Tiramisu

Whilst in Rome two years ago, we found the most amazing restaurant just a stones through from our hotel. It was a quaint but beautiful setting, the staff were so amicable and forthcoming and the food was out of this world! Then there was their tiramisu. My god, I thought I’d died and gone to food heaven! We ended up dining there every evening and of course, always finished our meal with the tiramisu.

This doesn’t have alcohol as I just don’t like boozy desserts. If unlike me, you do like a bit of booze, then add 4tbs of rum and/or masala (2 of each).

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs, separated 
• 75g caster sugar 
• 450g mascarpone
• 400ml coffee
• 2 packets of sponge fingers 
• Cocoa powder, to dust 

Whisk 3 eggs whites until stiff, then set aside. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar until pale and voluminous, then whisk in the mascarpone, a little at a time, until smooth and well combined. Gently fold the egg whites into the mascarpone mixture with a large metal spoon, taking care not to knock the air out. 

Pour the coffee into a shallow dish and dip the sponge fingers for several seconds on each side, until it is a pale coffee colour. Then arrange to cover the base of a shallow dish. Spoon half of the mascarpone mixture then sprinkle some cocoa powder on top. Then repeat for the second layer, finishing with the mascarpone and a sprinkle of cocoa.

Cover and refrigerate overnight, you may need to give it another dusting of cocoa if some has been removed from the cover.