A classic tiramisu recipe, but made just for two people! Espresso and liqueur-soaked ladyfingers are layered with creamy whipped mascarpone custard and grated chocolate, and topped with a dusting of cocoa powder. The perfect romantic Valentine’s Day dessert!
If you celebrate Valentine’s Day anywhere that gets weather-y this time of year, I highly recommend going to the store a few days before and picking up the fixings for a lovely, romantic dinner at home.
Maybe to you that means steak and wine, or maybe that means making mac and cheese that’s not out of a blue box. I don’t judge, because frankly the latter sounds amazing.
May I suggest splurging a little on dessert? Given the option of spending a little bit more time and money on appetizer, dinner, drinks or dessert…. I always choose dessert.
So no matter what your plans are, I think this homemade tiramisu recipe should be on the menu. And what’s even better about it is that it’s specifically made for two people!
What is tiramisu?
The short answer: friggin’ frackin’ delicious.
The better answer: Tiramisu is an Italian dessert that consists of ladyfingers (savoiardi, or sponge fingers) soaked in freshly brewed espresso, and layered with a whipped custard mixture of mascarpone cheese, sugar, and eggs, plus layers of liquor, cocoa powder and espresso powder.
Why small batch tiramisu is better
Tiramisu is a classic dessert that also has liquor in it, so really you’re splurging on dessert and drinks. Multitasking FTW. But the thing with most tiramisu recipes is that you usually make a big ol’ pan of it, and that’s just entirely too much for two people.
So by making tiramisu for two, there’s no leftovers! No massive baking dish of tiramisu that you’re desperately trying to eat your way through, or give away to friends. Just a small batch tiramisu that’s perfect for dessert after a romantic dinner.
Or after binging episodes of The Mandalorian. Both are perfect.
Key Ingredients for Tiramisu
- Ladyfingers: Commonly known as ladyfingers, savoiardi (pronounced sa-voy-ar-di) are super light sponge cake biscuits with an oblong shape that so an exceptional job of soaking up liquids without fully falling apart.
- Eggs: These will be room temperature and separated, as the yolks are used for the custard and the whites are folded in at the end.
- Granulated sugar: Added to the egg yolks to make the custard. I don’t recommend substituting granulated for other types of sugars.
- Mascarpone cheese: My favorite of favorites! Mascarpone is used for the custard, though I admittedly also like to top my tiramisu with dollops of mascarpone whipped cream as well.
- Liqueur: I like to soak my ladyfingers in a combination of brandy and orange liqueur… that sounds dirty, but it’s not. I swear.
- Espresso: Freshly pulled shots of whatever brands and beans you like best. We’ve been ordering DOMA Coffee Roasting Company’s Virgil’s Organic blend for years from Trade and adore it. If you don’t have an espresso machine (aff link), you can substitute strong coffee.
- Dark chocolate: Grated and placed between the layers along with…
- Cocoa powder + espresso powder: Sifted together and placed between each layer.
How to Make Small Batch Tiramisu
Beat egg whites: In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer to beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Set aside.
Beat egg yolks: In a large bowl, beat together egg yolks and sugar together until combined. Add mascarpone and beat again to combine.
Make the custard: Fold egg whites into egg yolk mixture until just combined and no white streaks remain.
See? No streaks!
Ladyfinger layer #1: Arrange one ladyfinger that’s been sliced into 3 pieces in a single layer in the bottom of trifle dish. Pour 1 tablespoon of liqueur over ladyfingers (you want to coat them so they soak it up). Now pour 1 tablespoon espresso over them as well.
Add mascarpone mixture layer #1: Cover the ladyfingers with ⅓ of the custard mixture.
Chocolate layer #1: Add ½ tablespoon grated chocolate.
Cocoa espresso layer #1: Add ½ tablespoon cocoa/espresso powder mixture.
Repeat: Repeat this process two more times to form three layers of each mixture.
Top with whipped cream: I highly recommend piping on dollops of my mascarpone whipped cream – you’ve already got the mascarpone out, so why not?
Tips for the best tiramisu
- High quality ingredients: Since we’re not baking any of this, be sure to use high quality ingredients since all of their flavors are going to shine through!
- Cocoa powder: Make sure you don’t add a thick pile of the cocoa/espresso powder mix to the top, otherwise you’ll be choking it down, and two people violently coughing and drinking water straight out of the faucet isn’t sweet. Or romantic. Just add a nice light dusting to the top.
- Be my valentine? Since we’re making tiramisu for two, why not give it a special touch? Add little heart sprinkles (aff link) on top for the perfect little “I love you” without the life-sized stuffed animals or singing telegrams…. or do all of that, and send me the video of your partner’s reaction to it all, please and thank you.
Where can I find ladyfingers at the store?
It depends on the grocery store, but I typically find them in the baking aisle or the cookie aisle.
What if I can’t find ladyfingers?
If you can’t find ladyfingers, you can substitute margherite cookies in your tiramisu. But you may want to soak the cookies in your espresso and liqueur in a bowl ahead of time, since they’ll take longer to absorb the liquids.
How do I store leftover tiramisu?
Depending on your tolerance for booze and sweets, you might even find that these portions are too much for one sitting so you can just cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge to finish it later (within the next 5 days) – and that’s okay. I still love you.
FAQs
Tiramisu is an Italian dessert that consists of ladyfingers (savoiardi, or sponge fingers) soaked in freshly brewed espresso, and layered with a whipped custard mixture of mascarpone cheese, sugar, and eggs, plus layers of liquor, cocoa powder and espresso powder.
It depends on the grocery store, but I typically find them in the baking aisle or the cookie aisle.
If you can’t find ladyfingers, you can substitute margherite cookies in your tiramisu. But you may want to soak the cookies in your espresso and liqueur in a bowl ahead of time, since they’ll take longer to absorb the liquids.
If you don’t have espresso, you can substitute the same amount of strong coffee.
Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!
Tiramisu for Two
Ingredients
- 6 ladyfingers
- 2 eggs, room temperature and separated
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 3 ounces brandy or orange liqueur, or mix of both, my personal preference
- 3 ounces brewed espresso
- 1 ounce chocolate, grated
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder + ½ teaspoon espresso powder, sifted together
- Heart sprinkles, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Slice each ladyfinger into three equally-sized pieces – this is to help them fit in your individual serving bowls. Set aside.6 ladyfingers
- In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer to beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Set aside.2 eggs
- In a large bowl, beat together egg yolks and sugar together until combined. Add mascarpone and beat again to combine.2 eggs | 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Fold egg whites into egg yolk mixture until just combined and no white streaks remain. Set aside.4 ounces mascarpone cheese
- Arrange one of the sliced ladyfingers (the 3 pieces you sliced earlier) in a single layer in the bottom of trifle dish.6 ladyfingers
- Pour 1 tablespoon of liqueur over ladyfingers (you want to coat them so they soak it up). Now pour 1 tablespoon espresso over them as well.3 ounces brandy or orange liqueur | 3 ounces brewed espresso
- Cover the ladyfingers with ⅓ of the custard mixture.
- Top with ½ tablespoon grated chocolate and ½ tablespoon cocoa/espresso powder mixture.1 ounce chocolate | 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder + ½ teaspoon espresso powder
- Repeat these steps twice more to form three layers in total.
- Serve immediately, or store in the fridge for up to 5 days (covered with plastic wrap) before serving. Enjoy!Heart sprinkles
Hannah
So delicious!! Would make again
Leslie Kiszka
So glad you liked it!
JEG
We don’t like to eat out for any of the Hallmark greeting card holidays. I would prefer to eat out a different day and then on those days try to replicate it or make something special at home in a quiet relaxed atmosphere. And my birthday is the next day anyway. This recipe I am going to try out this year. For 2 creations are the best. Thank you.
Leslie Kiszka
I’m so glad you enjoyed the small batch recipes!
Amy
This dessert is good any day, not just for Valentine’s Day right? Small batch also great :)
Mackenzie
We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s day in the traditional sense – we treat it more like a food holiday than a consumer holiday. We always trade off making a different part of the meal for the other person and put a little extra love into it. This may be what I have to make this year!
babylovesberry
I share your feelings about Valentines… stores are making so much money by selling pinkish teddy bearish stuff that is not even funny ! But hey, people love it so I guess it makes sense :)
Jordan
I love tiramisu! I’ve never tried making it at home before. Maybe this V-Day!
Rachel
My husband are planning on staying in this Valentine’s Day. This recipe would be perfect as we are both chocolate and coffee lovers!
alifeofhappenstance
My husband and I don’t do anything extra special for Valentines Day either. I always feel like dinner at a restaurant on that day ends up being a little dissapointing because it’s SO busy and the food just isn’t as good when they’re rushing it out. Dinner at home and an indulgent dessert like this adorable tiramisu is right up my alley!
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery
Those heart sprinkles are adorable!! Love putting tiramisu in individual trifle bowls – I always make a big pan, but the presentation on these is spot on. What a great idea for a big dinner party, too.
Tina
I enjoyed your take on Valentines Day. I always say that when you are in love, everyday is Valentines Day. Thanks for the recipe!
lauren
Girl, I am with you! It’s so funny, I’m SO not into Valentines Day but my husband is all over it. I’m over here like “I got you a card” and he shows up with flowers and a new hand mixer. (True life, this happened last year.) ANYWAYS, this tiramisu is perfect because that’s his favorite dessert. Maybe, since I really love him, I’ll let him eat mine too. But probably not.
Leslie Haasch
Girl, sharing’s overrated.
JEG
@Leslie Haasch, Love the hand mixer–better than a lot of the stuff. It then helps to make this tiramisu–which is now on my menu for THIS year.
Leslie Kiszka
Awesome!
Jenni LeBaron
I love tiramisu and the fact that this is a small enough portion for two makes it that much better. I find that when making recipes for specialty desserts that they make more than we can eat and then I end up wasting half the batch. Thanks for the great alternative!
Leslie Haasch
You’re very welcome!
Meymi-Pastry and Beyond
They look so delicious! I love tiramisu. What a great presentation for Valentine’s day!
Leslie Haasch
Thank you!
Paige
Love that this makes just two…perfect! It looks sinful and I wish i was eating it right now!
Leslie Haasch
Me too! haha
Dominique| Perchance to Cook
These are so cute! I looooove tiramisu but sometimes you don’t want such a big portion of it! This tiramisu for two is perfect, especially for Valentine’s Day!
Leslie Haasch
I definitely think so, too!
issa
delicious
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes
I never celebrate Valentine’s Day either- I don’t care for the origins of the holiday. BUT I do love tiramisu, and brandy and orange liqueur sounds like an amazing combination! And you’re right- I usually end up giving away tiramisu after a make a whole batch (but no one seems to mind the gift hahaha!) I’ll have to try this next time!
Leslie Haasch
Valentine’s Day or not, small batch FTW!
Kate
My husband and I don’t tend to do anything too special for Valentine’s Day, but if Ican use it as an excuse to make these, sign me up! :)