Desserts from Around the World - 1: Italy

Italy: Tiramisu

Italy is mainly known for its savory dishes such as pizza, pasta, and risotto, but their desserts are also an important part of their culture. One of their most famous and traditional sweet dishes is called Tiramisu. Tiramisu has a creamy, sweet and rich taste shared with many other desserts around the world. However, the standout taste for Tiramisu is its strong bitter taste found in coffee. While it is most traditionally eaten in Italy, it can also be found in many types all over the world.

History

Tiramisu has been found to be invented around the late 1960s or early 1970s, but the precise year is still unknown. The most widely accepted theory by many is that tiramisu was created in the restaurant “Le Beccherie” in Treviso, which is part of the Veneto/Northeast region of Italy. The dessert’s name in Italian means “pick me up” or “cheer me up”, referring to the caffeine coming from the coffee within this dessert.

Ingredients

While ingredients may vary depending on country, type, style, or authenticity, the main ingredients for all Tiramisus are eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, coffee, mascarpone (light cream cheese), and “lady fingers”, a spongy cake-like biscuit famous in Europe. These ingredients create the sweet yet bitter taste that Tiramisu brings. To experience this unique taste, here’s a recipe for this Italian dessert:

Recipe

Ingredients (With Precise Measurements)

• Heavy Cream - 2 cups

• Sugar - 1 cup

• Mascarpone Cream Cheese - 16 ounces

• Coffee - Suggestion: 12 ounces

• “Ladyfingers” - Suggestion: 20-30 pieces

• Cocoa Powder - From Container

1. Pour the 2 cups of heavy cream into a large bowl. From there, whisk the cream until it forms peaks, or until it becomes thick and fluffy. Next, pour 1 cup of sugar and 16 ounces of Mascarpone Cheese into the cream and whisk until fully mixed.

2. In a separate tray (preferably small), pour the amount of coffee and soak the “ladyfingers” in, on both sides. Next, layer half of the “ladyfingers” in a bowl, then add half the cream cheese. Repeat this process to make exactly two layers of the cream and biscuits. 

3. Lastly, smooth out the top of the cream and dust it with cocoa powder, enough to make a thin layer over the entire top. Put it into the refrigerator for 1-3 hours, then take  the tiramisu out and enjoy!