Tiramisu is one of the most understated pastries; not only can it be a show stopping dessert for a dinner party, but a wonderful way to unwind in the  late afternoon with espresso and a good book. Last night we had a dear friend, MC, for a over a quarter century birthday dinner, along with pink peppercorn coated fillet mignon ( I had swordfish), asparagus with garlic ailoi sauce, and endive  salad, Sydney thought it would be a brilliant idea to serve Tiramisu. So we baked up a batch of ladyfingers on Sunday, that way they would be a day old prior to soaking them in the espresso. Since Tiramisu is made of egg yolks, mascarpone, sugar, espresso, some alcohol, and in our cases vanilla extract and almond extract; the ladyfingers needed to be homemade.

I realize many people think of a Tiramisu as an incredibly easy dessert to create, and I would not deny that, but the presentation and the flavors chosen to be added to the egg yolk crème can add a “WOW” factor, that will leave your guests feeling special and wanting more! Which is exactly what happened last night. Both MC an DF had a look of amazement when the Tiramisu was presented and their eye glazed over with fulfillment as they savored  the first forkful. I must admit my favorite time is when I watch others enjoyment as they experience the tastes of a special dessert, created for them!

Ladyfingers:

210 grams 7 egg white1/

4 grams/ 1-teaspoon egg white powder

112 grams/ 7 egg yolks

180 grams/ 7/8 cup superfine sugar

15 grams/ 1-Tablespoon water

2- teaspoons vanilla extract

158 grams/ 1 1/2 -cup cake flour, sifted

Prepare  your mise en place.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 degrees F.

Line two baking sheets with silpats or parchment paper. Prepare a large pastry bag with ¾ pastry tube.

In a bowl of a standing mixer, with the whisk attachment add the egg yolks, 100-grams/ ½  of sugar on medium-high speed. Whisk the egg yolks till they fall back on themselves in ribbons, have turned a pale yellow, and doubled in volume. Reduce the speed to low and slowly pour the warm water into the yolk mixture, raise the speed to medium-high again until the mixture has become thick and fall in ribbons.

Transfer to large mixing bowl and sift flour, without mixing it in, over the yolks and set aside.

Meringue:

In a VERY clean bowl, with the whisk attachment, of a standing mixer whisk egg whites and egg white powder on medium speed. Whisk the egg whites till soft peaks form and slowly add 50 grams/ the second half 1/2  of sugar. Continue to whisk for about 2 more minutes or until medium peaks form. Once medium peaks have formed add the vanilla extract, 50 grams/ 4-Tablespoons of sugar; raise the speed to high till stiff peaks form.

Using a balloon whisk or rubber fold 1/3 of the meringue into the egg yolks till the flour is incorporated. Fold the remaining meringue into the batter without deflating the volume that has been created.

Prepare the pastry bag. Quickly place about ½ the batter in a piping bag.

To pipe ladyfingers:

Pipe 7.5 cm/ 3-inch long strips, leaving about ¼-inch space between each strip. Be sure to hold the pastry bag high enough above the surface so the batter can fall freely from the tube.

Bake for about 7 minutes or until the sponge springs back when pressed in the center. The ladyfingers may be touching each other after baking, sprinkle with icing sugar, what about 20 seconds and sprinkle once again.

Remove the biscuits on the silpat or parchment paper to a cooling rack.

Tiramisu:

1-recipe ladyfingers, 36 ladyfinger needed

150 grams egg yolks

175 grams/ 7/8-cup superfine sugar

55 grams/ ¼ -cup golden or dark rum

58 grams/ ¼ cup sweet Marsala

58 grams/ 4-Tablespoons brown sugar

472 grams/2-cups freshly brewed espresso

1-teaspoon vanilla

1-1-teaspoon almond extract

500 grams/ 2-cups mascarpone

232 grams/1-cup heavy cream

5 grams/ 1-Tablespoon cocoa powder

Chocolate covered espresso beans, optional

Prepare your mise en place. Place the bowl and whisk of your standing mixer in the freezer at least 10 minutes prior to working.

In a Bain-Marie or double boiler simmer the water, in top part or bowl add the egg yolks, the  sugar, 1 /2-Tablespoons Marsala, and 1 ½ -Tablespoon rum whisk together. Once the ingredients have been whisked together place the bowl on top of the simmering water. Continually whisk the yolk mixture until the yolk mixture begins to thicken, lightens in color, registers with a thermometer 75 degrees C/ 170 degrees f and triples in volume. Lift the bowl off the heat and allow to cool.

Place plastic film over the custard and allow to come to room temperature.

In a bowl of a standing mixer beat the custard and the mascarpone into creamy mixture.

Whip the heavy cream to soft peaks, add the vanilla, and almond extract to stiff peaks.

Gently fold the whipped cream into the custard.

Assembly:

Prepare a French press with espresso. Combine espresso, brown sugar, remaining run, and Marsala in a shallow 20×20/ 8×8 dish. Dip each side of the ladyfingers into the espresso mixture. The ladyfingers should be lightly soaked, not soggy, just infused with espresso mixture.

 

Line the baking dish with a layer of ladyfingers, line against each other. With an off-set spatula spread ½ of the custard mixture, layer again with soaked ladyfingers, and spread the second half of custard over the ladyfingers.

Sprinkle evenly with a fine mesh strainer the cocoa powder, freeze over night and cut with a biscuit cutter.

Serve with chocolate covered espresso beans.