Blood Orange Tiramisu

By GadgetGirl

A Festive and Unique Twist on a Classic Dessert
LEWIS AND RENATO POLIAFITO, THE DUO BEHIND TWO WILDLY POPULAR NEW YORK CITY BAKERIES, PUT THEIR DISTINCTIVE SPIN — PART ALL-AMERICAN RETRO, PART PUNK-ROCK RENEGADE — ON SEASONAL AND HOLIDAY DESSERTS. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS DELICIOUS RECIPE FROM THEIR NEW COOKBOOK, BAKED OCCASIONS.

Ingredients

• 4 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
• Zest of 1 blood orange (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)
• 4 tablespoons Grand Marnier
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 blood oranges, juiced (about 2 cups)
• 40 (4-by-1 inch) ladyfinger cookies
• 1/3 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
• Chocolate shavings (optional)

Details

Servings 16
Adapted from housebeautiful.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks and sugar at medium-high speed until the mixture is light and starts to thicken, about 3 to 6 minutes. Switch to the paddle attachment, add the mascarpone cheese, and beat until incorporated. Add the zest and 2 tablespoons of the Grand Marnier and beat until just combined. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and clean and dry the mixer bowl.

2. Place the egg whites in the clean bowl and fit the mixer with the whisk attachment. Sprinkle the salt over the egg whites and beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes. Add half of the egg whites to the egg yolk mixture and gently fold together until almost incorporated; add the remaining egg whites and gently fold until completely incorporated.

3. Stir together the blood orange juice and the remaining Grand Marnier in a wide-mouth shallow bowl.

4. Working quickly, dip the first 20 ladyfingers in the juice mixture, making sure to soak each cookie from top to bottom (a second or two on each side), then arrange the ladyfingers to cover the bottom of a 9-by-13 inch pan in a single layer (reserve any leftover ladyfingers for the next step). Dollop about half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers and spread it into an even layer. Sift half of the cocoa powder over the mascarpone mixture. Dip the next 20 ladyfingers in the juice mixture as above and arrange them in an even layer over the mascarpone layer. Cover the ladyfingers with the remaining mascarpone mixture and spread it into an even layer. Sift the remaining cocoa powder over the top.

5. Cover the pan tightly with plastic and refrigerate for at least 5 hours or overnight (most people prefer tiramisu that has been chilled for at least 10 hours—if you can wait that long). Sprinkle with a few chocolate shavings, if desired, slice, and serve. The tiramisu can be kept, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

WE GAVE IT A TASTE, HERE'S WHAT OUR EDITOR THINKS
"I couldn't find blood oranges, so I used a combo of navel oranges and Minneola tangelos instead. And the ladyfingers I picked up weren't as thick as most, so I made sure I had more than 40, which I needed. The tiramisu itself was quite easy to construct and had a lovely, soft Creamsicle flavor from the mascarpone and orange juice." —Angela C. Taormina, Assistant Managing Editor