This Tiramisu Icebox Cake recipe uses classic Italian ingredients to make a delicious no-bake dessert that your guests will swear came from a bakery. Just like this Strawberry Icebox Cake, these icebox cakes truly are the perfect solution to summer entertaining.
Tiramisu Icebox Cake Recipe
Ever since I first made my 10-minutes S’mores Cake a few years ago, I’ve been obsessed with icebox cakes. I made this Tiramisu Icebox Cake for my 30th birthday and it was the perfect sophisticated dessert to ring in a new decade – but fun enough that my 5 year old loved it, too.
However, there is coffee and a tiny bit of alcohol in this recipe so use your discretion in the serving sizes or omit the alcohol.
RELATED: Check out our No-Cook Cookie Dough Bites or our No-Churn S’mores Ice Cream.
How to make Tiramisu icebox cake
I had a really hard time finding mascarpone cheese (an Italian cream cheese with a unique taste) for this recipe, and though I eventually found some at the fifth store I visited (!!!) I decided to experiment with some common ingredients as substitution because you shouldn’t have to go to 5 different grocery stores to find an ingredient for any recipe.
And lastly, while I used espresso powder to make my strong coffee for dipping the ladyfingers in, you can use regular coffee – or even decaf, if you’re planning to serve this in the evening and are nervous about the caffeine.
Ingredients to Make Tiramisu Icebox Cake
- 2-packages (16oz) cream cheese
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 2-4 Tablespoons half and half
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 200g ladyfinger cookies
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
- 2 Tablespoon Amaretto liquor
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Note: to use mascarpone cheese in this recipe, use 8oz, reduce the cream cheese by half and remove the cream and ricotta.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful:
This no-bake Tiramisu Icebox Cake comes together in minutes and is the perfect dessert with a cup of coffee or after a traditional Italian meal.
For more delicious quick and easy dessert recipes check out…
- Lemon Lush
- Funfetti Icebox Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Icebox Cake
- Lemon Icebox Cake
- S’mores Icebox Cake
- Pineapple Dream Dessert
- Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad
- Tiramisu Cake
- Chocolate Icebox Cake
- Individual Tiramisu
Tiramisu Icebox Cake
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- 3 Tablespoons half and half
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 7 ounces lady finger cookies 200g
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
- 1 ½ cups boiling water
- 2 Tablespoons Amaretto liquor
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Set a kettle to boil.
- Place 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder in a bowl wide enough to dip your lady fingers into and add the boiling water when ready. Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, ricotta cheese, half and half and powdered sugar, adding more half and half as needed to get a smooth texture that can be spread with an offset spatula or spoon. Set aside.
- Line a 13x9 casserole dish with parchment paper.
- When the coffee has cooled to touch, add the Amaretto and dip each lady finger one by one into the coffee and make an even layer on the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Take several spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture (about half) and place it overtop of the lady fingers. Carefully spread into an even layer using the back of a spoon or an offset spatula.
- Use a sifter to gently add a layer of cocoa powder (half of the amount called for).
- Repeat with another biscuit layer, another cream cheese layer, and a final cocoa powder dusting.
- Set in the fridge to firm up, at least an hour or overnight.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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Geraldine A Mariani says
How to buy a ‘no bake’ recipe book?
Daniela says
I made this the other day with mascarpone, it was really good!! Going to make it again today :)
Christine Burns says
Can almond extract be used instead of amaretto liqueur?
Amanda Formaro says
I’ll be honest, without testing this I wouldn’t know the right quantities to substitute. When I do a search it says “Substitute 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon almond extract for 2 tablespoons Amaretto.”
Karen Parker says
Is there a substitution for the lady fingers? I have always wanted to try tiramisu but have not been able to locate “lady fingers” cookies/biscuits.
Amanda Formaro says
Madiera cake if you can find it. If not, any other white or yellow sponge cake with work.
Cindy says
You can make your own lady fingers. I made my own using a recipe I found on Pinterest.
Judy says
What size pan is used for tiramisu icebox cake? Do you have to double recipe for 9 x 13?
Amanda Formaro says
One 9×13 pan should work fine!
Linda cencelewski says
What is icing sugar? Coffee cream??
Amanda Formaro says
Hi, Linda. Icing sugar is powdered sugar :) Hope that helps!
Linda c says
What is coffee cream?
Amanda Formaro says
My apologies, in the US it is known as half and half.
Amanda Formaro says
My apologies, in the US coffee cream is known as half and half.