Valentines Strawberry Tiramisu Cups (Printable Version)

Layers of mascarpone cream, strawberries, and coffee-soaked ladyfingers create an elegant and fruity treat.

# What You'll 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 rest for 10 minutes to release juices and develop flavor.
02 - Beat mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl 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. Add coffee liqueur if desired and stir to combine.
04 - Break ladyfinger biscuits in half if necessary to fit serving vessels. Briefly dip each piece into coffee mixture, ensuring light absorption without oversaturation.
05 - Distribute 2 to 3 coffee-soaked ladyfinger pieces across the bottom of each serving glass. Top with mascarpone cream layer, followed by macerated strawberry layer. Repeat sequence, finishing with mascarpone cream on top.
06 - Cover assembled cups and refrigerate minimum 2 hours, preferably overnight, allowing flavors to meld and structure to set.
07 - Remove from refrigeration and garnish each cup with fresh strawberry slices, mint leaves, and a fine dusting of cocoa powder.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • No baking required, which means your kitchen stays cool and your stress stays lower.
  • Each person gets their own gorgeous cup, making even a weeknight feel like date night.
  • The flavors actually improve as they sit, so you can assemble these hours ahead and just add the final garnish.
02 -
  • Room temperature mascarpone is non-negotiable—it's the difference between a silky cream and grainy, broken mascarpone that tastes chalky no matter what you do.
  • The dipping of ladyfingers is a meditation, not a dunking—one second per side keeps them tender and coffee-flavored rather than turning them into mush.
03 -
  • If your mascarpone breaks or looks grainy, you went too fast or it was too cold—start over because there's no fixing it and it's worth the extra minute to get it right.
  • The secret weapon is using a cold whisk or electric mixer for the cream and keeping everything cool, because warm cream and warm mascarpone are the enemies of that cloud-like texture.
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