Limoncello Tiramisu Cups (Printable)

Light limoncello tiramisu cups with lemon mascarpone cream and soaked ladyfingers, great for elegant summer desserts.

# What You Need:

→ Cream Layer

01 - 1 cup mascarpone cheese, chilled
02 - 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream, cold
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - Zest of 1 lemon
05 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Limoncello Syrup

06 - 1/2 cup limoncello liqueur
07 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
08 - 1/4 cup water
09 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

→ Base and Assembly

10 - About 18 ladyfinger biscuits (savoiardi)
11 - Lemon zest for garnish
12 - Fresh mint leaves for garnish, optional

# How-To:

01 - In a small bowl, combine limoncello, lemon juice, water, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves completely and set aside.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whip the cold heavy cream with sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form. Gently fold in the mascarpone cheese and lemon zest until smooth and creamy, being careful not to overmix.
03 - Break each ladyfinger into 2 to 3 pieces sized to fit your serving glasses. Quickly dip ladyfingers one at a time into the limoncello syrup, using only a brief dip to avoid soaking.
04 - Arrange dipped ladyfinger pieces at the bottom of each 8-ounce serving glass. Spoon a generous layer of mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers.
05 - Repeat with another layer of syrup-dipped ladyfingers and finish with a final layer of mascarpone cream.
06 - Cover each glass and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the dessert to set and chill thoroughly.
07 - Just before serving, top each cup with extra lemon zest and fresh mint leaves if desired.

# Expert Hacks:

01 -
  • No-bake simplicity—perfect for warm weather when you don't want to turn on the oven
  • Elegant individual servings that impress guests with minimal effort
  • Bright, refreshing citrus flavor that feels lighter than traditional tiramisu
  • Make-ahead friendly—prepare up to a day in advance for stress-free entertaining
  • Vegetarian-friendly and easily adaptable to non-alcoholic versions
02 -
  • Always use high-quality mascarpone—it makes all the difference in achieving that silky, luxurious texture
  • Zest your lemon before juicing to make the process easier and capture the most aromatic oils
  • Don't skip the vanilla extract in the cream—it rounds out the citrus and adds depth
  • For perfectly even layers, use a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to pipe the mascarpone cream
  • Check ladyfinger packaging for allergen information, as brands vary in ingredients and potential cross-contamination
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