Rich and creamy with the familiar flavors of tiramisu - espresso, coffee liqueur, cocoa and mascarpone, this no bake tiramisu cheesecake requires no baking and is the perfection fusion of cheesecake and tiramisu. Layered with a graham cracker crust, smooth cheesecake filling and espresso and coffee liqueur soaked ladyfingers, this incredibly delicious cheesecake can be made in advance and is a total crowd pleaser.
Tiramisu wouldn't be a tiramisu without mascarpone cheese. And keeping with traditional tiramisu, espresso, coffee liqueur and ladyfinger cookies are also part of this delicious and easy to make cheesecake.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- This recipe requires zero baking, and doesn't require using raw eggs, or any eggs at all, like traditional tiramisu.
- Creamy and decadent, but light and fluffy in texture.
- Perfect for both cheesecake and tiramisu lovers. The best of both worlds.
- This cheesecake makes for an amazing summer dessert. The perfect chilled no bake dessert on a warm summer day.
Recipe Ingredients
Graham cracker crumbs - You can use store bought crumbs or grind up your own in the food processor (about 16 sheets, or 32 squares of graham crackers)
Unsalted butter
Fine sea salt
Cream cheese - full fat blocks
Mascarpone cheese - Similar to cream cheese, but softer and more mild in flavor.
Confectioners' sugar
Coffee liqueur - I like to use Kahlua, but use any brand your like.
Vanilla extract
Espresso powder - or instant coffee
Heavy whipping cream
Ladyfinger cookies - Store bought are best. Purchase the dried cookies, not the soft, cake-like ones.
Cocoa powder - natural, for sprinkling
Recipe Instructions
Before beginning the recipe, like the bottom of a 9" springform pan with parchment paper.
- Combine and stir together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and salt.
- Press the crumbs into the bottom of prepared pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Whisk together the hot water, coffee liqueur and espresso powder. Let cool.
- Beat together the cream cheese and mascarpone until smooth and creamy.
- Beat in the confectioners' sugar, coffee liqueur, vanilla extract, espresso powder, and salt and continue to mix until fully smooth and incorporated. Refrigerate to keep chilled.
- Beat the heavy cream to stiff peaks.
- Remove the cheesecake filling from the refrigerator and fold in the whipped cream.
- Evenly spread half of the cheesecake mixture into the pan.
- Dip the ladyfingers into the coffee mixture for 1-2 seconds, and place on top of the cheesecake layer. You might have to break a few ladyfingers into pieces first so that they fit in place.
- Evenly spread the remaining cheesecake on top of the soaked ladyfingers. Refrigerate at least 6 hours.
- Whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until medium/stiff peaks form. Spoon the whipped cream into a piping bag fitted with a large round piping tip. Alternatively, you can spoon the whipped cream on top.
- Pipe whipped cream on top of the cheesecake and sprinkle with cocoa powder.
Baking Tips
- Cream cheese and mascarpone cheese must be room temperature. Using room temperature ingredients allows for a smooth and lump-free cheesecake batter.
- Ladyfinger cookies can fall apart easily if they're left in the coffee dipping mixture for too long. Dip them in the espresso mixture for just a second or two.
- This cheesecake is best the day after it is made. This allows the cheesecake to fully set up and for the flavors to meld into each other.
Storage and Freezing
This cheesecake can be made in advance up to two days. Add the whipped cream layer just before serving.
Store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to a day.
The cheesecake, without the whipped cream topping, can be frozen for up to three months. After the cheesecake has set in the fridge, wrap the pan with two layers of plastic wrap, then with a layer of foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before adding the whipped cream topping.
FAQs
Choose ladyfingers for this recipe are very dry and crisp. They're often called Savioardi and are imported from Italy. The soft, cake-like ones will not work for this recipe.
Yes, the alcohol can be omitted from this recipe. Replace the alcohol with espresso or strong coffee.
Replace the coffee liqueur with dark rum, brandy, marsala, or Amaretto.
If you are omitting alcohol, try adding vanilla or rum extract for extra flavor.
Replace the ladyfingers with gingerbread cookies, amaretti cookies, biscotti, speculoos, brownies, pound cake or madeleines. These drier cookie/cake options tend to absorb and do well dipped in the coffee mixture.
Brewed espresso or strong coffee can be used in place of the hot water for dipping the ladyfingers. The espresso powder can also be omitted.
If you make this no bake tiramisu cheesecake, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram.
Enjoy!
Ash xx
More Cheesecake Recipes To Try
Summer Berry Eton mess Cheesecake
Cherry Swirl Biscoff Cheesecake Bars
Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Brownies
Recipe
No Bake Tiramisu Cheesecake
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 16 full sheet graham crackers)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Tiramisu Cheesecake Filling
- ¾ cup hot water
- ¼ cup Kahlua, or coffee liqueur
- 2 teaspoons espresso powder
- 2 cups cream cheese (2 - 8oz packages)
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 ¼ cup confectioners sugar
- ¼ cup Kahlua, or coffee liqueur
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons espresso powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 10-12 ladyfinger cookies
Whipped Cream
- 1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- cocoa powder, for dusting
Instructions
Graham Cracker Crust
- Line the bottom of a 9" springform pan with parchment paper.
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and salt and mix with until evenly moistened.2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 16 full sheet graham crackers), 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Press the crumbs evenly into the bottom of the springform pan.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Tiramisu Cheesecake
- Whisk together the hot water, coffee liqueur and espresso. Let the mixture cool.¾ cup hot water, ¼ cup Kahlua, or coffee liqueur, 2 teaspoons espresso powder
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and mascarpone until smooth and creamy.2 cups cream cheese (2 - 8oz packages), 1 cup mascarpone cheese
- Add the confectioners sugar, coffee liqueur, vanilla extract, espresso powder, and salt and continue to mix on medium speed until fully smooth and incorporated.1 ¼ cup confectioners sugar, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, ¼ cup Kahlua, or coffee liqueur, 2 teaspoons espresso powder
- Place the bowl into the refrigerator to keep chilled.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a large bowl using a hand mixer, on medium speed, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- Remove the cheesecake filling from the refrigerator and gently fold in the whipped cream.
- Pour half of the cheesecake mixture onto the prepared, chilled crust.
- Dip a ladyfinger into the coffee mixture for 1-2 seconds, and immediately place it on top of the cheesecake layer. Repeat dipping the ladyfingers until they completely cover the first layer of cheesecake. You might have to break a few ladyfingers into pieces first so that they fit in place.10-12 ladyfinger cookies
- Pour and gently spread the remaining cheesecake on top of the ladyfinger layer. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 6 hours.
- Run a butter knife around the edge of the cheesecake. Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan.
Whipped Cream Topping
- Using a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream, confectioners sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium/stiff peaks form, about 3-4 minutes.1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pipe dollops or evenly spread the whipped cream over the top of the cheesecake.
- Using a small sieve, dust cocoa powder evenly over the top of the whipped cream. Serve immediately.cocoa powder, for dusting
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