Cranberry and Orange Tiramisu (Printable)
Festive Italian dessert with tart cranberries, bright orange flavors, and velvety mascarpone cream layered between delicate ladyfingers.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cranberry Compote
01 - 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
04 - 1 teaspoon orange zest
→ Mascarpone Cream
05 - 1 cup cold heavy cream
06 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
07 - 8 oz chilled mascarpone cheese
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Assembly Components
09 - 24 ladyfinger biscuits (savoiardi)
10 - 1/2 cup orange juice for dipping
11 - 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (optional)
12 - Orange zest for garnish
13 - Fresh cranberries for garnish
14 - Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Combine cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and mixture thickens, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before assembling.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whip cold heavy cream with powdered sugar using an electric mixer or whisk until soft peaks form. Set aside.
03 - In a separate bowl, beat mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
04 - Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until fully incorporated and no streaks remain.
05 - In a shallow dish, combine orange juice with orange liqueur if using. For a non-alcoholic version, use only orange juice.
06 - Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the orange juice mixture, ensuring not to oversaturate. Arrange half of the dipped ladyfingers in a single layer at the bottom of a 9x9-inch baking dish.
07 - Spread half of the mascarpone cream evenly over the ladyfingers. Spoon half of the cooled cranberry compote over the cream layer, distributing gently.
08 - Create a second layer with remaining dipped ladyfingers, followed by remaining mascarpone cream, and finish with remaining cranberry compote.
09 - Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, though overnight chilling is recommended for optimal flavor and texture development.
10 - Before serving, sprinkle with fresh orange zest, scatter whole cranberries on top, and dust with powdered sugar if desired. Slice and serve chilled.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The tart cranberries cut through the rich cream perfectly so each bite feels balanced not heavy
- You can make it ahead which means less stress when hosting holiday gatherings
02 -
- Do not soak the ladyfingers or they will become too soggy and the texture will be off
- The compote must be completely cold before layering or it will melt the mascarpone cream
03 -
- Room temperature mascarpone mixes more smoothly but chilled cream whips better so plan accordingly
- Zest your oranges before juicing them to get the most flavor from each fruit