Strawberries and Cream Tiramisu – The Stay At Home Chef

We’ve taken the classic Tiramisu and transformed it into a bright, fruity dessert. Strawberry-infused ladyfingers layered with a velvety mascarpone custard make this dessert the perfect combination of light and sweet. This gourmet treat is surprisingly simple and tastes as incredible as it looks.

In love with Tiramisu like we are? Try our classic Decadent Tiramisu or our Chocolate Tiramisu.

This dessert is the perfect balance of decadent and gourmet, with indulgent flavor that’s lightened up with fresh strawberries. This is like the grown-up, sophisticated version of strawberry shortcake. Strawberries and Cream Tiramisu has the same simple flavors you love, but it’s upgraded with the light, delicate ladyfingers and thick, creamy mascarpone custard.

Ingredient Notes

• Ladyfingers: Sometimes hard to find, but typically in the fancier cookie aisle, the Italian foods section of your supermarket, or they can easily be found online.
• Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. Bottled lemon juice can be used, but it doesn’t have as bright of a flavor.
• Heavy Cream: You’ll need full-fat heavy cream—none of that milk or half-and-half business, or you’ll end up with a runny custard.
• Mascarpone Cheese: You can typically find this in the specialty cheese section by fresh mozzarella and burrata.
• Powdered Sugar:This is optional, for dusting the top of the tiramisu.

Ladyfinger Substitutes

You should be able to find ladyfingers in most grocery stores, but we have come across a few stores that don’t keep them in stock. If you can’t find them, you can always order them online. Substitution options include sponge cake, pound cake, or biscotti. 

Mascarpone

Traditional tiramisu must use mascarpone (ma-scar-poe-nay) which is found either in the same section as you find cream cheese, or in the specialty cheese section. It’s a soft cheese sold in a small tub.

If you have trouble finding it, you can substitute it with cream cheese. The flavor and consistency will be affected if you do this as cream cheese has a stronger flavor and isn’t quite as soft. Whichever you use, make sure that it is full-fat. Using a low-fat mascarpone or cream cheese can result in a runnier custard.

Presentation Ideas

Tiramisu is going to taste delicious no matter how you serve it, but there are a few options for serving that you may want to consider depending on how casual or fancy or individual you want to make it.

Classic Slices – Make it in an 8×8 or 9×9-inch dish and slice it up like cake or brownies. Use a sharp knife for clean edges and a spatula to lift each piece out smoothly. Perfect for that classic tiramisu look!

Freeform on a Platter – Want a more rustic, no-fuss look? Assemble your layers directly on a serving platter instead of a dish. When it’s chilled, just slice and scoop sections to serve. It’s elegant, but in that effortless kind of way. You could even make it into a shape like a heart for a special occasion.

Individual Cups – Layer tiramisu in plastic cups, ramekins, mini glass jars, or even small cocottes for an easy, grab-and-go dessert. It looks cute and makes serving a breeze!

To Decorate – Keep it classic by using a fine mesh sieve to give it a light dusting of powdered sugar. Top with fresh strawberries for a pretty and simple presentation.