Tiramisu – Recipe of the Week

This week we’re excited to launch a new initiative on the ACIS Blog: Recipe Wednesdays. Every Wednesday we’ll be featuring one of the 17 recipes you can find in our brand new ACIS World Cookbook. There are 10 different countries and culinary traditions represented and celebrated throughout the cookbook, so each week will feature a different dessert, appetizer or main course.

This week’s entry was submitted by Julie Fratarcangeli. In honor of Teacher Appreciation week, we’re starting with something sweet. Enjoy!

Tiramisu

Yield: 8 Servings

Total Time: 40 Minutes
Prep: 30 Minutes
Cook: 10 Minutes

Ingredients

6 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup whole milk
Four 8-ounce containers mascarpone
cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups espresso or strong coffee,
at room temperature
1/2 cup brandy or cognac
30-32 crisp Italian ladyfingers (savoiardi)
1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
Bittersweet chocolate, for shaving

Directions

Line an 8-inch-square baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving a 3-inch overhang on all sides. Fill a large bowl with ice water.

Make the custard: Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) until the sugar dissolves. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the custard is light and foamy, about 10 minutes (a thermometer inserted into the mixture should register 170 degrees F).

Remove the bowl from the saucepan and set in the bowl of ice water; whisk until the custard is cool, about 1 minute. Put the mascarpone in a large bowl. Fold the custard into the mascarpone with a rubber spatula until almost combined, then whisk until just smooth (do not overmix or the custard will be grainy).

Combine the espresso and brandy in a shallow bowl. One at a time, dip the ladyfingers in the espresso mixture until soaked but not soggy; arrange 2 rows of about 5 biscuits each in the baking dish. Spread one-third of the mascarpone custard over the ladyfingers. Repeat with a second layer of espresso-dipped ladyfingers, arranging them in the opposite direction. Top with another 1/3 of the custard. Repeat with the remaining ladyfingers, alternating directions. Spread the remaining custard on top and dust with the cocoa powder. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Invert a plate on top of the tiramisu, then flip the tiramisu with the plate. Remove the baking dish and plastic wrap. Invert a serving plate on top of the tiramisu and flip again so it is cocoa-side up. Remove the remaining plastic wrap. Shave curls of chocolate on top with a vegetable peeler.

If you give the recipe a try, make sure to come back and leave a comment to let us know how it came out!