If you love chocolate, especially brownie recipes, these Tiramisu Brownies are going to rock your world! They offer everything you love about brownies along with all those amazing tiramisu flavors. This is such a heavenly dessert.
Whether you're making this for a dinner party dessert, or you simply crave those rich chocolatey flavors, you won't regret making tiramisu brownies. The whole recipe takes under an hour to make and it's straightforward enough for anyone to make with ease, regardless of baking experience (or lack of!)
The fudgy brownies are a tasty blend of bittersweet chocolate, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla, with cocoa powder and coffee giving them that tiramisu touch. The ladyfingers are dipped in coffee and then there is a creamy velvety mascarpone layer on top to finish the whole dish off beautifully.
A rich and decadent dessert option, tiramisu brownies offer the best of both worlds, so if you simply can't decide whether to whip up brownies or tiramisu, this recipe can be your dream come true!
Ingredients
These tiramisu brownies pair the rich and fudgy texture of brownies with classic tiramisu flavors for a dessert you'll fall in love with. Here's what you need to make them:
· All-purpose flour - any all purpose flour will do!
· Bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet works best, adding depth and complexity to the flavor
· Light brown sugar - for sweetness
· Eggs - to bind the brownies together
· Vanilla extract - goes so well with the coffee and chocolate flavors
· Salt - just a pinch to bring out the sweet flavors
· Cocoa powder - I used Rodelle Dutch-processed gourmet baking cocoa powder which is rich and aromatic
· Instant coffee powder - any brand will work
· Ladyfingers - a classic tiramisu ingredient
· Mascarpone - for the creamy topping
· Powdered sugar - to sweeten the mascarpone layer without the graininess of regular sugar
· Whipping cream - to get the topping light and airy
How to Make Tiramisu Brownies
Tiramisu brownies are a joy to prepare and one of the best-known desserts with coffee. The printable recipe is in the recipe card for your convenience.
Step 1.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and use parchment paper to line an 8-inch square baking dish.
Step 2.
Finely chop the bittersweet chocolate and add it to a microwave-safe bowl with the cubed butter. Melt them together, stirring every 30 seconds. Once melted, set aside to cool.
Step 3.
Now use a stand mixer or hand mixer to beat the sugar with the eggs until light and frothy.
Step 4.
Add the vanilla extract and cooled chocolate and butter mixture to the egg mixture and beat on a slow speed until everything is combined and the same color.
Step 5.
Mix the flour with the salt, cocoa powder, and 2 teaspoons of instant coffee powder in another bowl and then add this dry mixture to the egg mixture, using a rubber spatula to carefully fold everything together. Take care not to over-mix.
Step 6.
Spoon half of the brownie batter into your prepared square baking dish.
Step 7.
Dissolve 2 teaspoons of coffee powder in boiling water in a mixing bowl. Dip each ladyfinger into the coffee and then arrange in rows on top of the brownie batter in the baking dish. You should get 2 rows of 8 ladyfingers.
Add the rest of the brownie mixture on top and smooth with the back of a spoon or an offset spatula.
Step 8.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it. Take the brownies out of the oven and let them cool completely in the baking dish.
Step 9.
Beat the mascarpone and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl for a minute or until creamy. Add the cream and beat for another minute or so, until thickened.
Step 10.
Spoon the mascarpone mixture over the cooled brownies and smooth it down to get it level, using the back of a spoon or an offset spatula.
Step 11.
Sift cocoa powder over the brownies to dust them, then refrigerate until ready to slice and serve.
Variations
Although tiramisu brownies are delicious as they are, you might like to tweak the recipe and change some of the ingredients. Here are some variations:
· Espresso powder: You can use espresso powder rather than regular coffee powder. 2 shots of espresso mixed with boiling water to make up ½ cup would work for dipping the lady fingers.
· No mascarpone? Use full fat cream cheese instead.
· Extra chocolatey: Omit the coffee powder. That way the chocolate flavor is more dominant.
· A bigger baking dish: You can use a 9 x 13-inch baking pan to make the tiramisu brownies if you also reduce the baking time to 25 to 30 minutes since they won't be as thick and will therefore cook faster.
Helpful Tips
Tiramisu brownies are straightforward to make, but the following expert tips might be handy.
Dipping the ladyfingers: Briefly dip them so some of the coffee clings to them. You don't want to saturate them and have them fall apart in a soggy mess - a couple of seconds dipping is long enough!
Baking time: Ovens vary so it's always best to keep a close eye on your baked goods. The best way to test your brownies for doneness is to insert a toothpick into the center, and when it comes out with just a few moist crumbs, remove the brownies from the oven.
Easy clean-up: Line your baking dish with parchment paper for easy clean-up. The paper also helps to pull the tiramisu brownies out of the pan effortlessly.
Storage Instructions
Store tiramisu brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 5 days. Bring them to room temperature before serving for the best texture and richest flavor.
Although you can freeze the tiramisu brownies (without the mascarpone layer) they will thaw out mushy, so freezing isn't recommended for this recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are ladyfingers?
Known as savoiardi in Italian, ladyfingers are light sponge cake biscuits shaped like fingers. They are crisp and delicate on the outside and airy and soft inside. You can find them in most grocery stores as well as online. You will need 16 of them to make this tiramisu brownies recipe. Looking for gluten free ladyfingers? I love the Schaer ladyfingers you can buy online.
Do you have to sift the flour and cocoa powder?
Yes, unless you want to risk lumps! Sift those ingredients through a metal sieve.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy this rich, decadent dessert after dinner. It's special enough to make for a dinner party. Make sure you bring the tiramisu brownies up to room temperature before serving because being too cold can mute their rich flavors.
If you loved baked goods try these delicious Cinnamon Rolls.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bitter-sweet chocolate finely chopped
- 1 cup unsalted butter cubed
- 1 ¾ cups light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all purpose flour spooned and leveled
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder
For the ladyfingers
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder
- ½ cup boiling water
- 16 ladyfingers
For the mascarpone layer
- 10 ounces mascarpone at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream cold
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large microwave safe bowl add the finely chopped chocolate and cubed butter. Heat to melt the ingredients in 30 second intervals stirring well each time. Set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl add the sugar and eggs. You can use a stand mixer or an electric handheld whisk. Beat the sugar and eggs until they are voluminous, frothy and pale.
- To the mixing bowl add the vanilla extract and cooled chocolate and butter mixture. Beat on the slowest speed until the ingredients in the bowl are combined and uniform in color.
- In a separate bowl, add the flour, salt, cocoa powder and instant coffee powder. Mix to combine then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the ingredients together. Take care not to over mix.
- Add half of the brownie mixture to the prepared 8x8 inch pan. In a heatproof bowl, combine the espresso powder and boiling water. Briefly dip the ladyfingers in the coffee then place them in rows on top of the brownie mixture in the pan. You should be able to fit two rows of 8 in total.
- Add the remaining brownie mixture on top of the ladyfingers. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth the brownie mixture into an even layer.
- Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes. To check for doneness insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies - if it comes out with a few moist crumbs the brownies are ready.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely in the pan.
- When the brownies have cooled make the mascarpone layer: In a large mixing bowl, add the mascarpone and powdered sugar. Beat on a medium speed until creamy - one minute.
- Add the heavy cream and beat until the mixture has thickened - one to two minutes.
- Dollop the mascarpone mixture on top of the cooled brownies. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth into an even layer.
- Add the cocoa powder to a sieve and dust the tops of the brownies.
- Slice, serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutritional information provided is an estimate. For specific dietary needs or concerns, we recommend consulting a nutrition calculator or a qualified expert.
John says
Where are the actual quantities for this????
ElizaJ says
Absolutely thrilled to see a gluten-free version of tiramisu brownies. It's tough to find recipes that accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising on taste. The detailed sections for the ladyfingers and the mascarpone layer are incredibly helpful.
TomBaker says
i'm curious if the texture remains the same with gluten-free ingredients?
chris23 says
never thought to combine tiramisu and brownies but this sounds like a match made in heaven. gotta try this out over the weekend. thanks for sharing!
Jenny_the_reader says
the helpful tips section was a lifesaver! not very confident in the kitchen yet but this made me feel like i could actually pull off these tiramisu brownies. thanks for making it seem less intimidating 🙂