I present to you, the Tiramisu latte! Bold espresso coffee and not-too-sweet mascarpone cream in every sip. In just 5 minutes, you can create a drink that perfectly blends coffee and silky sweetness.
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🩵Ease Level & Flavor Profile
Ease Level: Beginner-friendly and super easy! No need to whip the cream with fancy tools because the mascarpone naturally thickens it as you mix.
Flavor Profile: Silky, creamy sweetness contrasted by the bold, bitter kick of an americano makes this a perfect dessert drink! For a tiramisu vibe, dust it with cocoa powder or go for cinnamon if that’s more your thing. Sooo good!
Time Commitment: You can do this in like 5-10 minutes because it's straightforward mixing if you have a coffee routine set.
Dishes: If you add most of the ingredients into a measuring cup to mix, including some measuring spoons, and your coffee, easy dish washing but it does create a few more dishes than a regular cup of coffee.
The first time I had a version of this at a café with my friend (let's call her PolyPocket, haha) it completely CHANGED MY [COFFEE] LIFE! Ever since, I’ve been on a quest to try every version I can and I’ve probably tried it at five or six different cafés by now.
But nothing beats your first love, right? My all-time favorite is still the one from Kunst Coffee House. It was a hot americano crowned with thick, mascarpone-rich cream (like half-melted ice cream) and with a sprinkle of cocoa powder. They called it "Mont Blanc" and it's basically, tiramisu in a cup! If it hadn’t been scalding hot, I swear I would’ve downed it in one gulp. Since frequent trips to Kunst Coffee House aren’t in the cards, I decided to recreate this dreamy drink at home. The best part? You can enjoy it hot or iced, your call!
This latte pairs well with my perfect scone recipe but if you'd rather eat your tiramisu, don't worry, a recipe is in the works, my friend!ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰
⭐Recipe Ingredients & Notes
- Espresso: The star of the show, espresso provides the bold base that pairs amazingly with the creamy sweetness of the topping. It's such a satisfying contrast of flavors!
- Mascarpone & Heavy Cream: This dreamy duo creates the luxurious, velvety topping that crowns the espresso. Mascarpone adds a slight tang and richness, while heavy cream gives it that light, airy texture. Together, they form the perfect "lid" that melts into the coffee as you sip.
- Sugar: Sugar sweetens the cream topping, enhancing its flavor without overpowering the espresso. It creates that irresistible contrast between bitter and sweet that makes the drink so special. Try it with brown sugars or your favorite sweeteners as well!
- Cocoa Powder: A sprinkle of cocoa powder on top adds a subtle chocolatey flavor that ties the flavors together, giving the drink a tiramisu-like vibe.
See recipe card below for ingredient measurements! This is for those that want a more in-dept idea of what each ingredients are and what they do. ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-
📋Variations
Want to switch it up? Here are some variations and substitutions you can try✧ദ്ദി( ˶^ᗜ^˶ ):
- No Mascarpone, No Problem. You can just make whipped cream topping with the heavy cream instead, you just need to whip it a little longer so a small, electric whisk will be more helpful.
- Instant Espresso Powder - If you don't have an espresso machine, use instant espresso powder or regular coffee instead. For every 1 shot of espresso, use 1 teaspoon of instant coffee/espresso powder and 1.5-2 ounces hot water.
- Tea Latte - Try making a strong cup of tea instead of coffee!
- Try another sugar: Instead of white sugar, try coconut, panela, brown sugar, or Taiwanese black sugar.
👩🏻🍳Equipment
Here are some tools I recommend when making this latte:
- A Mixing Cup - I like to mix in a mixing cup that has a spout so I can either pour directly on top of my drink or into a mason jar to store in the fridge. You can also mix directly in a mason jar if the top if big enough.
- A Reliable Rubber Spatula - to scrap the mixing cup clean of all the delicious sweet cream.
- measuring spoons
- cup you want to serve the coffee, hot or iced (make sure to use heat safe cup for hot coffee)
🥣How To Make Tiramisu Latte
Step 1: Combine the sugar, mascarpone, vanilla extract in a bowl, mixing until smooth and fully blended.
Step 2: Pour in half the heavy cream and mix well, then add the rest, mixing until thickened like melting ice cream. Set aside.
Step 3: Brew espresso then either add hot water for a hot drink or pour the espresso over ice for an iced version.
Step 4: Top your coffee with the luscious cream mixture and enjoy!
Step 5: (Optional) Garnish with cocoa powder dusting on top. It's delish and really makes it taste like Tiramisu in a cup!
Enjoy! I know I did hehe
👩🏻🍳Pro Tip
I like to make the mascarpone cream topping the day before so it thickens a little more overnight and I don't feel rushed the morning I'm making my drink~ I batch make about 3-4x drinks worth of mascarpone cream at a time.
🔍Common Questions
A tiramisu latte is a dreamy, dessert-inspired coffee drink that tastes like your favorite Italian treat in coffee form. The bold, slightly bitter espresso base pairs deliciously with the creamy sweetness of the mascarpone-rich topping, while the touch of cocoa, and hint of vanilla mimic the iconic layers of tiramisu. It's like sipping on a warm hug with a rich, velvety texture and a balanced sweetness that doesn’t overpower the coffee.
Mascarpone is a rich, creamy Italian cheese made from cream and a touch of acid, like lemon juice or vinegar, to thicken it. Silky texture and mildly sweet, it's similar to cream cheese but softer and not as sour. Its flavor is similar to unsalted butter.
🥘Storage
To Refrigerate: Store the mascarpone cream in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To Freeze: The mascarpone cream topping is freezer friendly so you can prep this weeks in advance, defrost the day before in the fridge to assemble the day of! Make sure to use a freezer friendly container.
☕Pairings With Tiramisu Latte
A yummy drink deserves to be paired with a yummy treat :)
⭐Overwhelmed? Try Day By Day Steps!
This is great to prepare a day or two beforehand when you have a busy week! Here’s a general schedule so you have an idea on what to work with :) hope it helps!
For A Hot Tiramisu Latte:
Day 1: Measure out cream ingredients. Mix together and store in an airtight container in the fridge or use a freezer safe container and freeze until needed but remember to defrost it in the fridge a day beforehand.
Day 2: Prep your hot americano and scoop your cream on top. Enjoy! ✧｡٩(ˊᗜˋ )و✧*｡
For An Iced Tiramisu Latte:
Day 1: Make your coffee and let it cool to room temperature before storing in the fridge. While the coffee is cooling, measure out cream ingredients. Mix together and store in an airtight container in the fridge or use a freezer safe container and freeze until needed but remember to defrost it in the fridge beforehand.
Day 2: Assemble your drink and enjoy! ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡⋆˚✿˖°
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ woohoo, you did it!!! ٩>ᴗ<)و I hope this was fun and it helped you become a more confident maker ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
📖Recipe
Perfect Tiramisu Latte Recipe You Can Make In 5 Minutes, No Mixer Needed
Equipment
- 1 Drinking Cup
Ingredients
For The Cream Topping
- 5-10 grams granulated white sugar or brown sugar
- 35 grams mascarpone cheese cold
- 35 grams heavy cream cold
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For The Latte
- 1-2 shots espresso
- 6 ounces hot water or cup of ice
For The Garnish
Instructions
For The Mascarpone Cream
- In a bowl, mix 5-10 grams granulated white sugar or brown sugar 35 grams mascarpone cheese, and ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
- Gradually add half of the 35 grams heavy cream and stir, then pour in the rest, whisking until the mixture thickens to a texture like melting ice cream. Set aside.
For The Coffee
- Brew 1-2 shots espresso and either dilute it with 6 ounces hot water or cup of ice Pour the espresso shots over ice for a chilled version.
Assemble The Tiramisu Latte
- Spoon the velvety mascarpone cream mixture on top of your coffee, and enjoy!
Sharon Hsu says
Hallo!! I'm Sharon, the author of this recipe~٩>ᴗ<)و o I love the creamy, sweet contrast of the mascarpone cream cap with the bitter, cocoa-y coffee! soooooooo GOOD. I didn't know coffees could be this good until my friend introduced me to this idea LOL, I LOVE IT!! Leave a comment and let me know how it turned out when you have a chance to make it. I believe recipes are just a starting point for creativity! I always aim to make mine clear, helpful, and to add a little sparkle to your day so I'd love to know what you thought and if there's anything I can do to improve. 𖹭.ᐟ✨ hehe