Berry Tiramisu with Grand Marnier
This spectacular Berry Tiramisu is a twist on the most iconic Italian dessert! With ladyfingers, ripe strawberries, and Grand Marnier, every bite is divine!!
This Tiramisu Recipe was devoured quickly! With the hubby steering clear of coffee nor coffee-flavored anything, traditional tiramisu rarely makes our menu. Thankfully, this dessert was a huge hit for the whole family.
Why You Should Make this Tiramisu
My oldest son and I are incredibly fond, to put it mildly, of the classic tiramisu. He’s become a coffee aficionado and has espresso each morning to start the day. This love of coffee easily rolled from a morning pick me up to the dessert realm. He followed my lead. But dear old Bill would rather have an Oreo than even one bite of a luscious classic tiramisu, so I had to get creative.
- This twist on tiramisu is perfect for summer when fresh berries are at their peak.
- Cool, no-bake desserts are terrific when it’s too hot to turn on the oven.
- If you have friends or family who don’t like the flavor of coffee or coffee desserts, this recipe is a nice alternative.
We are huge fans of no-bake berry desserts like my tempting Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle, so why not a berry tiramisu???? So strawberry tiramisu came to mind. Layers of ladyfingers soaked in a Grand Marnier syrup were alternated with fresh, sliced strawberries and decadent vanilla custard with mascarpone and whipped cream. Do I have your attention? I thought so!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Traditional Tiramisu?
Tiramisu is a popular layered Italian dessert composed of layered ladyfingers dipped in coffee, a mixture of mascarpone and zabaglione (an Italian custard composed of Marsala, eggs, and sugar), and cocoa powder.
There have been many variations developed throughout the years, like my non-traditional strawberry tiramisu.
How Do You Store Tiramisu?
Due to the custard in the recipe, tiramisu must be kept in the refrigerator. Keep it covered and use within 3-4 days. Though traditional tiramisu can be frozen, this version does not freeze well.
What Can You Substitute for Ladyfingers in Tiramisu?
I like using soft ladyfingers, but the harder savoriardi will work, too. If you don’t have access to either, you can use pound cake or sponge cake sliced into ladyfinger sized pieces.
Can You Use Other Berries?
Yes! Strawberries work nicely because they can be slices and will lay flat over the custard. Other berries like blueberries, blackberries and raspberries would be delicious options.
Just make sure they’re sweet and flavorful. You can adjust the liqueur to match the berry flavor, too.
A Non-Traditional Strawberry Tiramisu Recipe
When I first planned to make a non-coffee tiramisu, I thought of using a mix of raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. But with the sad state of the raspberries in the market before Easter, I let that idea go. Plus, my youngest, who eats almost anything, is not a fan of raspberries. Even though I had a fudge lamb for our chocolate fix, I wanted our holiday dessert to be a hit across the board. And it was.
Dipping the ladyfingers in a Grand Marnier syrup, made with my favorite orange liqueur, gave a subtle boozy undertone plus the custard mixed with whipped cream and mascarpone cream was to.die.for. I had given up dessert for Lent, and I made sure every molecule left in the mixing bowl went straight into my mouth. Sigh. It was heavenly. Plus having sweet, ripe red strawberries thrown in the mix didn’t hurt either.
Tips for Making Tiramisu
Obviously, this berry tiramisu is not a traditional version. But many of the same tips for making a true Italian tiramisu also apply to this dessert.
- PRO-Tip: Have your mascarpone at room temperature. It will mix into the custard more easily if not cold.
- When whisking the egg yolks in the double boiler, give them your full attention. You do not want any egg yolk bits to cook/scramble as this will prevent a smooth custard.
- Grand Marinier is an orange liqueur that works well with strawberries. Feel free to substitute another favorite liqueur or liquor to enhance your sugar syrup if desired.
- There are two different kinds of ladyfingers available. The ones I used were soft, like a sponge cake. The Italian version is hard, more like a biscuit or cookie. Either works, but I prefer the softer version as it will soak up liquid more quickly.
- PRO-Tip: Quickly dip the ladyfingers into the sugar syrup. One side, then the other. You do not want soggy ladyfingers or your tiramisu will not have any structure.
- Chill your strawberry tiramisu at least 2 hours before serving so that all the flavors have a chance to infuse into the dessert components. Traditional tiramisu is usually garnished with cocoa powder or finely grated chocolate. Sliced strawberries are perfect for this berry tiramisu.
How to Serve Your Berry Tiramisu
- I was awfully ambitious when I thought I could get neat squares of strawberry tiramisu out of the serving dish. Forget about it and just scoop up large spoonfuls onto dessert plates. Top with a few more strawberry slices and voila, an elegant, unforgettable grand finale to your meal.
- I tried to make a fancy-schmancy fruit arrangement on top—pretty, yes. Practical, no! This made cutting quite a challenge.
- I also brushed the berries with a little currant jelly to give them a sheen, but that’s totally optional. Shake up the berries as you like. I’m still thinking about a raspberry version…
More Tiramisu Recipes You’ll Love:
- Mini Tiramisu Trifles from Life, Love and Sugar
- No-Bake Slab Tiramisu from The View from Great Island
- How to Make Classic Tiramisu from Foodie Crush
- Homemade Mascarpone
- Kahlua Tiramisu for Two
- Classic Tiramisu
- Tiramisu Cheesecake
- Individual Tiramisu Parfaits
- More Dessert Recipes
The Recipe: Berry Tiramisu with Grand Marnier
A berry twist on the classic Italian tiramisu.
Ingredients
Grand Marnier syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
Custard:
- 6 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
- 1 pound mascarpone cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
To assemble:
- 2 3-ounce packages of ladyfingers (sponge cake variety)
- 16 ounces strawberries, hulled and sliced
Instructions
- Make Grand Marnier syrup by combining sugar and water in a saucepan and heating, stirring occasionally, till sugar is dissolved. Add Grand Marnier and cool to room temperature.
- Heat egg yolks and the ¾ cup sugar in a double boiler, whisking constantly until thick and doubled in volume. Remove from heat and continue whisking for a minute or so. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the heavy cream, mascarpone, and vanilla till thick and smooth. Add the yolks and fold together till well combined. Set aside.
- Separate ladyfingers and dip, one at a time, into the syrup and lay on the bottom of a medium-sized baking dish. Layer with half the custard, then arrange about ¾ of the strawberry slices over the custard.
- Repeat with a second layer of soaked ladyfingers (you may have a few leftovers depending on the size of your dish), then top with the remaining custard. Garnish with remaining strawberries or reserve to top individual servings. Chill for 2 hours before serving.
- Scoop out spoonfuls of tiramisu to serve (I tried slicing, but it was quite a challenge!).
Notes
Total time does not include chilling time.
You might need an extra package of ladyfingers depending on the size of your serving dish.
You might like to serve this in a trifle dish in order to view the beautiful layers.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 695Total Fat: 46gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 309mgSodium: 297mgCarbohydrates: 64gFiber: 1gSugar: 49gProtein: 8g
Everybody loved it! It was so good!!!
Been looking for a recipe like this! Was so pleased with how it turned out.
Tiramisu is my favorite dessert and this berry version is lovely!
Since I’m not a coffee drinker this was the perfect alternative!
I love how light and airy this dessert is….perfect for a warm night!
What a nice idea! I love traditional tiramisu, but this looks like it would be equally delicious!
Oh my God. I am new to your blog. Just found your recipe over at Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. I’m trying to cut back on sugar but Tiramisu is truthfully one of my favorite desserts ever! I’ve never tried this combination before and I’m afraid that if I try this recipe i have to make a smaller batch. Otherwise, I will end up eating all of it on my own!
Oh, aren’t you sweet, Delia! I make a lot of half batches for the exact same reason 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!