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Perfect Tiramisu Graduation Cake Recipe with Gold Leaf and Espresso Mascarpone for Easy Celebration

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A rich, creamy tiramisu cake layered with espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone filling, decorated with edible gold leaf for a festive celebration dessert that’s quick and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • About 24 ladyfingers (Savoiardi), crisp and firm
  • 1 cup (240 ml) freshly brewed strong espresso, cooled
  • 16 oz (450 g) mascarpone cheese, room temperature, full-fat
  • 1 cup (240 ml) cold heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (optional, e.g., Kahlúa)
  • A few small sheets edible gold leaf for decoration
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

Instructions

  1. Brew 1 cup (240 ml) of strong espresso and let it cool to room temperature. If using coffee liqueur, mix it into the espresso now.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk 4 egg yolks with 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar until pale and creamy, about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer.
  3. Gently fold 16 oz (450 g) mascarpone cheese into the egg yolk mixture until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup (240 ml) cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form, about 3-5 minutes. Avoid overwhipping.
  5. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture using a spatula to keep the filling airy.
  6. Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the cooled espresso for 1-2 seconds per side and arrange a single layer in the bottom of a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan.
  7. Spread about half of the mascarpone mixture evenly over the ladyfingers.
  8. Repeat dipping and layering with the remaining ladyfingers and mascarpone mixture.
  9. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
  10. Before serving, dust the top with unsweetened cocoa powder using a fine mesh sieve.
  11. Carefully apply edible gold leaf sheets on top using a dry, clean brush or fingertip.

Notes

Use quick dips (1-2 seconds) for ladyfingers to avoid sogginess. Use fresh, high-quality eggs or pasteurized eggs for safety. Fold whipped cream gently to keep airiness. Chill at least 4 hours or overnight for best flavor and texture. Handle gold leaf with dry tools or fingers to avoid tearing.

Nutrition

Keywords: tiramisu, graduation cake, espresso mascarpone, gold leaf, celebration dessert, easy tiramisu, layered cake, Italian dessert

Find it online: https://piperplate.com/perfect-tiramisu-graduation-cake-recipe-with-gold-leaf-and-espresso-mascarpone-for-easy-celebration/