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Enjoy a touch of Italian elegance with this single serving tiramisu. Made with coffee-soaked ladyfingers and a creamy, egg-free filling, this dessert is both quick and satisfying. Ready in just 10 minutes, it’s the perfect way to indulge in a classic treat without worrying about leftovers.
Looking for more easy and elegant desserts made just for one? Try the decadent Chocolate Lava Cake, the airy and sweet mini Pavlova, the rich Flourless Chocolate Cake, or the zesty Lemon Meringue Pie.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Ready in just 10 minutes, making it perfect for a last-minute dessert.
- Egg-Free: Made without raw eggs for a lighter, worry-free treat.
- Perfectly Portioned: Designed for a single serving, so there’s no waste or leftovers.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses pantry staples and common items—no fancy or hard-to-find ingredients required.
- Scalable: Easily double or triple the recipe to share with someone special or for a small gathering.
Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert featuring layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, creamy mascarpone, and a dusting of cocoa powder. While traditional recipes often include an egg-based custard, our version skips the eggs for a simpler preparation, perfect for anyone avoiding eggs. This streamlined approach doesn’t sacrifice flavor—it still delivers the indulgent, coffee-infused treat you know and love.
Our single serving tiramisu is ideal for anyone cooking for one. It’s perfectly portioned, so there’s no need to worry about leftovers, and it comes together in just 10 minutes—making it a quick and satisfying dessert for a one or a special occasion.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serving tiramisu recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Heavy Cream: Essential for a rich, velvety filling. Low-fat alternatives won’t whip properly, so stick with heavy cream or heavy whipping cream for the best results. Leftovers can be used in Caramelized Banana Pudding, mini French Silk Pie, and creamy Panna Cotta.
- Granulated Sugar and Vanilla Extract: These pantry staples add sweetness and aroma, enhancing the dessert’s flavor.
- Mascarpone Cheese: This Italian cream cheese gives tiramisu its signature richness. Look for it in the dairy aisle. Leftovers are delicious in desserts or as a spread on bread.
- Ladyfingers: Also known as Savoiardi, these sweet, airy biscuits absorb the coffee mixture beautifully. Use 4–5 ladyfingers, depending on the size of your dish. You can make them from scratch using our homemade ladyfingers recipe or find them in most supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute with shortbread cookies or pound cake.
- Coffee: Strong coffee or espresso works best. About 6 tablespoons are needed, making this a great use for leftover morning coffee.
- Rum or Brandy: Optional, but a splash adds depth. Kahlua or Marsala wine are great alternatives. Omit for a non-alcoholic version.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: A final dusting of cocoa adds a slight bitterness that balances the sweetness of the other ingredients.
Recipe Variations
This single serving tiramisu is easy to customize. Try one of these fun variations:
- Alcohol-Free Tiramisu: Swap the rum or brandy for a splash of coffee or almond extract.
- Tropical Variation: Soak the ladyfingers in a mix of coconut milk and rum, then top with toasted coconut flakes.
- Mocha Flavor: Stir 1/4 teaspoon of dissolved instant coffee or espresso powder into the cream mixture for a mocha-inspired dessert.
- Citrus Zest: Add 1/2 teaspoon of orange or lemon zest to the cream mixture for a bright, citrusy flavor.
How To Make Tiramisu
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a single serve 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 the mascarpone cheese and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Prepare the Ladyfingers: Dip the ladyfingers into room temperature espresso or strong coffee. If using, stir in a splash of rum or brandy. Break the ladyfingers in half if needed to fit your dish.
- First Layer: Arrange the dipped ladyfingers in the base of a 10-ounce ramekin to form the first layer.
- Add Cream: Spread half of the mascarpone mixture evenly over the layer of ladyfingers.
- Second Layer: Repeat with another layer of dipped ladyfingers, followed by the remaining cream mixture.
- Finish and Serve: Dust the top with unsweetened cocoa powder. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
Expert Tips
- Read First: Before starting, read the full recipe and Ingredient Notes. Take a look at the process photos for extra guidance. This will help you feel confident with each step.
- Quick Dip for Ladyfingers: Dip ladyfingers in coffee briefly—just a quick in-and-out. Soaking them too long can make them soggy and cause them to fall apart.
- Mastering Soft Peaks: When whipping the cream, sugar, and vanilla, aim for soft peaks. The mixture should hold its shape briefly when the whisk is lifted but still look slightly soft and creamy, not stiff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! You can simply leave it out or use a bit more vanilla extract.
A 10-ounce ramekin or a similar small dish works perfectly for this recipe.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld, but it can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance.
Yes, this recipe scales easily. Just double the ingredients and use a 5×5 inch dish to assemble.
Tiramisu is best enjoyed within 2 days. Cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
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 serve 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
- ½ teaspoon brandy (optional): Can be substituted with rum, Amaretto, Marsala wine, or Kahlua, or simply omitted if preferred.
- 5 ladyfingers/Savoiardi
- cocoa powder -for dusting
Instructions
- Make the Cream Mixture: Whip the cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add the mascarpone cheese and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Prepare the Ladyfingers: Pour the coffee (and brandy, if using) into a shallow bowl. If the ladyfingers are too long for your ramekin, break them in half. Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the coffee, ensuring they are coated but not soggy.
- First Layer: Arrange a layer of dipped ladyfingers at the bottom of the ramekin.
- Add Cream: Spread half of the whipped mascarpone mixture evenly over the ladyfingers.
- Second Layer: Add another layer of dipped ladyfingers, followed by the remaining mascarpone mixture.
- Finish and Chill: Dust the top with cocoa powder using a fine sieve. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
- Read First: Before starting, read the full recipe and Ingredient Notes. Take a look at the process photos for extra guidance. This will help you feel confident with each step.
- Quick Dip for Ladyfingers: Dip ladyfingers in coffee briefly—just a quick in-and-out. Soaking them too long can make them soggy and cause them to fall apart.
- Mastering Soft Peaks: When whipping the cream, sugar, and vanilla, aim for soft peaks. The mixture should hold its shape briefly when the whisk is lifted but still look slightly soft and creamy, not stiff.
- 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.