Hazy Waters Tiramisu

By HazyWaters

Cooks' Notes
-You can substitute 2 cups freshly brewed espresso for the water and instant-espresso powder.
- You can substitute 4 egg whites for the cup of cream. This will result in a lighter dish.
- Tiramisu can be chilled up to 2 days.

Ingredients

• 2 cups boiling-hot water
• 3 tablespoons instant-espresso powder
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
• 3 tablespoons Tia Maria (coffee liqueur)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1/3 cup dry Marsala
• 1 pound mascarpone (2 1/2 cups)
• 1 cup chilled heavy cream
• 36 savoiardi (crisp Italian ladyfingers; from two 7-ounce packages)
• 1 oz bitter-sweet chocolate
• Unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

Preparation

Step 1

Stir together water, espresso powder, 1 tablespoon sugar, Tia Maria and vanilla in a shallow bowl until sugar has dissolved, then cool.

Beat egg yolks, Marsala, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water using a whisk or handheld electric mixer until tripled in volume, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove bowl from heat. Beat in mascarpone until just combined.

Beat cream in a large bowl until it holds stiff peaks.
Fold mascarpone mixture into whipped cream gently but thoroughly.

Dipping both sides of each ladyfinger into coffee mixture, line bottom of a 13- by 9- by 3-inch baking pan with 18 ladyfingers in 3 rows, trimming edges to fit if necessary. Spread half of mascarpone filling on top. Dip remaining 18 ladyfingers in coffee and arrange over filling in pan.

Spread remaining mascarpone filling on top. Add grated chocolate and dust lightly with cocoa. Chill, covered, at least 6 hours.

Let tiramisu stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving, then dust with more cocoa.