Easy Lemon Tiramisu No Bake (Printable)

Lemon-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream and zest for a light, no-bake dessert ideal for spring.

# What You Need:

→ Lemon Syrup

01 - 1 cup water
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - Juice of 2 lemons (about 1/3 cup)
04 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Mascarpone Cream

05 - 1 cup heavy cream, cold
06 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
07 - 8 oz mascarpone cheese, softened
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Assembly

10 - 24 ladyfinger cookies (savoiardi)
11 - Lemon slices and extra zest, for garnish (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Combine water, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and zest in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring continuously until sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool thoroughly before using.
02 - Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the cold heavy cream and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
03 - In a separate bowl, gently beat the softened mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until completely smooth and no lumps remain.
04 - Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture using a spatula, being careful not to deflate the air. Continue folding until fully incorporated and fluffy.
05 - Working quickly, dip each ladyfinger into the cooled lemon syrup for just 1-2 seconds per side. The cookies should be moistened but not saturated or soggy.
06 - Arrange half of the dipped ladyfingers in a single layer at the bottom of a 9x9-inch dish, breaking pieces as needed to fit snugly.
07 - Spread half of the mascarpone cream evenly over the ladyfinger layer using an offset spatula, ensuring complete coverage.
08 - Repeat dipping the remaining ladyfingers and arrange them over the first cream layer. Top with the remaining mascarpone cream, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
09 - Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to develop and the dessert to set properly.
10 - Before serving, decorate the top with fresh lemon slices and additional lemon zest if desired. Cut into squares and serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No oven required and it comes together faster than you can finish your morning coffee
  • The bright lemon flavor cuts through richness making each impossibly light
02 -
  • Overdipped ladyfingers will turn your elegant dessert into a soggy mess so work quickly and confidently
  • The chilling time is not optional this needs those hours to transform from separate layers into cohesive bites
03 -
  • Fold the whipped cream in gently to maintain all that air you just whipped into it
  • Use a glass dish so you can see those beautiful layered edges from the side

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