Easy Lemon Tiramisu (Printable)

A no-bake delight featuring lemon syrup, creamy mascarpone filling, and tender ladyfingers for easy serving.

# What You'll Need:

→ Lemon Syrup

01 - 1 cup water
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - Juice of 2 lemons (about 1/3 cup)
04 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Mascarpone Cream

05 - 1 cup heavy cream, cold
06 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
07 - 8 oz mascarpone cheese, softened
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Assembly

10 - 24 ladyfinger cookies (savoiardi)
11 - Lemon slices and extra zest for garnish (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine water, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and zest in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring continuously until sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before using.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whip cold heavy cream and powdered sugar using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
03 - In a separate bowl, gently beat mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until smooth and creamy.
04 - Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until fully incorporated and fluffy. Be gentle to maintain airiness.
05 - Quickly dip each ladyfinger into cooled lemon syrup, ensuring moistening without soaking. Work efficiently to prevent sogginess.
06 - Arrange half of dipped ladyfingers in single layer within 9x9-inch dish. Spread half of mascarpone cream evenly over cookies.
07 - Repeat with remaining ladyfingers and mascarpone cream. Smooth top surface with spatula for even presentation.
08 - Cover dish and refrigerate minimum 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and dessert to achieve proper consistency.
09 - Top with fresh lemon slices and additional zest before serving, if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • No oven required, so your kitchen stays cool even on the hottest days
  • The lemon cuts through the rich mascarpone in a way that feels indulgent but somehow still refreshing
  • It looks impressive but comes together in under half an hour of active work
02 -
  • Over soaking the ladyfingers is the most common mistake, and it turns the dessert into a soggy mess. A quick dip is enough.
  • The flavors need time to marry in the fridge. Serve straight from the refrigerator for the best texture.
03 -
  • Freeze any leftover lemon syrup in ice cube trays for future batches or add to iced tea
  • If your cream starts to look grainy, stop mixing immediately and fold in a splash more cream

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