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This single serving tiramisu is a creamy, no-bake dessert made with layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and a rich mascarpone filling. It’s egg-free, easy to make, and ready in just 10 minutes.
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“So good and so easy! A lovely treat!”
– Peg
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 10 Minutes: A quick dessert that comes together fast.
- No Raw Eggs: A lighter, egg-free version of classic tiramisu.
- Single Serving: Perfectly portioned with no waste.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with easy-to-find items you likely have on hand.
- Easy to Scale: Double the recipe to serve more.
What I love most about this single serving tiramisu is how it captures all the richness and flavor of the classic dessert without the fuss. You still get the bold coffee-soaked ladyfingers, the creamy mascarpone filling, and that final dusting of cocoa, but it’s made without eggs and ready in just 10 minutes.
It’s simple, comforting, and perfectly portioned for one, so you can treat yourself without overdoing it. Whether you’re ending a long day or making something special just for you, this dessert always feels like the right choice.
Looking for more easy and elegant desserts made just for one? Try a single serving chocolate lava cake, mini pavlova, small flourless chocolate cake, or a lemon meringue pie for one.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small tiramisu recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Heavy Cream: Use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream for a rich, stable filling. Low-fat creams won’t whip properly. Extra cream can be used in a single serve caramelized banana pudding, small French silk pie, and panna cotta for one.
- Granulated Sugar and Vanilla Extract: Add sweetness and flavor to the creamy filling.
- Mascarpone Cheese: Adds the classic richness to tiramisu. Find it in the dairy section. Leftovers make a great spread or addition to other desserts.
- Ladyfingers: Use 4 to 5 Savoiardi biscuits, depending on dish size. They soak up the coffee perfectly. Use our homemade ladyfingers recipe or store-bought ladyfingers. If needed, substitute with small batch shortbread cookies or a mini pound cake.
- Coffee: Use 6 tablespoons of strong coffee or espresso. Leftover morning coffee works well.
- Rum or Brandy (Optional): Adds depth. Try Kahlua or Marsala wine, or leave it out for a non-alcoholic version.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: A light dusting on top balances the sweetness with a hint of bitterness.
Recipe Variations
This single serving tiramisu is easy to adapt with different flavors:
- Alcohol-Free Tiramisu: Replace rum or brandy with a splash of coffee or almond extract.
- Tropical: Soak ladyfingers in coconut milk and rum, then top with toasted coconut.
- Mocha: Add 1/4 teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder to the cream mixture.
- Citrus: Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of orange or lemon zest for a bright, fresh twist.
How To Make Tiramisu
These photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a small 10-minute tiramisu. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Make the Cream Mixture: Whip the cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add mascarpone and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Dip the Ladyfingers: Stir rum or brandy into room temperature coffee if using. Quickly dip the ladyfingers and break them in half if needed to fit your dish.
- Layer the Base: Place the dipped ladyfingers in a 10-ounce ramekin to form the bottom layer.
- Add Cream: Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers.
- Repeat Layers: Add a second layer of dipped ladyfingers, then top with the remaining cream.
- Chill and Serve: Dust with cocoa powder and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Expert Tips
- Read First: Review the full recipe and ingredient notes before starting. The process photos can also help guide you.
- Dip Quickly: Dip ladyfingers briefly in coffee (just in and out) to keep them from getting soggy.
- Soft Peaks: Whip the cream mixture until it holds its shape but still looks soft and smooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, simply leave it out or use a bit more vanilla extract.
Chill for at least 2 hours to let the flavors come together. Longer is fine.
Yes, you can make it a day in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator.
A 10-ounce ramekin works perfectly.
Yes, this recipe scales easily. Just double the ingredients and use a 5×5 inch dish to assemble.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single mini tiramisu recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!
Tiramisu For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup mascarpone cheese -room temperature
- 6 tablespoons strong coffee or espresso – room temperature
- ½ teaspoon brandy (optional) or use Amaretto, Marsala wine, or Kahlua – or omit if preferred
- 5 ladyfingers/savoiardi
- cocoa powder -for dusting
Instructions
- Whip the cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add mascarpone and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Pour the coffee (and brandy, if using) into a shallow bowl. Quickly dip the ladyfingers and break them in half if needed to fit your dish.
- Place dipped ladyfingers in a 10-ounce ramekin to form the bottom layer.
- Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers.
- Add a second layer of dipped ladyfingers, then top with the remaining cream.
- Dust with cocoa powder and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- Read First: Review the full recipe and ingredient notes before starting. The process photos can also help guide you.
- Dip Quickly: Dip ladyfingers briefly in coffee (just in and out) to keep them from getting soggy.
- Soft Peaks: Whip the cream mixture until it holds its shape but still looks soft and smooth.
- 1 egg
- 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
- Separate the Egg: Place the yolk in one bowl and the white in another.
- Whip Egg White: Using a hand mixer or large whisk, whip the egg white until foamy. Add 1/2 tablespoon of sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is glossy.
- Whip Egg Yolk: In a separate bowl, whip the egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of sugar until thick and pale.
- Combine Mixtures: Gently fold in half of the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Then, fold in the flour and baking powder.
- Fold in Remaining Egg Whites: Carefully fold in the rest of the egg whites until fully combined.
- Pipe the Batter: Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round tip, or use a medium-sized plastic bag with the tip cut off. Pipe the batter into 3-inch long lines about 1 inch apart on a small baking sheet.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the ladyfingers for 7-8 minutes until they are lightly golden.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
So good and so easy! A lovely treat!
Could you double this? And use the 5×5 baking dish?
Yes, the 5×5 dish works beautifully if doubling the recipe.
I was going to try the one serving method, but decided to make a single larger batch by multiplying the ingredients by 4. I had a liquor on hand (Amaro Agnone) and added it to the coffee. We loved the results. It was so easy! Thank you!
Can I replace mascarpone with cream cheese?
Yes, you can use cream cheese as a substitute for mascarpone here. The filling won’t be as creamy and will be slightly tangy but still should be delicious.
I’m allergic to coffee so I substituted mint hot chocolate and it was amazing!
I always use a coffee substitute to make anything that requires coffee and no one can tell it’s not coffee as it taste exactly like coffee and it’s natural 😉
On a different note I made this cake and it was delicious and quick to put together. Great for
Last minute dessert or when you get a tiramisu craving but don’t want to go through all the process of making the authentic versions.