My Mums Tiramisu has become a firm family favourite over the years for good reason. The soft sponge fingers with the kick of strong coffee blended with the smooth mascarpone and double cream (heavy) make this a delight to eat. This simple Italian recipe is a perfect dessert to a perfect meal.
Mums Tiramisu has layers of rich mascarpone cream, soft coffee-soaked sponge fingers, and a dusting of cocoa create a harmony that’s both elegant and deeply comforting. “Mum’s Tiramisu” takes this classic Italian treat and adds a heart-warming homemade touch — the kind of dessert that feels like a family tradition, lovingly prepared in a familiar kitchen.
At its core, Mums Tiramisu captures the beauty of simplicity. It’s not about fancy decoration or complex technique, but about patience, balance, and quality ingredients. The foundation begins with six free-range egg yolks gently whisked with sugar over a low heat. This slow, deliberate process is crucial — the gentle cooking ensures the yolks become silky and rich without scrambling. When the warm milk is stirred in, the mixture transforms into a custard base, setting the stage for the creamy layers that define tiramisu. Once cooled and chilled, this forms the heart of the dessert, providing both structure and depth.
Mascarpone is where the magic truly begins. This smooth Italian cheese has an indulgent creaminess that binds everything together. When whisked with the chilled egg and milk mixture, it becomes luxuriously thick and velvety — a texture that’s at once light yet rich, almost cloud-like. Adding a touch of vanilla enhances its natural sweetness, creating a filling that’s subtly fragrant rather than overpowering.
Then comes the cream. Whipped to soft peaks, it brings airiness and balance to the dense mascarpone. The combination of double cream and vanilla extract creates a contrast that elevates the dessert — one layer lush and dense, the next light and airy. The two together are what make tiramisu so irresistibly moreish; every spoonful feels like the perfect blend of decadence and delicacy.
Of course, Mums tiramisu would be complete without coffee. Espresso is essential here — strong, aromatic, and slightly bitter — the perfect counterpoint to the sweetness of the cream. In this version, a splash of rum is added to the coffee for a subtle kick. It’s optional, but that hint of warmth lingers beautifully in the background, adding complexity and nostalgia to each bite.
The assembly is where the artistry happens. Sponge fingers, or ladyfingers, are swiftly dipped into the coffee mixture — just long enough to absorb the flavour, but not so long that they lose their shape. Mum’s version insists on this precision: a brief dunk, a gentle press into the dish, and a smooth layer of mascarpone to follow. The process repeats, building up alternating layers of texture and flavour until the dish is complete. The final flourish — a dusting of cocoa powder — gives it that unmistakable tiramisu look, elegant and understated.
Then comes the hardest part: waiting. Refrigerating Mums tiramisu for at least five hours allows all the flavours to meld together. The coffee seeps deeper into the sponge, the mascarpone settles into perfect softness, and the cocoa layer slightly darkens as it absorbs the moisture beneath. By the time it’s ready, each bite delivers an experience that’s beautifully cohesive — cool, creamy, and gently bittersweet.
What makes “Mum’s Tiramisu” so special isn’t just the ingredients or the method; it’s the emotion behind it. It’s the kind of dessert that feels like a family ritual — the one that appears at birthdays, holidays, or quiet Sunday lunches. Everyone knows it’s coming, and everyone knows it’s worth the wait. The careful layering, the patience in chilling, the satisfaction of dusting that final layer of cocoa — they all speak of love expressed through food.
Serve Mums Tiramisu in a clear glass dish, you can admire the perfect layers before the first generous spoonful is taken. And once it’s served, it’s gone in no time — each helping savoured until the plate is scraped clean. A sprig of mint on top adds a fresh contrast to the cocoa, but really, it’s just for show. The true beauty of Mum’s Tiramisu lies within its simplicity: a dessert that’s humble, indulgent, and absolutely timeless.
This is not just tiramisu — it’s comfort on a plate. A reminder that sometimes, the best desserts are the ones that taste like home.
Mums Tiramisu
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs free range, yolks only
- 2/3 cup full milk
- 1 ¼ cup double cream
- 1.5 oz sugar
- 1 lb mascarpone
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup espresso coffee cool
- Cocoa powder decoration
- 6 oz sponge fingers ladyfingers.
- 1 tbsp rum optional
Instructions
- Place a saucepan over a medium low heat and add the sugar and 6 egg yolks. Whisk until thoroughly mixed.6 large eggs, 1.5 oz sugar
- Add the milk and raise the heat to medium. Cook over a medium heat stirring constantly until it reaches a gentle boil.2/3 cup full milk
- Allow to continue boiling for about 1 minute and then remove from the heat. Place to one side to cool off.
- When easy to handle, transfer to a bowl, cover with a lid or clingfilm and place in the fridge to chill.
- Add the cream and vanilla to mixing bowl and whisk together, either by hand or far easier with an electric mixer. You need to have stiff cream forming.1 ¼ cup double cream, ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Recover the egg and milk mixture from the fridge and add the mascarpone cheese. Whisk until lovely a smooth.1 lb mascarpone
- In a separate bowl, add the strong coffee and rum and stir well.¼ cup espresso coffee, 1 tbsp rum
- Now you need to be sorted and in order. Have the sponge fingers ready, next to the coffee/rum mixture which should be next to the serving dish. I use a glass 11×7 inch dish so you can see the layers.
- Cut the sponge fingers lengthways in half and dunk into the coffee/rum mixture. Before they become soggy, transfer them to the serving dish forming a layer.6 oz sponge fingers
- Then add half of the mascarpone mixture over the sponge fingers spreading it evenly and gently.
- Then add half of the whisked cream mixture on top and again spread evenly and gently.
- Repeat the process of building layers using the remaining sponge fingers, coffee/rum, mascarpone and cream mixtures.
- Using a fine sieve, sprinkle the cocoa powder over the top.Cocoa powder
- Carefully cover and refrigerate for at least 5 hours. This helps everything blend perfectly.
- Serve Mums Tiramisu with a sprig of mint on top for that finishing touch.
34 comments
Quite simply delicious. Shame I had to share it.
Beautiful layers, lovely presentation, and a smooth, rich flavour.
It took a bit of time to prepare but was completely worth the effort.
The coffee aroma filled the kitchen and made it even more irresistible.
Tastes like something you’d order at a high-end restaurant but made right at home.
So light and fluffy, yet so rich at the same time – a wonderful treat.
Tiramisu perfection – creamy, coffee-soaked, and absolutely addictive.
I made it for a dinner party, and there wasn’t a crumb left by the end of the night.
Absolutely divine – Mum’s Tiramisu is a showstopper dessert!
The balance of coffee, cream, and cocoa was spot on – I’ll definitely make it again.
A beautifully creamy dessert that feels luxurious yet comforting.
The coffee and mascarpone combination is simply irresistible.
Everyone thought it came from a bakery – that’s how good it was!
The hint of rum really makes a difference, adding depth to the flavour.
My family couldn’t stop asking for seconds – this recipe is a keeper!
Absolutely delicious – light, creamy, and perfectly balanced between coffee and sweetness.
Elegant, creamy, and full of flavour – I’ll be making this again soon.
Such an elegant dessert, and surprisingly easy to put together.
This tiramisu reminded me of my trip to Italy, so authentic and indulgent!
Perfect texture, rich mascarpone layers, and just the right amount of coffee flavour.
The cream layers were beautifully smooth and the cocoa topping added the right touch.
The mascarpone mixture was so smooth and decadent, I could eat it on its own.
I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet, just indulgent enough to satisfy.
Loved how soft the sponge fingers became without turning soggy, just perfect.
Five stars from me – creamy, flavourful, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
A true classic done perfectly, you can taste the love in every bite.
This dessert is pure heaven in every spoonful.
This tiramisu has become our family’s new favourite dessert tradition.
A perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness – such a satisfying dessert.
Mum’s Tiramisu is the best dessert I’ve ever made at home – everyone loved it.
The texture was velvety and the flavours were perfectly balanced.
I appreciated how well the flavours melded after chilling overnight.
Mum’s Tiramisu brought back memories of my grandmother’s version – utterly nostalgic.
This dessert felt like a warm hug – comforting, rich, and beautifully made.