Deconstructed Chocolate & Cherry Tiramisu
This boozy Deconstructed Chocolate & Cherry Tiramisu takes a classic tiramisu (with some slight alterations) and turns it into a simple, decadent, and indulgent dessert perfect for date night or an evening for two. A restaurant-quality dessert that takes minimal effort — what more can you ask for?
Traditional tiramisu recipes consist of ladyfingers or sponge cake soaked in coffee and layered between creamy mascarpone cheese, then dusted in cocoa powder. It’s no surprise that this Italian dessert has become a modern classic.
And while I kept most of the typical ingredients intact, I have made some slight adjustments, like leaving out the eggs.
This deconstructed version “breaks down” the Italian treat into a smaller portion without losing any flavor. As a matter of fact, I’ve added cinnamon, chocolate, and cherries in the mix to make it even more decadent. It’s a quick and easy no-bake dessert that requires minimal effort and all the reward.
Ingredients you’ll need to make this no-bake dessert for two:
- Because you can’t make tiramisu without ladyfingers, you’ll need Savoiardi Lady Fingers. This is a delicate oval-shaped biscuit that’s perfect for soaking up the liquid ingredients.
- Your ladyfingers will soak in a mixture of dark cherry syrup, dark rum, and coffee liqueur. I use Kahlua for the coffee liqueur, but feel free to use your favorite.
- For the creamy layer, you’ll blend cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, lemon zest, ground cinnamon, sweetened condensed milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Using cream cheese results in a softer and sweeter cheese layer.
- And to make it all pretty, you’ll top your deconstructed tiramisu with Ghirardelli Chocolate Sauce, cocktail cherries, chocolate shavings (optional), and cocoa powder (optional)
Tips when making your deconstructed tiramisu:
- If you want to omit liquor or make this a family-friendly dessert, you can substitute cooled coffee for the dark rum and coffee liqueur.
- Your ladyfingers should be dipped in your liquid mixture for a few seconds on each side. Otherwise, your ladyfingers will be too soggy.
- If you can’t get your hands on mascarpone cheese, you can substitute it for cream cheese or fresh ricotta cheese.
This restaurant quality recipe is not only easy to make at home, but it the perfect dessert for two. Whether you are planning something special for you next date night or are simply looking for a smaller portion to serve, this decadent and deconstructed tiramisu is all you need.
With a few high quality ingredients and your awesome plating skills, you can make an indulgent dessert that is sure to impress.
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Deconstructed Chocolate & Cherry Tiramisu
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
This boozy Deconstructed Chocolate & Cherry Tiramisu takes classic tiramisu and turns it into a simple, yet indulgent dessert for two.
Ingredients
- 6 Savoiardi Lady Fingers
- 2 tbsp dark cherry syrup
- 2 tbsp dark rum
- 1/4 cup coffee liqueur
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh mascarpone cheese
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp Ghirardelli Chocolate Sauce
- 2 tbsp chocolate shavings
- 6 cocktail cherries
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the dark cherry syrup, dark rum, and coffee liqueur.
- Dip your Savoiardi Lady Fingers in the liquid mixture for 2 seconds on each side and set to the side for a later step.
- Combine the cream cheese, fresh mascarpone cheese, lemon zest, ground cinnamon, sweetened condensed milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a separate medium bowl. Set to the side
- To build your deconstructed tiramisu, add a small dollop of the mascarpone mixture to the bottom of your bowl, layer with 3 halved soaked ladyfingers, add a drizzle of chocolate sauce, and top with another layer of the mascarpone mixture.
- Top with a dusting of cocoa powder, cherries, and chocolate shavings.
Notes
- If you want to omit liquor or make this a family-friendly dessert, you can substitute cooled coffee for the dark rum and coffee liqueur.
- Your ladyfingers should be dipped in your liquid mixture for a few seconds on each side. Otherwise, your ladyfingers will be too soggy.
- If you can’t get your hands on mascarpone cheese, you can substitute it for cream cheese or fresh ricotta cheese.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Calories: 1062
- Sugar: 104g
- Sodium: 492mg
- Fat: 42.9g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Carbohydrates: 129.3g
- Fiber: 2.1g
- Protein: 18.2g
- Cholesterol: 183mg