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Home » Recipes » Christmas

Published: Dec 20, 2021 by Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Christmas Gingerbread Tiramisu

Jump to Recipe

Give your holiday dessert table an elegant spin with this show-stopping Christmas gingerbread tiramisu! Italian ladyfingers are soaked in a dark rum-spiked, sweetened coffee mixture and then layered with a perfectly creamy spiced mascarpone filling. You can prepare this luscious Christmas tiramisu in just 30 minutes, and it’s guaranteed to receive rave reviews.

A slice of gingerbread tiramisu with a Christmas scene in the background.
Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • Perfect Pairing
  • More Favorite Gingerbread Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Puts a holiday twist on a classic favorite dessert: Everyone adores tiramisu, so you know it’s sure to please. And then you add that beloved gingerbread flavor? That’s some holiday dessert perfection.

Gives your holiday menu a unique touch: With the festive gingerbread spice, this is a tiramisu like no other and will make for one memorable meal. I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a new Christmas dessert tradition.

Makes for easy entertaining: Not only does this gingerbread tiramisu come together in just 30 minutes but you also prepare it ahead of serving time. This allows you to focus on being present during your holiday celebration rather than running around the kitchen trying to putting the finishing touches on dessert.

Related: For more holiday desserts, try my peppermint ice cream and gingerbread pudding.

Ingredients

The ingredients on a white wooden board with black and white labels.

And those are our gingerbread tiramisu ingredients. Now for a few notes to set you up for success.

Ladyfingers: Make sure you get the crunchy type of ladyfingers, not the soft variety that’s often found in the produce or bakery section of the store. Those bakery-style ladyfingers don’t hold up as well. You can find crunchy ladyfingers in the cookie aisle.

Mascarpone: This is an Italian cheese that serves as tiramisu's creamy custard base. While it looks similar to cream cheese, it's even more velvety with a mild flavor. Generally, I find it with the speciality cheeses in the grocery store rather than the section with mass-produced cheese.

Dark rum: While Marsala, a fortified wine, is traditional in tiramisu, we use dark rum to give our espresso mixture a kick. You’ll just love how the rum’s rich caramel notes complement the warm spices.

Molasses: Make sure you get unsulphured molasses, not blackstrap. Unsulphured molasses is made from ripe sugarcane, making for a sweeter, tastier flavor. Typically, you can pick up molasses in the baking or breakfast aisle.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Now let's get to making our delicious gingerbread tiramisu!

Step 1: In a small bowl, we stir together our coffee, sugar and rum and set the mixture aside to cool (photo 1).

Stirring the coffee mixture in a white bowl.

Step 2: Using a separate bowl, we beat some heavy cream until stiff peaks form (photo 2) and then also set that aside.

Beating the heavy cream in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form.

Step 3: Now we take a large mixing bowl and add the mascarpone, egg yolks, sugar, molasses and spices (photo 3) until it turns into one creamy filling like so (photo 4).

A collage showing the process of beating the mascarpone mixture until it turns smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Now we gently fold in our whipped heavy cream until it fully incorporates with the mascarpone mixture (photos 5 and 6).

Folding the whipped cream mixture into the mascarpone mixture in a bowl.

Step 5: From here, we're ready to assemble. We start by quickly dipping the ladyfingers in the coffee mixture (photo 7) and then layering it on the bottom of an 8-inch-by-8-inch baking dish. Once we complete the first layer, we spread on half the mascarpone filling (photo 8), repeat with another layer of ladyfingers (photo 9), and then top with the remaining mascarpone filling (photo 10).

A four-photo collage showing how to assemble the tiramisu layers in a baking dish.

And just like that, our Christmas tiramisu is prepared! All that's left is to cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate until set and serve. Now get excited because you're about to devour one decadent Christmas Italian dessert.

A person holding a spoon and digging into a piece of the gingerbread tiramisu.

Recipe FAQs

How long can you refrigerate tiramisu?

While tiramisu should last for three days in the refrigerator, I think it's at its best when enjoyed within the first day or two. After it sits for too long, tiramisu starts to turn soupy, and no one wants that. Also, make sure you plan for the tiramisu to refrigerate for at least six hours.

Do I have to add alcohol to tiramisu?

While I love the flavor it adds and it is a traditional ingredient, you can leave out the alcohol if you prefer. Whether you serve this gingerbread tiramisu with or without alcohol, you will still get a flavorful, decadent dessert.

Is it safe to eat tiramisu with uncooked eggs?

Tiramisu is traditionally prepared with uncooked eggs, which comes with a minimal risk. As long as you use high-quality, fresh eggs, they are generally safe uncooked. Another option is to buy pasteurized eggs, which are heated in their shells and safe to consume raw.

That said, if you're serving someone who is immunocompromised or you just don't feel comfortable, I included an option for making this tiramisu with cooked eggs by beating them over simmering water. This is detailed in the recipe card.

Can you double the recipe?

Absolutely! Simply double the ingredients and use a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish. This recipe uses an 8-inch-by-inch baking dish to serve about eight to nine people, but double is perfect when you have a larger crowd.

Expert Tips

  • Make sure the mascarpone is at room temperature before beating. If it’s too cold, you won’t get that wonderfully creamy texture. Letting it sit in room temperature for 30 minutes will take care of it.
  • The egg yolks should also be at room temperature, but you may find they're easier to separate when cold. Then, let the egg yolks sit in room temperature with the mascarpone.
  • When lining the baking dish, you may need to break up some of the ladyfingers to fit in the tighter spaces.
  • Quickly dip the ladyfingers. They absorb the liquid right away, so a long soak will disintegrate the little cookies. About three seconds does the trick.
  • While I love the dark rum with the gingerbread flavor, it's also great with other liquors, liqueurs and fortified wine, such as bourbon, amaretto, Kahlua or tawny port. Feel free to experiment!

Perfect Pairing

For the perfect beer pairing, try a barley wine with this gingerbread tiramisu. The high ABV gives this beer residual sweetness that makes it wonderful with desserts, and you'll love how that malty, caramel-like flavor works with our creamy filling.

Prefer a wine? I'm a big fan of tawny port with gingerbread treats. With a tawny port, we get caramel, toffee and dried fruit notes that pair wonderfully with our rich molasses and spices.

Or if you really love gingerbread, I have just the cocktails for you -- this gingerbread martini, gingerbread old fashioned, gingerbread margarita or gingerbread mule! My gingerbread latte makes for a nice after-dinner drink with this as well. You are also more than welcome to check out my Christmas cocktail guide for more pairing inspiration.

For the most festive dessert, I hope you try this Christmas gingerbread tiramisu. You'll fall in love with every creamy, luscious bite, and it's sure to be your new go-to holiday treat.

Cheers!

Looking straight on to the gingerbread tiramisu with a small Christmas tree and decor around it.

More Favorite Gingerbread Recipes

  • A loaf of pumpkin gingerbread with pumpkins and fall flowers in the background.
    Pumpkin Gingerbread
  • A stack of gingerbread waffles from the top down.
    Gingerbread Waffles With Cardamom-Vanilla Butter
  • Two mugs of this homemade gingerbread latte with cinnamon sticks to the side and Christmas decor in the background.
    Homemade Gingerbread Latte
  • A glass bowl of gingerbread ice cream with ornaments and gingerbread cookies around it with a gold spoon sticking out of the bowl.
    Gingerbread Ice Cream

If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

📖 Recipe

A slice of gingerbread tiramisu with a Christmas scene in the background.

Christmas Gingerbread Tiramisu

Give your holiday dessert table an elegant spin with this show-stopping Christmas gingerbread tiramisu! Italian ladyfingers are soaked in a dark rum-spiked, sweetened coffee mixture and then layered with a perfectly creamy spiced mascarpone filling. You can prepare this luscious Christmas tiramisu in just 30 minutes, and it’s guaranteed to receive rave reviews.
5 from 85 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Chilling Time: 6 hours hours
Total Time: 6 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 317kcal
Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Hand or stand mixer
  • 8-inch-by-8-inch baking dish
  • Plastic wrap

Ingredients

Coffee Mixture for Ladyfingers

  • 2 cups espresso or strong coffee
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup dark rum
  • 1 (7-ounce) package of ladyfingers about 24 cookies, found in cookie aisle

Gingerbread-Mascarpone Filling

  • ¾ cup cold heavy cream
  • 3 egg yolks room temperature
  • 8 ounces mascarpone softened
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses not the blackstrap variety
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, mix together the espresso or coffee, white sugar and dark rum until the sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the egg yolks, mascarpone, white sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and allspice on medium speed until light and fluffy and no lumps remain, about five minutes. Initially, it will seem a little liquidy, but it will thicken as you beat it.
  • Alternatively, if you don't want to use raw egg yolks, place a heatproof mixing bowl with the egg yolks and sugar on a medium saucepan filled with 2-3 inches of simmering -- not boiling -- water and beat until the mixture thickens and about doubles in volume, approximately seven to 10 minutes. The heat will gently cook the eggs. If it starts to get too hot, lift the bowl and give it a chance to slightly cool. Remove the bowl from the heat and let it cool for about 15 minutes. Then, beat in the mascarpone, molasses and spices until light and fluffy.
  • Gently fold the whipped heavy cream into the mascarpone mixture until fully incorporated.
  • Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the cooled coffee mixture, no more than three seconds. Layer on the bottom of an 8-inch-by-8-inch baking dish. Spread half of the gingerbread-mascarpone filling on top. Repeat with the remaining ladyfingers and spread the other half of the gingerbread-mascarpone filling.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least six hours. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon for a garnish if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Make sure the mascarpone is at room temperature before beating. If it’s too cold, you won’t get that wonderfully creamy texture. Letting it sit in room temperature for 30 minutes will take care of it.
  • The egg yolks should also be at room temperature, but you may find they're easier to separate when cold. Then, let the egg yolks sit in room temperature with the mascarpone.
  • When lining the baking dish, you may need to break up some of the ladyfingers to fit in the tighter spaces.
  • Quickly dip the ladyfingers. They absorb the liquid right away, so a long soak will disintegrate the little cookies. About three seconds does the trick.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 825IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BurrataandBubbles or tag #burratandbubbles!

More Christmas Recipes

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Comments

    5 from 85 votes (75 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Chandice Probst says

    January 02, 2022 at 8:09 pm

    5 stars
    This dessert literally combined two of my favorite Christmas treats, gingerbread and Italian tiramisu. How could we not love it?! Thank you so much for such a fantastic holiday recipe…

    Reply
  2. Moop Brown says

    January 02, 2022 at 4:54 pm

    5 stars
    I love festive desserts like this and especially appreciate the perfect texture of this tiramisu.

    Reply
  3. Ramona says

    January 02, 2022 at 4:18 pm

    5 stars
    This gingerbread tiramisu looks super delicious and it's perfect for Christmas! Thank you for sharing this recipe it looks amazing and I cant wait to try it out!

    Reply
  4. Katie Crenshaw says

    January 02, 2022 at 3:10 pm

    5 stars
    We love Tiramisu, so I thought I would try this gingerbread version for the holidays. The filling was so delicious. It came out fantastic. This will be a new holiday tradition.

    Reply
  5. Aya says

    January 02, 2022 at 8:45 am

    5 stars
    I bought a lot of gluten-free ladyfingers for the holidays but didn't get to use them all. So your recipe is literally a lifesaver. I wanted to make an alcohol-free version, so I used buttermilk instead of rum, which turned out great. I loved your use of molasses; it gave the tiramisu a fantastic flavor. I highly recommend this recipe!

    Reply
  6. Dennis Littley says

    January 01, 2022 at 7:42 am

    5 stars
    what a novel way to make tiramisu! I bet it was delicious!

    Reply
  7. Mikayla says

    December 30, 2021 at 9:25 pm

    5 stars
    Very good dessert, I have recently discovered I do enjoy some desserts with molasses. I am happy to add this recipe to my binder of printed recipes. It was easy prep, only wished we could speed up the chill process.

    Reply
  8. Healing Tomato says

    December 30, 2021 at 5:38 pm

    5 stars
    You brought two of my favorite desserts together in one recipe! How can I say no to this tiramisu, lol. The dessert looks so festive and easy to make.

    Reply
  9. Colleen says

    December 29, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    5 stars
    It really did receive rave reviews. The best Christmas dinner dessert. Thank you for sharing this great recipe!

    Reply
  10. Kayla DiMaggio says

    December 29, 2021 at 7:50 am

    5 stars
    This Christmas Gingerbread Tiramisu was so delicious! I loved the flavor of the gingerbread with the classic tiramisu flavors. So yummy!

    Reply

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A headshot of Amanda, the owner of Burrata and Bubbles, holding a beer.

Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor.

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Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor.

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