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Lemon Tiramisu – Light and airy, this special dessert is perfect to end any meal.
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Special occasion dessert
I wanted to make a special dessert for my mom. She loves tiramisu. But, unfortunately, she can’t have caffeine anymore; it gives her migraines. So, I made the Lemon Tiramisu.
Homemade strawberry butter, lemon curd, and old-fashioned raspberry jam that I made for Christmas brunch.
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Lemon Tiramisu Dessert Recipe
Lemon Tiramisu
Ingredients
Lemon curd:
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter diced
- 1/2 cup sugar
Lemon syrup:
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup water
- zest of 1 lemon
- juice of 1 lemon
Lemon tiramisu:
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1 cup powder sugar divided use
- 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest divided use
- 2 cups mascarpone brought to room temperature
- 1 cup lemon curd
- ¼ cup limoncello
- ¾ cup lemon syrup divided use
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 40 ladyfingers
- lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
Make lemon curd:
- Whisk yolks and eggs in medium bowl to blend. Set aside.
- Combine lemon juice, butter, and sugar in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water; whisk until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
- Gradually whisk 1/3 of hot butter mixture into eggs, whisk mixture back into bowl with remaining butter mixture set over simmering water. Whisk constantly until custard thickens and thermometer inserted into mixture registers 180° F, about 5 minutes (do not boil). (If you don’t have a candy thermometer, wait until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon.)
- Pour lemon curd through strainer set over medium bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on surface of lemon curd; chill overnight.
- Can be made up to 1 week ahead. Keep refrigerated.
Make lemon syrup:
- Place sugar, water, and zest in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, let the sugar dissolve, and boil for one minute. Take off of the heat, and add in the lemon juice. The syrup will keep in the fridge for a few weeks (if it lasts that long).
Assemble lemon tiramisu:
- With a stand mixer or hand-held mixer, whip cream with ½ cup powdered sugar, and ½ teaspoon lemon zest. Set aside.
- In a clean large bowl, mix together mascarpone, ½ cup of powdered sugar, lemon curd, limoncello, ¼ cup lemon syrup, and 1 ½ tablespoons of lemon zest until fluffy. Fold in half the whipped cream.
- In another small bowl, mix remaining lemon syrup with lemon juice.
- Dollop about ½ cup of the mascarpone mixture in the bottom of a serving dish.
- Using a pastry brush, brush both sides of each ladyfinger with lemon juice mixture, and lay in a single layer on top of the dolloped mascarpone.
- Dollop in some of the mascarpone mixture, smooth it out, then top with another layer of lemon brushed ladyfingers. Continue layering mascarpone and lemon ladyfingers until you run out. You should end up with 2-3 layers, depending on the size of your pan.
- Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving. Garnish with lemon slices and additional lemon zest. Serve with dollops of whipped cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Rachael
Oh my, this looks incredible! I’m not a big eater of chocolate so I usually make a strawberry tiramisu, but my lemon-loving family is going to go ape over this! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe! 🙂
Charlie
This looks so good!
I can’t have caffeine either.
I use cocoa.
Chocolate can give me a migraine too, but it doesn’t with my Tiramisu.
I don’t think the amounts are enough to trigger one.
Lisa @ Sweet as Sugar Cookies
I don’t drink coffee, but I love lemon to no end. This tiramisu sounds awesome. I have a sweet treat linky party going on at my blog till Monday night and I’d love it if you’d come by and link your tiramisu up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2012/01/sweets-for-saturday-51.html
Sue/the view from great island
I can’t wait to try this, it looks so refreshing!
Marion@Life Tastes Good
I LOVE love love lemon!! this looks absolutely wonderful! I can’t wait to try it!
Lovefoodies
Holy Moly! I am in Tiramisu HEAVEN! Your mom is very lucky to have this made for her! I will make this too very soon. I love all the ingredients very much. Delicious!