Strawberry Tiramisu: A Fruity Twist on a Classic Dessert

Introduction & Inspiration

As someone who loves to experiment with new flavors and textures, I was inspired to create this Strawberry Tiramisu. It’s a sophisticated and elegant dessert that’s perfect for dinner parties, holidays, or any time you want to indulge in a special treat. The inspiration for this recipe came from my love of both tiramisu and fresh strawberries, and my desire to create a dessert that was both beautiful and delicious.

Homemade Focus

While you can certainly find pre-made tiramisu at the store, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of making it from scratch. This recipe, while a bit more involved, is surprisingly straightforward, and the result is a tiramisu that’s far superior to anything you can buy pre-made. Plus, making it yourself allows you to control the quality of ingredients and customize the flavors to your liking.

Flavor Goal

The goal here is to create a tiramisu that’s bursting with fresh, fruity flavors and a delightful contrast of textures. We’re talking delicate ladyfingers soaked in strawberry sauce, a luscious mascarpone cream, and a vibrant topping of fresh strawberries. This combination creates a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more.

Ingredient Insights

Let’s explore the key players in this delightful dessert:

• Strawberries: Fresh strawberries are the star of the show, providing sweetness, juiciness, and a vibrant color to both the gelatin layer and the sauce.  
• Granulated Sugar: Sugar adds sweetness to the gelatin layer, strawberry sauce, and mascarpone cream.
• Unflavored Gelatin: Gelatin is used to set the strawberry puree into a firm layer that adds a unique texture to the tiramisu.
• Ladyfingers: Ladyfingers are light and airy sponge biscuits that are essential to tiramisu. They soak up the strawberry sauce and create a delicate base for the other layers.  
• Egg Yolks: Egg yolks add richness and thickness to the mascarpone cream.  
• Half and Half: Half and half is a mixture of whole milk and heavy cream, adding richness and creaminess to the mascarpone cream.
• Mascarpone Cheese: Mascarpone cheese is a creamy Italian cheese that’s essential to tiramisu. It creates a rich and luscious filling that complements the other flavors perfectly.  
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the mascarpone cream with its warm and sweet notes.  
• Heavy Whipping Cream: Heavy whipping cream is whipped to create a light and airy texture in the mascarpone cream.

Equipment

You’ll need a few essential tools to create this strawberry tiramisu:

• Food processor or blender  
• Large mixing bowls
• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Heatproof bowl
• Small saucepan (for creating a double boiler)  
• Standing mixer or hand mixer (or a whisk)
• 13×9 inch baking pan  
• Shallow dish  

Ingredients

Strawberry Gelatin Layer:

• 1 lb strawberries (fresh or frozen, defrosted if frozen)
• ⅓ – ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup cold water
• ¾ tablespoon unflavored gelatin

Strawberry Sauce:

• 1 lb strawberries (fresh or frozen, defrosted if frozen)  
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ cup cold water

Tiramisu:

• 14 oz ladyfingers (savoiardi)
• 6 egg yolks
• ¾ cup granulated sugar (divided)
• ½ cup half and half
• 1 ½ lbs mascarpone cheese (room temperature)  
• 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract  
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 lb fresh strawberries (sliced)  

Instructions

1. Prepare the Strawberry Gelatin Layer:
   • Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a bowl and set aside.
   • Puree strawberries with sugar in a food processor or blender.
   • Heat the puree in a saucepan until almost boiling.
   • Pour the hot strawberry mixture over the softened gelatin and whisk until dissolved.
   • Pour the mixture into a 13×9 inch baking pan and refrigerate for about 1 hour to set.
2. Make the Strawberry Sauce:
   • Puree another pound of strawberries with sugar and water.
   • Pour into a shallow dish and set aside.
3. Make the Mascarpone Cream:
   • Whisk egg yolks and ¼ cup sugar in a heatproof bowl. Add half and half.
   • Cook the mixture over a double boiler, whisking constantly, until thickened (about 10 minutes). Cool.
   • Whip heavy cream with 2-4 tablespoons of sugar until soft peaks form.
   • Combine mascarpone cheese, remaining sugar, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl.
   • Fold the cooled egg yolk mixture and whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture.  
4. Assemble the Tiramisu:
   • Dip each ladyfinger in the strawberry sauce for 2-3 seconds per side.
   • Arrange the soaked ladyfingers in a single layer in the baking dish.
   • Spread half of the mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers.
   • Repeat with another layer of dipped ladyfingers and the remaining mascarpone cream.  
5. Chill and Serve:
   • Chill the tiramisu for at least 6 hours or overnight.  
   • Arrange sliced strawberries on top just before serving.

Troubleshooting

• Gelatin layer not setting: Make sure the gelatin is properly bloomed and dissolved in the hot strawberry puree. You can also chill the gelatin layer for a longer time to ensure it sets completely.
• Ladyfingers too soggy: Avoid soaking the ladyfingers in the strawberry sauce for too long. You want them to be coated but not overly saturated.  
• Mascarpone cream too runny: Make sure the mascarpone cheese is at room temperature and the egg yolk mixture is cooled completely before combining. You can also chill the mascarpone cream for a short time before assembling the tiramisu.  

Tips and Variations

• For a richer flavor, you can use mascarpone cheese instead of cream cheese in the filling.  
• Feel free to use other types of fresh berries, such as raspberries or blueberries, instead of strawberries.
• You can also add a layer of chocolate shavings or cocoa powder between the ladyfingers and mascarpone cream for an extra chocolatey twist.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

This Strawberry Tiramisu is a delightful dessert that can be enjoyed on its own or with a cup of coffee or a glass of dessert wine. It’s perfect for dinner parties, special occasions, holidays, or any time you want to indulge in a sophisticated and delicious treat.

Nutritional Information

(Per serving, approximate)

• Calories: ~350
• Fat: ~20g
• Cholesterol: ~100mg
• Sodium: ~100mg
• Carbohydrates: ~40g
• Protein: ~8g

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Recipe Summary and Q&A

Recipe Name: Strawberry Tiramisu

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour for gelatin layer + 6 hours (or overnight) for tiramisu

Yields: 12 servings

Q: Can I use sponge cake instead of ladyfingers?

A: Yes, you can use sponge cake as a substitute for ladyfingers.  

Q: Can I make this tiramisu ahead of time?

A: Absolutely! You can assemble the tiramisu a day or two in advance and keep it chilled in the refrigerator.  

Q: Can I freeze this tiramisu?

A: It’s not recommended to freeze tiramisu, as the texture may change upon thawing.