strawberry tiramisu

this strawberry tiramisu recipe features ladyfingers soaked in a sweet strawberry milk mix, layered with fresh strawberry slices and a thick whipped mascarpone cream. finish with a dusting of cocoa powder and strawberry halves for a fresh, fruity twist on the classic italian dessert that’s perfect for spring and summer.

why you will love this easy strawberry tiramisu recipe

• no bake dessert – if you’re craving a sweet treat on a hot summer day, and don’t feel like turning on the oven, then this strawberry tiramisu recipe is perfect for you. this strawberry tiramisu is so easy to make, with no baking required, just layer everything together and let it chill in the fridge and you’re done!

• rich but refreshing – while traditional tiramisu can feel heavy, the flavours of strawberry in tiramisu feels light and seasonal, especially because of the fresh fruit throughout. the combination of sweet strawberries, rich mascarpone cream, and soft ladyfingers creates the most satisfying dessert that’s ideal for warmer weather entertaining and special occasions.

• crowd-pleasing flavour – this strawberry tiramisu dessert appeals to everyone, including those who don’t enjoy coffee-based desserts. the sweet strawberry and creamy mascarpone and cream combination is universally loved, making it perfect for mixed groups and family gatherings where you want a dessert that will genuinely please all ages and taste preferences..

learn how to make this homemade strawberry tiramisu

to start off this strawberry and cream tiramisu recipe, begin by whipping egg yolks with sugar. then, we’re going to add mascarpone, vanilla and heavy cream to make a thick, creamy filling. separately, whip egg whites with vinegar and sugar and fold that through the mascarpone mixture. then we’ll soak ladyfingers in a homemade strawberry milk mix before layering them with the mascarpone cream and fresh strawberry slices.

after chilling the strawberry tiramisu overnight to let the flavours meld, decorate with a dusting of cocoa powder and more fresh strawberries and we’re done!

strawberry tiramisu ingredients

• fresh strawberries – the star ingredient that transforms this strawberry milk tiramisu dessert. use ripe, sweet strawberries for the best flavour. you’ll need these for the milk soak, some for layering, and some for decoration on top.

• milk – we’re going to be using this to make the strawberry milk mixture that will be used to soak the ladyfingers.

• icing sugar or powdered sugar – to sweeten the strawberry milk. you can also use normal granulated sugar for this instead.

• eggs – i make this strawberry tiramisu recipe with eggs – we will be separating the eggs and whipping the yolks and whites with sugar separately.

• sugar – we’ll be using granulated sugar for the cream mixture. you’ll need sugar for the egg yolks and for the egg whites.

• vinegar – just a small amount of vinegar added to the egg whites and sugar will help them stabilise and whip up quicker.

• mascarpone – i make this strawberry tiramisu with mascarpone – the key ingredient that is essential for this authentic strawberry tiramisu recipe. mascarpone is whipped into the whipped egg yolk mixture to create that signature creamy, slightly tangy flavor that defines real italian tiramisu, whether it be traditional or this strawberry version.

• double cream or heavy cream – whipped into the mascarpone cream to create that light, airy texture characteristic of the best strawberry tiramisu recipe.

• vanilla extract – optional, but recommended. enhances all the flavours and adds depth to both the cream layer and strawberry mixture in this strawberry vanilla tiramisu.

• ladyfingers – i make this strawberry tiramisu recipe with ladyfingers by layering these with the mascarpone cream and strawberry slices. these italian sponge biscuits (savoiardi) are essential for an authentic texture as they absorb the strawberry milk beautifully while maintaining structure, just like in a traditional tiramisu.

• cocoa powder – i like to add a dusting of cocoa powder at the end, maintaining that classic tiramisu presentation even in this strawberry version.

tools:

• knife – for slicing the fresh strawberries for layering and decorating

• blender – to make the strawberry milk so that we can get a smooth strawberry milk soak for soaking the ladyfingers.

• wide and shallow dish – add your strawberry milk mixture to this so that so you can easily dip the ladyfingers in.

• electric mixer – an electric mixer will speed up the process when it comes to beating together eggs and sugar and whipping the mascarpone and cream. a whisk will do just fine if you don’t have access to a mixer but it will definitely take a little longer.

• 2 large mixing bowls – one for the egg yolks and mascarpone mixture and one for whipping the egg whites separately.

• rubber spatula – great for gently folding the egg whites in and making sure you don’t over mix.

• a dish for your strawberry tiramisu – an 9×13 dish would work best for this strawberry tiramisu recipe but you can use anything you like. you can also make individual strawberry tiramisu dessert cups or boxes.

• fine mesh sieve – for dusting the cocoa powder evenly over the strawberry tiramisu at the end.

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: make the strawberry milk mixture. slice the tops off of fresh strawberries, and add them to a blender along with milk and icing sugar or powdered sugar. blend this mixture until completely smooth.

step two: place the strawberry milk mixture in a wide and shallow dish and set this aside.

step three: separate the eggs. set the whites aside in a separate bowl. add yolks to another large mixing bowl. add half of the sugar to the yolks and beat with a mixer (or a whisk) until the mixture becomes a pale yellow colour and increases in volume.

step four: add mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract and heavy cream to the egg yolks and beat this into the egg yolk mixture until combined and the mixture thickens up. the mixture should look thick and smooth.

step five: to the egg whites, add sugar and a little bit of vinegar and whip this mixture until the egg whites look pale and fluffy. you’ll know you’re done when you turn the bowl upside down and the egg whites hold their shape.

step six: add the egg whites to the mascarpone cream mixture little by little and gently fold them into the mixture until combined.

step seven: dip ladyfingers into the strawberry milk mixture, then line them up in a dish. cut some up if you need to, to fill any gaps in the dish.

step eight: add half of the mascarpone cream to the dish, and spread it over the ladyfingers in a thick and even layer.

step nine: add sliced strawberries in an even layer over the mascarpone cream.

step ten: add another layer of the strawberry milk soaked ladyfingers on top of the mascarpone cream.

step eleven: add the rest of the mascarpone cream on top and spread it thin. (my dish just had two layers of the ladyfingers, one layer of strawberries and two layers of the cream, but you might have more layers depending on the size of your dish).

step twelve: place your strawberry tiramisu in the fridge for about six hours (but preferably overnight) so that it can set completely and the ladyfingers can soften

step thirteen: the next morning, remove the strawberry tiramisu from the fridge and dust a thin layer of unsweetened cocoa powder on top.

step fourteen: add halved strawberries on top of the cocoa powder for extra decoration.

step fifteen: slice up, and let’s eat!

tips and notes

• highly recommend leaving this strawberry tiramisu to set in the fridge for at least 4-6 hours, but preferably overnight so that the flavours meld together better, the cream sets properly and the ladyfingers are nice and soft.

• this strawberry tiramisu can be stored covered in the fridge for three-four days.

• this strawberry tiramisu recipe uses raw eggs as i live in a country where raw eggs are generally safe to eat. if you are concerned about the raw eggs in this recipe, you can buy pasteurised eggs if you’re able to find them, or you can gently cook the yolks and whites by using the double boiler method (further details on this in the faqs section).

• make sure to use cold double cream or heavy cream straight from the fridge otherwise it won’t whip well.

• when it’s time to dip the ladyfingers, i like to quickly dip them in a good two or three times to make sure that they’re nicely soaked in the strawberry milk mixture. the milk mixture will be cool so they shouldn’t break apart, but try not to let them linger in the milk mixture for too long.

• feel free to switch up the strawberry tiramisu decoration according to your preference. i wanted to keep that classic look and add a subtle chocolate note with the cocoa powder and added some fresh strawberries, but you can do anything you like!

frequently asked questions

1. is strawberry tiramisu good ?

   – THIS strawberry tiramisu RECIPE offers a fresh, fruity twist on the classic dessert that many people WOULD LOVE, especially during warmer months. it maintains the creamy, indulgent texture of A traditional tiramisu with bright strawberry flavoUrs. the combination of strawberry milk, soft ladyfingers, fresh strawberry pieces and a thick whipped cream makes this almost like a strawberry tiramisu cake recipe.

2. can i make this strawberry tiramisu eggless ?

   – you can make this quick strawberry tiramisu without eggs or with them, depending on your preference. if you’d prefer an eggless strawberry tiramisu recipe, you can skip the egg yolks and whites and just whip the sugar and mascarpone together instead. whip the heavy cream into this mixture and this will be your cream filling for the layers. i’d recommend adding a bit more cream to make up for the lack of eggs. using this method will also make this strawberry tiramisu recipe easy to make since it’ll be a quick and simple mascarpone cream over a slightly more complicated egg-based one.

3. can i make this strawberry tiramisu recipe with cream cheese instead of mascarpone ?

   – making this strawberry tiramisu without mascarpone won’t give you that authentic tiramisu taste – the texture and flavour will be different. you can use cream cheese if you don’t have mascarpone on hand, just bear in mind that the the flavour might be slightly tangier and less rich, and the cream cheese might make it more like cheesecake since it lacks the delicate flavour of mascarpone. you might want to add a bit more sugar to balance the tanginess of the cream cheese.

4. i can’t find pasteurised eggs – how can i cook the egg yolks and whites before using them in this strawberry chocolate tiramisu recipe ?

   – if you can’t find pasteurised eggs, you can cook the egg yolks and whites using a double boiler method:

• whisk the eggs yolks and sugar in a heatproof bowl until the mixture becomes thick

• place the bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water

• whisk constantly until the mixture doubles in volume, becomes thick and foamy, and reaches about 71°c (160°f) on a thermometer 

• remove from the heat, and continue whisking until pale and thick, then let the mixture cool slightly. 

• in another heatproof bowl, whisk egg whites and sugar. again, place the bowl over a pot of simmering water. 

• whisk constantly until the mixture doubles in volume, becomes thick and foamy, and reaches about 71°c (160°f) on a thermometer 

• remove bowl from the heat, then beat the egg whites until they reach firm peaks. let the egg whites cool slightly.

• add mascarpone and cream to the yolk mixture and mix that in, then fold in the whipped eggs whites and proceed with the rest of the recipe. 

5. is there a strawberry tiramisu cups recipe so that i can make boxes or dessert cups ?

   – you can easily make smaller dessert cups or boxes using this strawberry tiramisu recipe instead of a separate one! just break apart the ladyfingers to fit your box or cups before soaking them in the milk mixture, add them to your cups/boxes, then pipe the mascarpone filling on top and repeat the layers.

6. can i freeze this strawberry tiramisu ?

   – while it’s possible to freeze this strawberry tiramisu, keep in that mind that freezing it will affect its texture significantly, so i wouldn’t recommend it. if you do freeze it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.

7. do i have to make this recipe for strawberry tiramisu with ladyfingers or can i use something else ?

   – making this strawberry tiramisu with ladyfingers is ideal, as they soak up the strawberry milk perfectly while still maintaining their structure. however, if you’d rather use something else, some great options that might work would be something like pound cake or sponge cake pieces, or some kind of biscuits or cookies.

8. can i make this with other fruits instead of strawberry ?

   – strawberry and tiramisu is one of my favourite combinations, but you can definitely use any fruit that you like, such as mango, peaches or even lemons.

9. can i make this strawberry tiramisu trifle ahead of time ?

   – absolutely! it is actually recommended to let this strawberry tiramisu chill in the fridge overnight, so you can definitely make this a day in advance so that it’s ready to serve the next day.

10. does strawberry tiramisu have coffee in it ?

    – no, i don’t make this strawberry tiramisu with coffee – instead, this recipe replaces the traditional coffee with a sweet strawberry milk mixture, making it coffee-free while maintaining the classic tiramisu layering and texture.

11. does strawberry tiramisu have caffeine in it ?

    – this strawberry tiramisu contains no caffeine since it uses strawberry milk instead of coffee for soaking the ladyfingers. it’s perfect for those avoiding caffeine or serving to children.

12. does strawberry tiramisu have alcohol in it ?

    – i don’t make this strawberry tiramisu with alcohol, but that’s completely up to you. traditional tiramisu sometimes includes marsala wine or rum, but this strawberry version focuses purely on fruit flavours.

13. can i make this strawberry tiramisu with frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones ?

    – fresh strawberries would work best for texture and flavour, but you can make this strawberry tiramisu with frozen strawberries if thawed and drained well. the texture may be slightly softer. you’ll need fresh strawberries if you’d like to decorate the top with strawberries.

14. can i make different variations of this recipe by adding other flavours ?

    – absolutely! some variations that might work well include a strawberry lemon tiramisu recipe with lemon curd or lemon zest, a strawberry matcha tiramisu recipe with matcha powder in the mascarpone cream or even a white chocolate strawberry tiramisu recipe with white chocolate shavings between the layers or white chocolate in the cream.

15. is this strawberry tiramisu healthy ?

    – while i wouldn’t exactly call this a health food, this strawberry tiramisu is a fresh and light alternative to a traditional tiramisu and also contains no caffeine, so it’s a suitable dessert for kids as well!

recipe