here she is, as promised, in all her luscious, rich, caffeinated glory.this cheesecake is so incredibly delicious and it’s even better accompanied with a cup of coffee.I can’t think of a better way to widen your hiney top off dinner.

Tiramisu Cheesecake

2 8 oz packages of cream cheese1/2 cup sugar1/2 tsp vanilla2 [...]]]> yeah, baby.

here she is, as promised, in all her luscious, rich, caffeinated glory.
this cheesecake is so incredibly delicious and it’s even better accompanied with a cup of coffee.
I can’t think of a better way to widen your hiney top off dinner.

Tiramisu Cheesecake

2 8 oz packages of cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 TB brandy
batch of Ladyfingers
1/2 cup espresso (or very strong coffee)

half pint whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar

cocoa powder

“Fetch me that Ottoman, and prithee keep your voice low, said the Emperor; and steep some lady’s-fingers nice in Candy wine”.

‘The Cap and Bells’ (1820)John Keats

I’m sure most of you have today off and if you’re not braving the cold amidst thousands of sale crazed lunatics, maybe you’ll consider staying in [...]]]>

“Fetch me that Ottoman, and prithee keep your voice low, said the Emperor; and steep some lady’s-fingers nice in Candy wine”.

‘The Cap and Bells’ (1820)
John Keats

I’m sure most of you have today off and if you’re not braving the cold amidst thousands of sale crazed lunatics, maybe you’ll consider staying in and baking some goodies.

I have been baking like a mad women lately, just to keep myself warm. (and if I keep eating everything I make, the layers of blubber will do well in keeping me warm.)

I have to share with you my favorite recipe for Tiramisu Cheesecake.
it is fabulous! it takes basic ingredients and the flavor is so close to that of the real thing, that I don’t even bother with making authentic Tiramisu anymore. (millions of Italians are cringing, as we speak.)

seriously, even if you’re not a fan of it, you have to at least try this recipe!
but not so fast!

before sharing the recipe, I first, have to show you how to make the amazing Italian sponge cookies that you use in Tiramisu.
Ladyfingers.
(yes, they’re readily available at your local bakery and grocery store but this is way more fun! plus, you can tell people you made them.)

(printable recipe here.)

1/2 cup cake flour, sifted
3 large egg yolks, room temperature
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 large egg whites, room temperature
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
Powdered (icing or confectioners) sugar for dusting the tops of the cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C)

In your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the egg yolks and 2 tablespoons (25 grams) white sugar on high speed for about 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes thick and pale yellow. (When you raise the beaters the batter should fall back into the bowl in a slow ribbon.)

Beat in the vanilla extract.

Sift the cake flour over the batter but do not fold in. set aside.

In a clean bowl, with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until foamy.

Add the cream of tartar.

Gradually add the 3 tablespoons white sugar.

and whip until stiff peaks form and the whites are glossy.

Fold the whites into the egg yolk and flour mixture in three additions, mixing only until incorporated.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

To make the piping of the cookies easier, use a marker and ruler to divide the parchment paper into three – 3 inch rows, with about 1 inch between rows. like so…

then flip parchment over before piping.
transfer the batter to a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch round tip.

Holding the bag at about a 45 degree angle to the baking sheet, pipe the batter into 3 inch long ladyfingers, using the lines drawn on the parchment paper as your guide. Pipe the batter leaving about a 1 inch space between the cookies.

When you have piped all the cookies, place the powdered sugar in a wire strainer, and

? “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” ?

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the ladyfingers are firm but barely browned and are still spongy when pressed with your finger.

Remove the baking sheets from the oven and slide the parchment paper from the baking sheets onto a wire rack.

Let the ladyfingers cool for a few minutes and release them from the parchment paper, with a flat spatula, while they are still warm. If you left them completely cool before removing them from the parchment they stick and hard to remove without breaking.

Finish cooling the ladyfingers on the wire rack. when cooled, place them in a single layer between wax paper inside of a large plastic bag.