Life is sweet: April 2006

Tiramisu Chapter of Love

Tiramisu is a layered dessert, consisting of alternating layers of coffee-soaked sponge fingers biscuits and sweet mixture of mascarpone cheese. Cocoa powder is sifted on top (and sometimes between layers) as both a garnish and a bitter counterpoint to the sweetened cheese mixture. To prepare the biscuit layer, light, finger-sized sponge fingers are soaked in espresso or strong coffee, often with an addition of flavorful liquor such as Kahlua coffee flavored liqueur. For the mascarpone cheese layer, a Zabaglione a simple Italian custard is first prepared: egg yolks are mixed with sugar and liquor and whipped until light in color. Mascarpone cheese is then beaten into the custard, and whipped cream is often added to lighten the mixture. This mixture is spread over the coffee-soaked biscuits, often topped with a dusting of cocoa powder, and more layers are added.