Mini Tiramisu Trifles

Soft espresso-soaked ladyfinger cookies are layered with a creamy mascarpone filling in these glorious Tiramisu Trifles! They’re finished off with a swirl of Kahlua whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder.

Looking for traditional tiramisu? This tiramisu recipe won’t let you down.

Easy No-Bake Tiramisu Trifles

Tiramisu is one of my top favorite Italian desserts, and I just discovered a whole new way to enjoy it – in the form of a mini trifle! These babies are incredibly easy to make and even easier to eat (by the heaping spoonful). The only hard part is stopping at just one trifle.

Between the sweet mascarpone filling and the melt-in-your-mouth espresso ladyfingers, these no-bake treats would taste heavenly with no topping at all! The Kahlua-infused whipped cream and the cocoa powder only elevate the lusciousness. You don’t have to spike your whipped cream if you don’t want to, but I couldn’t resist!

What is Tiramisu?

Tiramisu (tee-ruh-mee-soo) is a layered dessert made of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. The ladyfingers are often soaked in liqueur as well as espresso, but some versions are completely alcohol-free. For these tiramisu trifles, I like to leave the liqueur out of the ladyfingers and add it to the whipped cream topping instead.

Recipe Ingredients

You don’t need many ingredients to make any part of this crave-worthy treat. Let’s get started!

For the Mascarpone Cream Filling

• Mascarpone Cheese
• Sugar
• Heavy Whipping Cream: Keep this cold until you’re about to use it.
• Powdered Sugar: To provide some structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Stick with a high-quality extract for the best results.

For the Espresso-Soaked Ladyfinger Cookies

• Hot Water
• Instant Espresso Powder: This will be dissolved in the water along with the sugar.
• Sugar: Just enough to make the espresso enjoyable in a dessert. If you’re a big fan of bitter flavors, you can leave this out.
• Ladyfingers: I use the softer, more cake-like ladyfingers in these trifles as opposed to the more traditional hard ladyfingers.

For the Kahlua Whipped Cream

• Heavy Whipping Cream
• Powdered Sugar
• Kahlua: If you want to omit the alcohol, I suggest adding a splash of vanilla extract instead.

How to Make Mini Tiramisu Trifles

These trifles are not only a no-bake masterpiece, but they also don’t require any chill time! Here’s how to bring them to life:

1. Combine Mascarpone & Sugar: Mix the mascarpone cheese and sugar together in a medium-sized bowl until they’re combined. Do not over-mix. Set the bowl aside.
2. Whip Heavy Cream, Powdered Sugar & Vanilla: Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract to another bowl and whip until stiff peaks form.
3. Combine Mixtures: Carefully fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone cheese mixture and set the prepared filling aside.
4. Make Espresso Mixture: In another bowl, combine the hot water, espresso powder and sugar.
5. Dip Ladyfingers & Start Layering: Dip the ladyfingers into the espresso mixture one at a time and place them into the bottom of each trifle cup. Use 2-3 ladyfingers for each cup, breaking them into pieces as needed so they can create a full layer.
6. Continue Layering: Pipe or spoon a layer of mascarpone cream on top of the ladyfingers. Repeat the process with another layer of ladyfingers and mascarpone filling.
7. Make Whipped Cream: Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and Kahlua to a large mixer bowl and whip until stiff peaks form.
8. Add to Trifles: Pipe a swirl of whipped cream on top of each trifle, then add a sprinkle of cocoa powder if you’d like.

Tips for Success

Before you tackle these Italian-style trifles, take a look at the following tips to make sure you’re on the right track.

• Use the Right Kind of Ladyfingers: There are two types of ladyfinger cookies – the softer, more cake-like ones and the harder, thicker ones (both can be found in the cookie aisle at your local supermarket). I suggest using the first kind for these trifles so you won’t have to wait for them to soften.
• Don’t Over-Mix the Mascarpone Cream: Mascarpone cheese can easily break down and develop a thin, almost watery consistency. Make sure you don’t over-mix it with the sugar or the whipped cream that’s folded in later.
• Chill the Trifles Until You’re Ready to Serve Them: If you’re not serving your trifles as soon as they’re done, pop them into the refrigerator. This will help preserve them while you wait.

Storage Instructions

These trifles actually become more flavorful as they sit! They can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 days – after that, the ladyfingers will get too mushy. Make sure the trifles are well covered if you’re storing them for longer than an hour or two.

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More Homemade Trifles to Try

Looking for more luxurious trifle recipes? You can’t go wrong with any of the treats linked below.

• Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake Trifles
• Easy Lemon Strawberry Trifle
• Pineapple Upside Down Trifles
• Oreo Cheesecake Brownie Trifle

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