This strawberry tiramisu recipe is the perfect spring dessert. Fresh strawberries are layered with ladyfingers (soaked in orange juice and St. Germain)and a whipped mascarpone-yogurt cream. Light and refreshing, this one is a crowd pleaser!
Why You’ll Love Strawberry Tiramisu
Here’s another catering recipe I thought I’d share: Strawberry Tiramisu. It’s a twist on the classic Italian dessert, but it highlights fresh strawberries. Instead of soaking ladyfingers in coffee liqueur, we use elderflower liquor (St. Germain) and orange juice, which gives them a delicate, citrusy-floral flavor. I love how light and refreshing this dessert is!
To prevent the ladyfingers from getting overly soggy, we lightly dip them in the soaking liquid for just a few seconds. Leaving a little texture is good here!
The nice thing is you can make these ahead and store them in the refrigerator (covered) for up to 8 hours. I find they are best served the same day so that you could make them in the morning for an evening event. Chilling them helps the mascarpone cream firm up, so chill for at least an hour. Here is our coffee-flavored classic tiramisu recipe.
For simplicity, we leave out the raw egg yolks, and there is no cooking involved. Easy breezy!
Strawberry Tiramisu Recipe Ingredients
- Strawberries: Feel free to substitute blackberries or blueberries — or use a mix of berries! Peaches are also delicious.
- Ladyfinger cookies: An essential and traditional ingredient in tiramisu.
- Mascarpone: Cream cheese can be used as a substitute in a pinch, but adjust the sweetness to taste.
- Greek yogurt: Use plain, full-fat Greek yogurt for best results. Or sub whipped cream.
- Elderflower liqueur: Like St. Germain. You could substitue elderflower syrup and leave out the honey.
- Orange juice and zest: Be sure to use fresh orange juice for optimal flavor!
- Sugar: Used to sweeten the mascarpone. Don’t use honey for this, it will curdle!
- Honey: To sweeten the orange juice and liqueur mixture.
- Mint leaves: For fresh, herby flavor.
- Vanilla extract: For a hint of cozy, sweet flavor.
- Optional garnishes: Toasted coconut, mint, or elderflower syrup.
How to Make Strawberry Tiramisu
1. Prep strawberries. Slice the strawberries and add them to a bowl with the sugar. Use more or less sugar, depending on how ripe and sweet the strawberries are. Add the orange zest and stir. Let them sit to release their juices; this is a process called maceration.
2. Make the mascarpone cream mixture. Add mascarpone to a stand mixer (or electric mixer) and beat with sugar until forming peaks. Fold in the yogurt gently.
3. Whisk together the orange juice mixture. Whisk together the orange juice, elderflower liqueur, water, vanilla, and honey in a medium bowl.
4. Assemble. Place a dollop (2 tablespoons) of the mascarpone mixture in the bottom of six glasses. One by one, dip a ladyfinger in the orange juice mixture, let it soak for up to 5 seconds, then break it into 3 pieces and place in a glass over the cream. The cookies should not be soggy!
Spoon in half of the sliced strawberries over top, then repeat this process (mascarpone cream, soaked ladyfingers, sliced strawberries) until all is divided. Top the glasses with any remaining mascarpone cream, or let the strawberries be the top layer.
5. Chill. Refrigerate until ready to serve, allowing the mascarpone to firm up.
6. Garnish. Top each glass with toasted coconut, mint, or a drizzle of elderflower syrup.
Chef’s Tips
- Use ripe, sweet strawberries for the best flavor!
- Dip ladyfingers briefly in the soaking liquid (no more than 5 seconds) to avoid soggy layers.
- Chill for at least an hour before serving so the mascarpone cream can firm up properly.
- Make ahead up to 8 hours in advance! Just cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Swap in other fruits like blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, nectarines, or peaches.
- Use mini cups for parties! This is great for individual servings at gatherings or showers. Tall shot glasses work really well here.
- Try other toppings like orange or lemon zest, cocoa powder, elderflower syrup or strawberry sauce, or make an orange syrup (simmer orange liqueur and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat).
Make-ahead & Storage
You can make the strawberry tiramisu up to 8 hours in advance and store in the refrigerator, covered. Leftovers can be stored for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions
The recipe yields six portions that are 1 cup each. If you prefer, you can make this in an 8 x 8 baking dish in two layers, or you can make mini desserts in tall shot glasses with mini forks. If you make mini portions, you’ll get 16-20 servings, depending on the size of the cups.
FAQs
For this spring-inspired tiramisu, we use a mixture of orange juice, elderflower liqueur, water, vanilla, and honey.
Don’t soak the ladyfingers too long in the liquid. Just a few seconds is enough, or they’ll become overly soggy and lose their structure.
Use mascarpone! While you can substitute cream cheese, it is much better with good-quality Italian mascarpone.
Give this Strawberry Tiramisu recipe a try, and I hope you enjoy it! Please remember to rate the recipe ⭐️ and leave your adaptations in the comments so others can read them too.
More Spring Dessert Recipes!
Strawberry Tiramisu Recipe
- Prep Time: 45
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: desserts, spring dessert,
- Method: Various
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This strawberry tiramisu recipe is the perfect spring dessert. Fresh strawberries are layered with lady fingers soaked in orange juice and St. Germain (elderflower liqueur) with a whipped mascarpone-yogurt cream. Light and refreshing, this one is a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries, sliced or quartered
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 tablespoon mint leaves, torn
- 8 ounces mascarpone cheese, at room temp.
- 1–2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup plain, full-fat Greek yogurt
-
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
-
1/4 cup Elderflower liqueur (Like St. Germain)
-
2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 ladyfinger cookies
- Optional Garnishes- toasted coconut, mint, or elderflower syrup.
Instructions
- Prep strawberries. Slice strawberries and toss with sugar (more or less depending on how ripe and sweet they are) and orange zest. Stir and let them sit, allowing the juices to release (this is called maceration).
- Make the mascarpone cream mixture. Add mascarpone cheese to a stand mixer and beat with sugar. Gently fold in the yogurt. (You can also use an electric mixer.)
- Make the dipping liquid. In a medium bowl, squeeze the orange juice, then whisk in the elderflower liqueur, water, vanilla, and honey.
- Assemble. Ready six glasses and assemble the tiramisu. Place a dollop (2 tablespoons) of mascarpone cream in the bottom of each glass. One at a time, dip a ladyfinger in the orange juice-elderflower mixture, letting it soak up just a little (5 seconds). Break it apart into 3 pieces and place in a glass over the cream. Repeat to fill all the glasses. They should not be soggy. Spoon in half of the sliced strawberries into the glasses. Repeat this process, layering with mascarpone cream, soaked ladyfingers, and then sliced strawberries, until all is used up. Top with any extra marcapone cream, or let the strawberries be the top layer.
- Refrigerate until serving, the marscope will firm up in the fridge.
- Garnish with toasted coconut, mint, or a drizzle of elderflower syrup.
Notes
This can be made up to 8 hours in advance, covered and stored in the refrigerator. Leftovers will keep up to 3 days.
Serving sizes. This makes six portions that are about 1 cup each. You can also make this in an 8 x 8 baking dish (in two layers). You can make mini desserts in tall shot glasses, served with a mini fork ( like we would in catering) and get 16-20 portions depending on the size of the cup.
Substitutions. Feel free to use or add blackberries or blueberries. Peaches would also be delicious. Cream cheese can be used instead of mascarpone in a pinch- adjust the sweetness to taste. Honey can make the mascarpone curdle- sugar works best. Sub whipped cream for the yogurt if you prefer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 384
- Sugar: 19.5 g
- Sodium: 72 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1.9 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 102.8 mg
Would you please recommend a substitute for the elderflower syrup or liqueur?
Maybe more orange juice or would that be too boring?
I think that would work? Haven’t tried it though… or perhaps mix in another fruit juice. Strawberry juice would be delicious!
This looks delicious. But we don’t drink alcohol of any kind. I am wondering if you have any ideas of what I could replace it with? Thanks
Hi Sandy, what about using elder flower syrup and skipping the honey.
So tasty! Made this for Easter and will absolutely be making it again for future spring/summer desserts.
So happy to hear this Jenny! Appreciate you taking time to review.