Lemon Tiramisu No Bake Delight (Printable)
Tangy, creamy lemon tiramisu with a zesty twist on the Italian classic—no oven needed.
# What You'll Need:
→ Lemon Cream
01 - 8.8 oz mascarpone cheese, cold
02 - 0.85 cup heavy cream, cold
03 - 0.5 cup granulated sugar
04 - Zest of 2 lemons
05 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
06 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Biscuit Layer
07 - 7 oz ladyfinger biscuits (savoiardi)
08 - 0.85 cup lemon syrup (see below)
→ Lemon Syrup
09 - 0.63 cup water
10 - 3.4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
11 - 0.25 cup sugar
→ Garnish
12 - Lemon zest
13 - White chocolate curls or mint leaves (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Combine water, lemon juice, and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the sugar fully dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool completely before using.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk the cold mascarpone, heavy cream, granulated sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth, thick, and holds soft peaks.
03 - Briefly dip each ladyfinger into the cooled lemon syrup, just a quick one-second pass on each side. Avoid soaking to prevent the layers from becoming soggy.
04 - Arrange a single layer of dipped ladyfingers in the bottom of an 8x8-inch dish, fitting them snugly without overlapping.
05 - Spread half of the lemon cream evenly over the first layer of ladyfingers using a spatula, ensuring full coverage to the edges.
06 - Place a second layer of dipped ladyfingers over the cream, maintaining the same quick-dip technique.
07 - Top with the remaining lemon cream and smooth the surface evenly with a spatula.
08 - Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight for the best texture and flavor development.
09 - Before serving, finish with a sprinkle of fresh lemon zest and optional white chocolate curls or mint leaves. Serve chilled.
# Expert Hacks:
01 -
- Zero oven time means your kitchen stays cool and your hands stay clean
- The bright lemon flavor cuts through the richness in a way that makes you go back for seconds without feeling weighed down
02 -
- A quick one second dip is the difference between perfect texture and a mushy mess that slides apart when you cut it
- Overnight chilling transforms the flavor completely, making the lemon taste deeper and more integrated
03 -
- A splash of limoncello in the syrup turns this into a grown up dessert that gets quiet appreciative nods from guests
- Gluten free ladyfingers work just as well if you keep the dip extremely fast since they absorb liquid even more aggressively