Valentines Day Strawberry Tiramisu (Printable)

Individual cups featuring mascarpone, strawberries, and coffee-dipped ladyfingers for a luscious layered dessert.

# What You Need:

→ Strawberry Layer

01 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ Mascarpone Cream

04 - 1 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream, cold
06 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Assembly

08 - 12 ladyfinger biscuits
09 - 1/2 cup brewed coffee, cooled
10 - 1 tablespoon coffee liqueur, optional
11 - Fresh strawberries for garnish
12 - Fresh mint leaves for garnish
13 - Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine sliced strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly and let stand for 10 minutes to release juices and develop flavor.
02 - In a large bowl, beat mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip cold heavy cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold whipped cream into mascarpone mixture until fully incorporated.
03 - Pour cooled brewed coffee into a shallow dish. Stir in coffee liqueur if using.
04 - Break ladyfingers in half if necessary to fit serving glasses. Dip each piece briefly into coffee mixture, ensuring they absorb liquid without becoming soggy.
05 - In each serving glass, layer 2 to 3 coffee-soaked ladyfingers at the bottom. Add a layer of mascarpone cream, followed by a layer of macerated strawberries. Repeat layers, finishing with mascarpone cream on the top surface.
06 - Cover cups with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and texture to set properly.
07 - Top each cup with fresh strawberries and mint leaves. Dust lightly with cocoa powder using a fine sieve immediately before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-worthy but takes less than 30 minutes of actual hands-on work, leaving you stress-free before guests arrive.
  • The coffee-soaked ladyfingers stay tender without turning to mush, creating a texture that somehow feels both delicate and satisfying.
  • You can make these a full day ahead, so Valentine's night is just about enjoying them together instead of scrambling in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Room-temperature mascarpone is truly essential—I learned this the hard way when I tried to save time with cold cheese and ended up with separated, grainy cream that no amount of folding could fix.
  • The one-second dip rule for ladyfingers is your best friend; over-soaking turns them into mush, but the coffee-dipped exterior still softens beautifully during chilling.
03 -
  • Whip your cream in a metal bowl that's been chilled in the freezer for five minutes—it whips faster and holds peaks longer than if you start at room temperature.
  • If you're making these more than a few hours ahead, assemble everything except the garnish, then add the fresh strawberry, mint, and cocoa dust right before serving so they stay bright and don't wilt.
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