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Delicious Lemon Tiramisu dessert with a citrus twist

Lemon Tiramisu

A refreshing twist on the classic Italian dessert, bursting with zesty lemon flavor and creamy mascarpone, perfect for warm weather gatherings.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 392
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Lemon Syrup
  • ¾ cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice Use fresh lemons for best flavor.
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon zest
For the Lemon Curd
  • 7 large egg yolks
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons lemon zest
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into half-inch pieces
For the Mascarpone Layer
  • 1 ⅓ cup heavy cream, chilled
  • 16 oz mascarpone cheese, room temperature Ensure it's at room temperature for easy blending.
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup lemon syrup Prepared from earlier step.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
For Layering
  • 1 (7 oz) package savoiardi ladyfingers (about 24) Quickly dip them in lemon syrup for best result.

Method
 

Lemon Syrup Preparation
  1. In a saucepan, combine lemon juice, water, sugar, and lemon zest. Simmer gently until the sugar dissolves and the syrup thickens. Allow to cool.
Lemon Curd Preparation
  1. In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks, whole egg, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat until thickened, then whisk in butter until smooth. Chill until set.
Mascarpone Layer Preparation
  1. Chill heavy cream in a bowl and whip until soft peaks form.
  2. In a separate bowl, blend mascarpone with sugar, lemon syrup, vanilla, and chilled lemon curd until smooth. Gently fold in the whipped cream until fully combined.
Assembly
  1. Dip each ladyfinger quickly in the lemon syrup and arrange them in a dish. Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over them. Repeat layers, finishing with the remaining mascarpone.
Chill and Serve
  1. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, for the best flavor and texture.
  2. Dust with lemon zest or powdered sugar, and garnish with fresh berries before serving.

Notes

Serve chilled with a dusting of powdered sugar or fresh lemon zest for an extra burst of flavor. For a more intense lemon flavor, feel free to increase the lemon zest used in the mascarpone layer. Allowing the tiramisu to set overnight enhances the flavors.