Nutella Tiramisu

INGREDIENTS:

For the Mascarpone Filling:

1 cup of heavy whipping cream

8 ounces of mascarpone cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

For the Coffee Mixture:

1 cup of strong brewed coffee, cooled

1/4 cup of coffee liqueur (optional)

For the Layers:

24-30 ladyfingers (savoiardi)

4 ounces of semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

For the Topping:

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

Dark chocolate shavings (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Preparing the Mascarpone Filling:

Whip the Cream: In a large mixing bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

Mix Mascarpone: In another bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder. Beat until smooth and well combined.

Fold Together: Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until fully incorporated. Set aside.

Preparing the Coffee Mixture:

Brew Coffee: Brew a cup of strong coffee and let it cool to room temperature.

Add Liqueur: If using, stir in the coffee liqueur to the cooled coffee.

Assembling the Tiramisu:

Dip Ladyfingers: Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the coffee mixture, ensuring they are soaked but not soggy. Place a single layer of soaked ladyfingers in the bottom of a 9×9-inch baking dish or similar.

Add Filling: Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the layer of ladyfingers. Sprinkle half of the chopped chocolate over the mascarpone.

Repeat Layers: Add another layer of coffee-soaked ladyfingers on top of the mascarpone mixture. Spread the remaining mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers and sprinkle with the remaining chopped chocolate.

Chill: Cover the tiramisu with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the dessert to set.

Finishing the Tiramisu:

Dust with Cocoa: Just before serving, dust the top of the tiramisu with cocoa powder.

Add Chocolate Shavings: Garnish with dark chocolate shavings for an extra touch of elegance (optional).