersday #bakedfromscratch
In this week’s Sunday post I talk about learning In this week’s Sunday post I talk about learning how to ride a motorcycle, making my summer bucket list dreams come true, and easing out that clutch. ⁣
⁣
Am I roadworthy? Not quite yet, but I am super proud of myself. ⁣
⁣
Your Sunday reads, linked in the profile.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up