Hello, my sweet-toothed friends! Today, I’m thrilled to share a recipe that perfectly marries two of my all-time favorite treats: brownies and tiramisu.
These Tiramisu Brownies are a decadent fusion of rich, fudgy brownies and creamy tiramisu, with a hint of coffee and cocoa that will leave you swooning with every bite.
Perfect for any occasion, this decadent dessert will impress your guests and satisfy your sweet tooth with just one mouthful. Trust me, you’ll want to make these again and again!
Let’s dive into this delicious fusion of flavors.
Welcome to Dessert Heaven!
Imagine biting into an ultra-fudgy brownie topped with coffee-soaked ladyfingers and crowned with a luscious mascarpone whipped cream.
Oh yeah, these tiramisu brownies are the ultimate dessert mashup!
Better yet, they’re easy to make, incredibly indulgent, and absolutely stunning to serve.
Whether you need something for a special occasion or just because it’s the weekend, these brownies will be a hit with everyone!
Ingredients
Ready to make the magic happen? Here’s what you’ll need:
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and moisture.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the brownies and helps achieve a crackly top.
- Brown Sugar: Provides a deep, caramel-like sweetness.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the structure of the brownies.
- Cocoa Powder: Gives the brownies their rich, chocolatey flavor.
- Baking Powder: Helps the brownies rise slightly.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Chocolate Chips: Melts into pockets of gooey goodness.
- Ladyfingers: Soaked in coffee to add the tiramisu element.
- Strong Brewed Coffee: For soaking the ladyfingers.
- Mascarpone Cheese: Forms the base of the creamy top layer.
- Heavy Cream: Whipped into the mascarpone for a light, fluffy topping.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the mascarpone layer.
- Cocoa Powder: For dusting on top.
How to Make Tiramisu Brownies
I love this recipe because it combines my two favorite desserts into one, and it’s always a hit at gatherings.
Plus, the coffee-soaked ladyfingers add a unique twist that keeps everyone coming back for more.
Here’s how to make these irresistible tiramisu brownies.
- Preheat: Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and line a 20x20-cm (8x8-inch) baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix: Beat the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until very well combined. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix for 2-3 minutes until thick and smooth.
- Combine: In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients, mixing by hand until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Layer: Pour most of the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Arrange a layer of ladyfingers soaked in coffee over the brownie batter, then drizzle with the remaining batter.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Whip: In a large bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, and powdered sugar until medium-stiff peaks form. Spread this mixture over the cooled brownies.
- Dust: Just before serving, dust the top with cocoa powder. Cut into squares and enjoy!
Tips for the Perfect Tiramisu Brownies
Brownies are an easy one-bowl dessert, but they’re so easy to overbake.
Luckily, these brownies have lashings of mascarpone cream on top. So even if they’re a little cakey (which I don’t think they will be), the creamy topping makes them melt-in-your-mouth-amazing.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying this recipe for the first time, follow these tips to ensure your brownies turn out perfectly every time.
Quality Ingredients: Use high-quality cocoa powder and chocolate chips for a richer, more intense chocolate flavor.
Mix Well - At First: Mix the butter with the sugars until very well combined. Then, beat the eggs in until the mixture thickens. This helps to create a fudgy texture.
Don’t Overmix the Flour: When adding the dry ingredients, mix by hand just until combined to avoid a tough brownie.
Bake Properly: Trust the process - in most standard ovens, they don’t need more than 30 minutes. Remember, they’ll finish cooking/setting in the pan as they cool.
Strong Coffee: Use strong brewed coffee or espresso for dipping the ladyfingers to ensure a robust coffee flavor.
Don’t Oversoak: Dip and roll the ladyfingers, but don’t leave them to soak. If they absorb too much coffee, they will turn to mush.
Mascarpone Cheese: Make sure the mascarpone is at room temperature for easier mixing. This prevents lumps in the mixture.
Whipped Cream: Whip the cold heavy cream to medium-stiff peaks before folding it into the mascarpone mixture. This will give the tiramisu layer a lighter and airier texture.
Assembly: If the ladyfingers are too large, you can trim them to fit.
Cool Brownies Completely: Let the brownies cool completely before adding the tiramisu layer to prevent melting.
Chill: Allow the assembled tiramisu brownies to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours, or overnight. This helps the flavors meld and the layers to set.
Dust with Cocoa Powder: Just before serving, dust the top with unsweetened cocoa powder for a classic tiramisu finish.
Clean Cuts: For clean slices, use a sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry before each cut.
Recipe Variations
Ready to shake things up? These treats are just begging for a little experimentation, and there’s no end to the twists you can add to make them your own.
Here are some playful and tasty variations to try, ensuring each batch is fresh and exciting.
1. Nutella Tiramisu Brownies
- Add 1/2 cup Nutella to the brownie batter.
- Drizzle melted Nutella over the mascarpone cream to serve.
2. Mint Chocolate Tiramisu Brownies
- Add 1 teaspoon mint extract to the brownie batter.
- Replace the ladyfingers with mint-flavored cookies.
- Top with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies.
3. Caramel Tiramisu Brownies
- Add 1/2 cup caramel sauce to the brownie batter.
- Drizzle caramel sauce between the layers of ladyfingers.
- Top with a light sprinkle of sea salt for a salted caramel version.
4. Peanut Butter Tiramisu Brownies
- Add 1/2 cup peanut butter to the brownie batter.
- Swirl an additional 1/4 cup peanut butter on top of the brownie layer before baking.
- Top with chopped peanuts for added crunch.
5. Almond Tiramisu Brownies
- Replace the vanilla extract with almond extract in the brownie batter.
- Sprinkle slivered almonds on top of the brownie layer before baking.
- Add Amaretto to the whipped cream topping.
6. White Chocolate Tiramisu Brownies
- Replace the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips in the brownie batter.
- Whip 1/2 cup melted white chocolate into the mascarpone topping.
- Garnish with white chocolate curls.
FAQs
Q: What is Tiramisu?
A: Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert made with layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, and cocoa powder.
Q: Can I use store-bought ladyfingers?
A: Yes, store-bought ladyfingers work perfectly for this recipe.
Q: Can I make these brownies gluten-free?
A: Yes, simply replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. And buy or make gluten-free ladyfingers.
Q: What if I don’t have mascarpone cheese?
A: You can substitute mascarpone with a mixture of cream cheese and heavy cream, though the flavor will be slightly different.
Tiramisu Brownies
Ingredients:
- 115 grams unsalted butter, melted (1/2 cup)
- 200 grams granulated sugar (1 cup)
- 45 grams brown sugar (1/4 cup)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 60 grams all-purpose flour (1/2 cup)
- 40g unsweetened cocoa powder (1/2 cup)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 80 grams chocolate chips (1/2 cup)
- 12-14 ladyfingers
- 240ml strong brewed coffee (1 cup)
- 250 grams mascarpone cheese (8 oz)
- 250 ml heavy cream (1 cup)
- 100 grams powdered sugar (1/2 cup)
- cocoa powder for dusting
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a 20x20-cm (8x8 inch) baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
- Whisk the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl until very well combined.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and beat for 2-3 minutes, until thick and smooth.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring by hand with a spatula until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, then spread 3/4 of the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
- Dip the ladyfingers briefly in the coffee and arrange them over the brownie batter. Drizzle the remaining batter over the ladyfingers.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center no longer jiggles when gently shaken. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan.
- When the brownies are fully cooled, beat the mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, and powdered sugar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form.
- Spread the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Just before serving, dust the whole slab with cocoa powder. Slice, serve, and enjoy!