Strawberry tiramisu: A fresh twist on an Italian classic
Everyone knows the classic tiramisu – coffee, cocoa, mascarpone, and ladyfingers. However, as soon as strawberry season begins, I know one thing for sure: I swap coffee for fruit, and tradition for an air of lightness and freshness. This is how my favourite strawberry tiramisu comes to life – the perfect dessert for a Sunday afternoon. It’s elegant, impressive, and surprisingly easy to make.
Tiramisu is a dessert that is familiar to almost everyone – fluffy, creamy, and elegant. Yet, when strawberries are in season, I cannot resist marrying the Italian classic with the flavour of summer. Thus, my beloved version emerges: strawberry tiramisu. No coffee, just berries imbued with sunshine and the essence of childhood. It’s the ideal treat for Mother's Day – light, fresh, and wonderfully simple, while looking like it’s from the finest patisserie. Most importantly, it tastes even better than it seems.
Recipe for strawberry tiramisu
Strawberry tiramisu is a dessert that looks sophisticated but requires just a few minutes to prepare. Fresh fruit, delicate cream, and ladyfingers combine to create a light, summery classic that is perfect for Sundays, family gatherings, or simply as a sweet excuse to celebrate.
Ingredients:
- 1.8 kg strawberries,
- 450 g mascarpone,
- 350 g ladyfingers,
- 300 ml double cream,
- 3 tablespoons icing sugar,
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar,
- juice of half a lemon,
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Instructions:
- Wash the strawberries, dry them, and set a few aside for decoration. Slice the remainder – blend half with sugar and lemon juice into a purée, and keep the other half as slices.
- Combine the mascarpone with icing sugar and vanilla extract. Whip the double cream until stiff and gently fold it into the mascarpone mixture.
- Quickly dip the ladyfingers into the strawberry purée (to prevent them from becoming soggy) and arrange them in a dish.
- Layer with cream, then add strawberry slices. Continue layering with more ladyfingers, cream, and so on, until all the ingredients are used up.
- Decorate the top with strawberries and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight).
Why does tiramisu "like" fruit?
Although classic tiramisu is an Italian dessert based on coffee and cocoa, its composition – layered arrangement of ladyfingers with mascarpone cream – invites culinary experimentation. Variations with fruits, particularly strawberries, raspberries, or mango, have gained popularity in modern cuisine due to their lightness, freshness, and versatility. The tart sweetness of the fruit cuts through the richness of the cream, and their juiciness softens the ladyfingers without making them overly soggy. It’s a brilliant alternative for those who aren't keen on coffee or wish to offer something more suited to spring and summer.
