tiramisu truffles

this irresistible tiramisu truffles recipe transforms the classic italian dessert into bite sized balls of coffee and chocolate – crushed ladyfingers mixed with creamy mascarpone and espresso, rolled into truffles and coated in cocoa powder, then served with a dreamy mascarpone whipped cream dip. no bake and absolutely addictive!

why you will love this easy tiramisu truffles recipe

• all the flavour of tiramisu in bite-sized form – these tiramisu truffle bites capture every element of the classic italian dessert – coffee soaked ladyfingers, rich mascarpone cream, and cocoa powder – but in a poppable, easy to make format. it’s like eating the best parts of tiramisu without all the layering and without the wait!

• easy tiramisu style truffles with no baking required – this tiramisu balls no bake recipe is perfect for when you want an impressive dessert without turning on the oven. simply crush ladyfingers, mix with mascarpone, coffee and powdered sugar, roll into balls, and coat in cocoa. the most work is rolling the truffles, and even that’s fun!

• the mascarpone dip takes them over the top – make these tiramisu balls with mascarpone dip to take them to the next level! the whipped cream and mascarpone create the creamiest dipping sauce that makes each bite feel extra indulgent.

learn how to make these homemade tiramisu truffles

to start off this tiramisu balls recipe, we’ll crush ladyfingers (savoiardi) into fine crumbs. you can use a food processor or place them in a sealed bag and crush with a rolling pin – either way works perfectly for these tiramisu balls.

next, we’ll mix the crushed ladyfingers with mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar or icing sugar, and strong espresso or coffee. this creates the base for our tiramisu style truffles – it should be moist enough to hold together when squeezed but not so wet that it’s sticky.

once mixed, we’ll roll the mixture into balls. this is where these tiramisu truffle ball treats come together! roll them between your palms until smooth and round, then coat each one generously in cocoa powder for that signature tiramisu look.

next, we’ll make the mascarpone cream dipping sauce. we’ll whip together mascarpone, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until thick and creamy – serving these tiramisu balls with mascarpone cream is what makes this recipe truly special!

serve the tiramisu truffle chocolate balls with the creamy dip on the side, and watch them disappear. they’re perfect for parties, gift-giving, or just treating yourself!

tiramisu balls ingredients

• ladyfingers or savoiardi – i make this tiramisu balls recipe with ladyfingers – these italian sponge biscuits are essential for that authentic tiramisu flavour! we’re going to crush the ladyfingers into fine crumbs.

• mascarpone – i make these tiramisu balls with mascarpone as this italian cream cheese is what makes these tiramisu balls so creamy and flavourful. make sure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing. i also use mascarpone for the cream dip on the side.

• icing sugar or powdered sugar – sweetens the mixture and helps bind everything together. the fine texture dissolves easily into the mascarpone. this is also used for the whipped cream and mascarpone dip.

• strong coffee or espresso – cooled espresso or very strong coffee gives these tiramisu flavored truffles their distinctive taste.

• cocoa powder – for coating the tiramisu dessert balls – use unsweetened cocoa powder for the best flavour and look.

• heavy cream – i like to make these tiramisu balls with cream to get that light and fluffy mascarpone dip! make sure you use cold heavy cream to ensure that it whips up properly.

tools:

• food processor or rolling pin and bag – for crushing the ladyfingers into fine crumbs.

• 2 large mixing bowls – you’ll need separate bowls for the tiramisu balls mixture and the dip.

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

• shallow dish – for the cocoa powder coating.

step by step instructions

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

step one: place the ladyfingers in a food processor and pulse until they form fine crumbs. alternatively, place them in a sealed plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. you want fine crumbs with no large chunks.

step two: add the crushed ladyfingers to a large bowl. in the same bowl, add room temperature mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar or icing sugar, and cooled espresso or coffee.

step three: mix everything together with a spoon or your hands until well combined. the mixture should be something like a dough and should not be overly wet or sticky.

step four: separate the tiramisu balls mixture into equal-sized portions and roll each one between your palms to form a smooth ball.

step five: repeat with the remaining mixture until you’ve formed all the tiramisu dessert balls.

step six: place cocoa powder in a shallow dish. roll each ball in the cocoa powder until completely coated, gently shaking off any excess.

step seven: make the mascarpone dip to serve with the tiramisu balls. in a large bowl, add mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar or icing sugar, and vanilla extract.

step eight: beat with an electric mixer or whisk until thick and creamy. you can also continue to beat the cream for longer if you want it to be more fluffy.

step nine: transfer the tiramisu balls and mascarpone cream to a serving dish, and let’s eat!

tips and notes

• i’d recommend using room temperature mascarpone in the tiramisu balls mixture. cold mascarpone is harder to incorporate and can create lumps in the truffles.

• use cooled coffee or espresso! hot coffee will make the mixture too wet and difficult to roll. let your coffee cool to room temperature before mixing.

• if the tiramisu truffle mixture is too dry and won’t hold together, add a tiny splash more coffee. if it’s too wet and sticky, add more crushed ladyfingers.

• if your tiramisu cheesecake truffles feel too soft, chill them in the fridge before coating them in the cocoa powder and making the mascarpone dip. you can coat them in cocoa powder just before serving.

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

• i wanted to keep the mascarpone cream quite smooth and dippable so i kept it at a more pourable consistency, but you can beat it for longer for if you want a fluffier, whipped cream type consistency. just make sure you don’t over whip the cream as it can cause it to separate and become grainy.

• you can store the tiramisu truffles and dip separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

• this tiramisu balls recipe makes six large tiramisu balls weighing 72g or 2.5 oz each. you can also make them smaller if you like – completely up to you!

• this tiramisu chocolate truffles recipe is perfect for when you want to give homemade gifts! place them in a pretty box or tin for a thoughtful homemade present.

frequently asked questions

1. do i have to make these tiramisu balls with ladyfingers ?

   – no, you don’t! ladyfingers will help give that tiramisu flavour, but you can really use any kind of biscuit or cookie or even cake crumbs!

2. can I make tiramisu balls using pound cake instead of ladyfingers ?

   – yes, you should be able to make these tiramisu balls with pound cake instead of ladyfingers – i’d recommend using stale pound cake crumbled into fine crumbs. tiramisu balls made with pound cake will have a slightly different texture but will still be delicious!

3. is there cream cheese in tiramisu balls ?

   – this tiramisu style truffles recipe uses mascarpone, which is technically a type of cream cheese, but it’s much richer, smoother, and less tangy than normal cream cheese. you could substitute cream cheese in a pinch, but the flavour won’t be quite the same.

4. do i have to make these tiramisu balls with dip or can i make them without ?

   – i love making these tiramisu balls with whipped cream on the side because i find that the fluffy whipped cream dip adds a lightness that balances out the rich coffee and chocolate flavours in the tiramisu truffles. however, the tiramisu truffle bites are also delicious on their own, so the dip is absolutely not necessary if you’d rather skip it.

5. can i make tiramisu oreo balls ?

   – you can replace the crushed ladyfingers with crushed Oreo cookies if you want to make tiramisu oreo balls – this creates a cookies-and-cream twist on the classic tiramisu flavour! you could also dip them in chocolate instead of coating them in cocoa powder if you want a stronger chocolate flavour.

6. can I make these tiramisu truffles speculoos flavoured ?

   – absolutely! just like the oreo version, for speculoos flavoured tiramisu truffles, you could replace the ladyfingers with crushed biscoff cookies and add a touch of biscoff cookie butter or biscoff spread to the mixture. this will create a spiced twist on the classic!

7. can i make pistachio tiramisu truffles ?

   – there are honestly so many flavours you could make! for pistachio tiramisu truffles, you could fold finely chopped or crushed pistachios into the truffle mixture and also add some pistachio cream. rolling the pistachio tiramisu truffles in crushed pistachios instead of cocoa powder would also be a great touch!

8. can I freeze these tiramisu dessert balls ?

   – yes, you can freeze the uncoated tiramisu balls on a baking sheet until solid, and store in a freezer bag for up to 1 month. thaw in the fridge and then coat in cocoa powder before serving. don’t freeze the dip – make that fresh.

recipe