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Home » Recipes » Dessert

Easy Tiramisu for Two

Published: Feb 13, 2018 · Modified: Oct 28, 2020 by Myra · This post may contain affiliate links

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Easy Tiramisu For Two is the perfect Valentine's Day (or date night) dessert. Or you can make individual tiramisu cups for your next shower or party. Ditch the expensive mascarpone and use a delicious cream cheese mixture instead. Tender, coffee-soaked ladyfinger cookies, rich custard and vanilla whipped cream piled into a decadent parfait. Yes, please!

Easy Tiramisu For Two is the perfect Valentine’s Day (or date night) dessert. 

Or you can make individual tiramisu cups for your next shower or party. 

Ditch the expensive mascarpone and use a delicious cream cheese mixture instead.    Tender, coffee-soaked ladyfinger cookies, rich custard and vanilla whipped cream piled into a decadent parfait.  Yes, please!

Tiramisu in Glass Bowls Sprinkled with Cocoa Powder.

I don’t know about you, but any time I’m in a restaurant and I see tiramisu on the menu, my dessert is decided.  I love tiramisu.

Laurier and I were lucky enough to go to Europe a few years ago and in Italy I ate so much tiramisu (and, um, everything else I could get my hands on) that if we hadn’t been walking about 15 kilometers a day I wouldn’t have fit into my clothes when I came home.

Beautiful Woman In Blue Dress Drinking Espresso and Eating Tiramisu.
Tiramisu in Italy

Tiramisu is a lovely little Italian dessert (it means ‘pick me up’) made of ladyfinger cookies, mascarpone cheese, egg yolks, sugar, cocoa powder and, yes, COFFEE (my fave). 

Different recipes add other extra things – some have Marsala wine, some have rum, some have whipped cream, but the base is always similar.

I’ve made tiramisu a few times over the years and I really wanted to make tiramisu for two, for Valentine’s Day this year.

But there was a problem. 

Where I live, mascarpone cheese is SUPER expensive.

A container of mascarpone cheese costs $12-14.

What?!?!

How the heck can anyone afford to eat this stuff, unless maybe it’s dessert for the most special occasion of their lives – like their wedding or something!

Over the last little while I’ve been wondering, what can you use in the place of mascarpone cheese?  Can you substitute cream cheese  for mascarpone cheese?

I did a little research online and a little experimenting, and I have good news.  Whether you want to make tiramisu for two (for Valentine’s Day or date night) or tiramisu for a crowd, you can do it much more cheaply than the traditional way.

You can make a substitute for mascarpone cheese with cream cheese, whipping cream and butter, and unless you grew up eating your Nonna’s tiramisu every Sunday, I bet you won’t even notice the difference in the final product.

Before we get to the recipe, don’t you just love mini desserts in individual cups? 

I don’t know why, but for some reason they’re just so lovely.  Whether you’re looking for a dessert for two for date night or Valentine’s Day, or just want to make individual servings for a baby shower or wedding shower, I have to say, they just look a lot prettier than a big dish of whatever dessert you’re making.

The extra beauty of these little tiramisu cups is that you have to make them a little while ahead of time.   Perfect for an event where you don’t want to be cooking at the last minute.  They need to sit in the fridge for a bit, and make ahead recipes are just the best, aren’t they?

One other thing:  You might have noticed that this recipe is called Easy Tiramisu for Two. 

Because honestly, the hardest thing you have to do in this recipe is whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a bowl.  Yes, that bowl is set on top of a pot of boiling water and technically this is a double boiler and maybe starts to sound scary and too intense. 

But trust me, it’s not scary, or difficult, and you can 100% do it.

You’ve got this 🙂

 Easy Tiramisu for Two – Step-by-Step Instructions

Tiramisu Ingredients on White Surface.

 Ingredients for Easy Tiramisu for Two

Separating Egg Yolks from Egg Whites.

 First, make some coffee. (Isn’t that an awesome way to start a recipe?)  I like to make some to drink, and an extra cup to use for the recipe.  🙂 

Pour the cup for the tiramisu into a measuring cup and set it aside to cool for now.

Then, separate two eggs and put the yolks in a heat-proof bowl.

Whisking Sugar into Egg Yolks on Double Boiler.

Add 1/4 cup of sugar to the yolks and put the bowl on top of a pot of water

Tip: make sure there isn’t enough water to touch the bowl.

Whisking Egg and Sugar Mixture in Metal Bowl.

Bring the water to a boil, reduce heat and whisk until the mixture thickens and becomes a creamy yellow custard. 

This will probably take around 5 minutes.  Set custard aside to cool and whisk it every couple of minutes to stop it from forming a skin.

Whipping Cream in Metal Bowl.

Then whip 1/2 cup of whipping cream (heavy cream) with 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar until stiff peaks form.

Mixing Cream Cheese, Butter and Milk in Glass Bowl.

In a small bowl, use a hand mixer to cream 4 oz (half a block) of softened cream cheese, 1 tablespoon of butter and 2 tablespoons of milk until smooth and creamy.  This is your mascarpone substitute!

Adding Cream Cheese Mixture to Egg and Sugar Mixture.

Dump the “mascarpone” into the cooled custard and use your mixer to beat it until well combined.

Folding Whipping Cream into Custard Mixture.

Fold in whipped cream.

Dipping Lady Finger Cookies into Coffee.

In a shallow dish, mix coffee, 1/2 teaspoon of rum extract and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. 

Dip ladyfingers into the coffee but don’t let them soak.

Tip:  I’d say do a quick 1-2 count, then flip them over and do the same on the other side. 

Arrange in a layer in whatever serving dishes you’re using. I used 14 ladyfingers.

This recipe will make 2 huge tiramisu cups or 3-4 normal sized ones 🙂  I used stemless wine glasses but you could also use ramekins or mini mason jars.

Sprinkling Cocoa Powder onto Custard Layer of Tiramisu.

Spoon custard mixture over coffee-soaked ladyfingers, then sprinkle with cocoa powder.  This recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, but you won’t use it all – just a dusting on each layer.  Continue to layer until you run out of ingredients.

Chill for at least 4 hours, up to 24 hours.  You can sprinkle the top dusting of cocoa powder on after they’re chilled.

Tiramisu in Glass Bowls Sprinkled with Cocoa Powder.

Enjoy! 🙂

Tiramisu topped with chocolate shavings in glass bowls.

Easy Tiramisu For Two

Easy Tiramisu For Two is the perfect Valentine's Day (or date night) dessert. You can even make individual tiramisu cups for your next shower or party. Ditch the expensive mascarpone and use a delicious cream cheese mixture instead. Tender, coffee-soaked ladyfinger cookies, rich custard and vanilla whipped cream piled into a decadent parfait. Yes, please!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 -4 servings
Calories: 430kcal
Author: Myra

Ingredients

For custard

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1/4 cup sugar

For mascarpone substitute

  • 4 oz cream cheese (1/2 a block) - softened
  • 2 tbsp whipping cream
  • 1 tbsp softened butter

For whipped cream

  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp sugar

For assembling

  • 1 cup brewed coffee
  • 1/2 tsp rum extract
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract*
  • 12-14 ladyfinger cookies
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder

Instructions

  • First, make coffee and set it aside to cool.

For Custard

  • Separate eggs and put yolks into a heatproof bowl.  Whisk in sugar (1/4 cup) and set bowl over a pot of water (make sure water isn't close to touching bowl).  Bring water to a boil, lower heat and cook, whisking, for about 5 minutes - until mixture thickens into a creamy yellow custard.  Set bowl aside so custard can cool.  Whisk it every couple of minutes so it doesn't form a skin.

For Whipped Cream

  • Whip cream with vanilla (1/2 tsp) and sugar (1/4 tsp) until stiff peaks form.  Set aside.

For Mascarpone Substitute

  • In a small bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together cream cheese, whipping cream (2 tbsp) and butter until fluffy and smooth.
  • Use the mixer to blend the "mascarpone" into the cooled custard.  Fold in whipped cream.

To Assemble

  • In a shallow dish, combine coffee, rum extract and vanilla extract (1/2 tsp).  Dip ladyfingers into coffee mixture one at a time.  Don't soak them - just dip for about one second, flip over and dip the other side for one second.  Then assemble in a layer in the bottom of whatever dishes you're using.**
  • Add a layer of the creamy custard on top of the ladyfingers.  Sprinkle with a dusting of cocoa powder from a small sieve.  Continue to layer until you run out of ingredients.
  • Chill at least 4 hours but up to 24 hours.
    Enjoy! 🙂

Notes

* If you're finding vanilla extract really expensive right now, check out our post on How to Make Vanilla Extract & Save Money on Groceries!
** This recipe can either make 2 very large tiramisu cups or 4 average size cups.  I used stemless wine glasses but you can also use ramekins or mini mason jars.

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 252mg | Sodium: 159mg | Potassium: 158mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1240IU | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1.7mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brenda says

    March 13, 2018 at 5:46 pm

    5 stars
    Light and creamy.

    Reply
    • Myra says

      March 13, 2018 at 9:10 pm

      Thanks! 🙂

      Reply

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A photo of a man and a woman in front of a building.

HI, WE'RE MYRA AND LAURIER!

We want to help YOU eat delicious food, AND save money on groceries!

With years of experience, we bring you EASY and CHEAP recipes and tips.

Take back control of your grocery budget, AND eat amazing food.

More about us →

FAST & EASY

  • Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie (NO protein powder!)
  • Grilled Cheese With Tomato and Onion
  • Quick & Healthy Mediterranean Dip (with hummus)
  • Homemade Bistro Box aka Adult Lunchables

EASY ENTERTAINING

  • Herb and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Bites – An Easy Party Appetizer!
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  • Pepperoni Pizza Dip (with cream cheese)
  • Whipped Artichoke and Feta Dip

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Creative Cooking Solutions is a participant in the Amazon.com.ca, Inc. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.ca. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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