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Easy Tiramisu Recipe

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This delicious and Easy Tiramisu Recipe has layers of creamy pudding and coffee soaked lady fingers. It is such a delicious recipe that does not require any cooking and can be make ahead of time.

Two white plates with squares of easy tiramisu topped with cocoa powder on them

When our kids were younger I used to bake character cakes for their birthday.  Strawberry Shortcake, Pokemon, and Star Wars are just a few that come to mind right away.

As the kids have gotten older, they have moved away from characters and have started to choose different types of cakes. Now they ask for things like this Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake.

Our oldest son has recently started to drink coffee. It must be something about that age because I remember starting to like and drink coffee in my freshman year of college.  So he is a little ahead of me on the coffee curve there.

This year he requested some type of coffee dessert for his birthday instead of a traditional cake.

A white plate with easy tiramisu topped with cocoa powder on it

Easy Tiramisu

Since we all love ordering tiramisu when we go out to eat at an Italian restaurant, I decided to make a simple tiramisu for his birthday dinner.  I went with the much easier route because I love finding ways to make fancy desserts that are quick and easy.

We had cream cheese in the fridge and a box of instant pudding in the pantry, so I decided to incorporate both of those in my no cook version.  A classic tiramisu recipe uses mascarpone cheese and a cooked custard, so my version is very, very different. 

But like the title says, this is an easy super fast version of the same thing! Plus, I love that my Jello pudding tiramisu doesn’t require any eggs or cooking, and that it is a kid friendly dessert!

What You’ll Need

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this easy tiramisu recipe. 

  • Cream Cheese – set it out ahead of time so it is soft. You can also use mascarpone cheese for a true tiramisu.
  • French Vanilla Pudding Mix – make sure it is instant, so it sets up right.
  • Milk – 2% or whole will make the pudding set up better
  • Cool Whip – gives it a fluffy texture. You can also use this Homemade Whipped Cream if you prefer that instead.
  • Biscotti Lady Fingers –  the crispy cookie soaks up the coffee really well
  • Coffee – Strong brewed coffee or espresso is best. If you are serving this to adults, go ahead and add some liqueur.
  • Cocoa Powder – adds flavor and color to the top of the finished tiramisu

A package of crispy biscotti lady fingers on a wooden board

How to make Easy Tiramisu

This easy dessert comes together in minutes and requires no baking. Make sure you plan enough time for the tiramisu recipe without alcohol to chill and set up before serving. This dessert definitely tastes better if you give the layers and flavors time to blend.

  1. Beat the softened cream cheese until creamy.
  2. Whisk together the instant Jello pudding and milk and let it set up slightly.  Beat it into the cream cheese.
  3. Fold in an entire container of Cool Whip. 
  4. Dunk biscotti ladyfingers in coffee and place one layer on the bottom of an 10-inch pan. You can use an 8-inch pan, but the tiramisu will end up taller.
  5. Refrigerate the no bake dessert for at least 4 hours, so the lady fingers soften up and the flavors come together.
  6. Grab a fork and go to town on the dessert. Or slice it and serve it to your favorite people.  It’s your call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make tiramisu ahead of time?

Yes, this is a great dessert to make ahead of time because it needs time to set up. Plus, the flavors will deepen and blend as it sits. It will keep for a few days in the fridge.

What alcohol is in tiramisu?

Tiramisu can be made with or without alcohol. Classic tiramisu calls for some type of alcohol or liqueur to be added to the coffee before dipping the lady fingers in it. 

Dark rum, amoretto, brandy, or a coffee liqueur are great choices for in this easy tiramisu.

How do you store tiramisu?

Keep this easy tiramisu in a covered container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Any longer and the dessert starts to get soggy.

You can also freeze this tiramisu made with pudding. Place it in a tightly sealed container and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and dust with cocoa powder right before serving.

Easy Tiramisu - layers of creamy no bake cheesecake and coffee soaked cookies make an awesome quick dessert. Great recipe to share at summer picnics or fancy dinner parties!

More Easy No Bake Desserts

Easy Tiramisu - coffee soaked cookies layered with a no bake cheesecake makes a fast but impressive dessert. Easy recipe for summer picnics or fancy dinner parties!

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A white plate with a slice of easy tiramisu with cocoa powder on top in it

Easy Tiramisu Recipe

Yield: 16 pieces of cake
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

The creamy cheesecake and coffee soaked cookie layers in this Easy Tiramisu will have everyone coming back for another slice. Great dessert to share at any dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese
  • 1 - 3.4 ounce box instant French Vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 - 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
  • 1 package crispy biscotti lady fingers
  • 2 cups cooled strong brewed coffee*
  • 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. Beat the cream cheese until creamy.
  2. Whisk together the pudding and milk. Let is set slightly before adding to the cream cheese. Beat until creamy again.
  3. Fold in the Cool Whip gently.
  4. Dip the lady fingers in the coffee one at a time and place them in the bottom of a 10-inch square baking pan.
  5. Once you have the bottom covered in cookies, spread half the cheesecake mixture on top.
  6. Repeat with another layer of cookies and top with the rest of the cheesecake. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
  7. Sprinkle with cocoa powder and cut into 16 squares.

Notes

*To make this an adult version, use 1 1/2 cups strong coffee and 1/2 cup brandy or Kahlua to dip the cookies in.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 126Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 90mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 2g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

Did you make this recipe?

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© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Cuisine: American / Category: No Bake Desserts

Two pictures of Easy Tiramisu collaged with a brown text box

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Filed Under: Cheesecake, No Bake Desserts Tagged With: , ,

 

Jocelyn is the owner and creator of Inside BruCrew Life where she loves to share semi-homemade recipes with flair that anyone can recreate in their own kitchen. Jocelyn is married and has three kids. She loves to workout, enjoys trips to Disney, and relaxing at the beach.

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Comments

    • Jocelyn says

      I do not think you would want to double it for the 9×13 pan. I made this one in a 10×10 pan, so the ratio should be very similar. You may need a few extra lady fingers for the layers, but other than that I would keep the recipe the same. I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply

  4. Vanessa says

    Thank you for sharing this recipe! It is amazingly delicious! It caught my eye because it doesn’t have eggs in it. I love tiramisu but I have high cholesterol and while whip cream has cholesterol in it egg yolks have significantly more. So, having some of this won’t terribly affect my ldl.

    Reply

  5. Robin says

    I just finished putting this together….it’s in the fridge for its 4-hour stay. I’m a bit concerned about the cookies being mushy. I see in your notes that part of why its supposed to set for 4 hours is for the cookies to get soft. My cookies….crispy biscotti ladyfingers….were quite wet even though I dipped them quickly. I sure hope my dessert isn’t ruined…but I don’t know what I could’ve done differently.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      As long as you dipped the biscotti quickly, it should turn out ok. We have made it so many times, and never had a problem with it setting up. Have you tried it yet? I hope you enjoyed it!!

      Reply

      • Sarah says

        Won’t the cool air in refrigerator dry it out a little.
        I’m going to try graham crackers in a stack unless i decide to go to store. I use whip cream in all my desserts

        Reply

        • Jocelyn says

          No, the cool air does not dry it out at all. Let me know how it is with the graham crackers. (Just don’t dip those in the coffee because they will disintegrate.)

          Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      The French vanilla in the recipe is the type of instant pudding you use in this recipe. You could use the creamer in place of the milk if you like.

      Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I usually find these Alessi Lady Fingers Biscotti at our Publix grocery store in the cookie aisle. They are usually in the specialty section of the cookie aisle though. I have also used Stella D’oro-Margherite cookies for this tiramisu. Those I have found at Walmart and Meijer.

      Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      You are only sprinkling a tiny bit on top of the tiramisu, so it doesn’t make it taste bad. I agree that cocoa is not sweet, but it adds an amazing dimension to this sweet dessert.

      Reply

  10. Lori Yundt says

    This looked so good, I couldn’t wait to run to the store for the ingredients!! I made it last night and it did not disappoint! I did use whipped cream for the cool whip. This will be my go to recipe from now on!!

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Are you asking about the * after the 2 cups of coffee? If so, there is a note at the bottom of the recipe that explains how to add alcohol to the dessert with the coffee.

      Reply

  12. Donald Granger says

    Can I use regular lady fingers or would they be too soft? I’m having trouble finding biscotti ones.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I think the regular ones would be just fine too. I just use the biscotti ones because that’s all I can find. If you make it the regular ones, keep me posted on how it is.

      Reply

        • Donald Granger says

          Made then today with the regular lady fingers. The flavor was great, but I think I would like to try the biscotti fingers. I think they would be a bit firmer to the bite. All in all I would make these again.

          Reply

          • Donald Granger says

            I was thinking, if I can’t find the biscotti fingers, I’ll leave the reg ones out to get real stale. Maybe that will improve the final outcome.

  13. Sally brandt says

    I love love love tiramisu and can’t wait to try this easy recipe. I may have a problem finding the biscotti so I will probably use pound cake to substitute. No Italian shop or bakeries in my area. Thanks for this recipe

    Reply

  14. Marlyn says

    Hi….the milk and pudding powder what to do with it? To set slightly where? Keep it in the fridge? Or whisk? Or what? I dont understand? Coz when you fold it in the whip cool it become soft?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      The pudding and milk will set up very quickly because you aren’t using the full amount of milk that is called for on the box. You can either refrigerate it or just set it aside until it’s time to add it to the mixture. It is supposed to be soft, but firm enough to cut squares out.

      Reply

    • Michael Wszola says

      I bought a Nordic Ware 9×9 square cake pan with storage lid off Amazon and the 4 sleeve packet of lady fingers shown in the recipe fit perfectly.

      Reply

  20. Christine says

    Hi – I’m in Australia and we don’t have “Cool Whip” can you tell me what it is so I can find an equivalent here. I’m looking forward to making it up for my boys.

    Christine

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Cool is a non-dairy version of whipped cream. You can beat 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream with 6 Tablespoons powdered sugar until it is stiff. That should double in volume and use that in place of the Cool Whip. I hope you and your boys enjoy it!

      Reply

  22. Mary Ellen says

    Do you think this would free well. I’m thinking of having this during the holidays and usually bake ahead of time.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I actually do not think this would freeze well at all. I’m afraid the cookies would be totally mushy after it thawed out. There is no baking involved in this dessert though. It literally only takes about 15-20 minutes to mix up the pudding layer and dunk the store bought cookies in coffee. I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

      • judy martin says

        Just to let you know um Yes it will be alright frozen, I worked at TFM and bakery had Tiramisu and it came in frozen they barely made any of those type of desserts in store, 1 year for Christmas family dinner I ordered a tiramisu cake which they sold out of so instead the bakery manager gave me the big sheet cake of tiramisu that they cut and sell slices of in place of my missing cake and since it was frozen I was concerned but bakery manager said it should be fine as long as I keep it frozen til use and after refrigerate if any left over which none was left of course, Cookie texture will not change if they are not mushy before freezing will not make them mushy unless they are exposed,

        Reply

  24. Bryn says

    My youngest loves the looks of tiramisu and always asks for a serving at potluck meals. However, she really dislikes the taste of coffee and never eats more than a bite. As a dessert for her, do you think the recipe would work with chocolate milk to dip the cookies in?

    Reply

    • Bryn says

      Oh! And trust me…I completely understand how annoying it must be to get a comment about replacing the coffee in a coffee dessert. I apologize profusely! If I didn’t love that little nugget so darn much I wouldn’t have asked.

      Reply

      • William says

        I suppose the best way to know is to try it once and see if she likes it…..doesn’t matter as this is not a true Tira Misu recipe anyway……experiment !

        Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I totally understand the comment, and I’m glad you asked. Chocolate milk would be an awesome substitution to make this dessert more kid friendly. In fact, now you have me wanting to make it that way with chocolate pudding layers & chocolate chips 🙂

      Reply

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