Coffee-flavored dessert, layered with creamy mascarpone and espresso soaked ladyfingers, dusted with cocoa powder. You guessed it! The Italian tiramisu! I’m normally not a fan of coffee, but I’d always say yes to tiramisu! The bitterness soaked in the ladyfingers is mellowed with the creamy mascarpone. I’ve tasted so many adaptations of this dessert (tiramisu Oreo, mango tiramisu). It’s been a while since I’ve had a classic tiramisu. I decided to use this opportunity to learn how to make something I love.

Tiramisu was created in Italy’s Veneto in the 1960s. Though it originated there, it’s popularity spread widely around the world. It’s popularity peaked in 1993 when the dessert was featured in the movie “Sleepless in Seattle”. This shows much influence the media can create.

The recipe I used was given to me by a Maltese friend. This recipe is simple, perfect for people who don’t have much free time from busy routines. The challenges were hand whipping the cream (was a good workout), and realizing halfway through that I forgot to buy one of the most important ingredients—ladyfingers!

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The tiramisu turned out as I hoped—layers of ladyfingers and mascarpone, topped with cocoa powder. It wasn’t difficult, but I was proud that it turned out well, and that I made it on my own. 

My friends at the food fair liked it. It was a great event and I had fun participating. I gave some to my friends outside university. Some texted me at midnight  telling me they loved it and finished the whole piece in one go. It made me happy to know that my food can put smiles on people’s faces.

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