If you’re searching for a showstopping treat that effortlessly blends the best of a classic Italian dessert and the beloved comfort of cookies, look no further than these Tiramisu Cookies. Imagine everything you adore about luscious tiramisu—creamy mascarpone, a punch of coffee, a dusting of cocoa—layered into a delightfully soft, espresso-kissed cookie sandwich. They’re elegant enough for company yet easy enough to whip up for a weeknight pick-me-up, and they’ll wow everyone with their flavorful twist.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in these Tiramisu Cookies plays an essential role, from capturing that unmistakable tiramisu taste to building the cookie’s perfect texture. Let’s break down what you’ll need and why every item matters.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened butter is key for that classic, tender cookie crumb and rich flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the cookies spread just the right amount in the oven.
- Brown Sugar: Packed brown sugar lends depth of flavor and a perfectly chewy texture.
- Large Egg: The egg binds your dough and ensures your cookies stay soft and cake-like.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla enhances all the other flavors and gives that warm, bakery aroma.
- Instant Espresso Powder: The heart of the coffee flavor; don’t skip this if you want true tiramisu notes.
- All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of your cookies for just the right amount of structure and softness.
- Baking Soda: Provides a gentle lift so your cookies don’t turn out dense.
- Salt: A small amount heightens all the sweet and complex flavors.
- White Chocolate Chips: These playful chips melt into the dough, mimicking the sweet layers of tiramisu.
- Mascarpone Cheese: The creamy middle that makes these truly reminiscent of classic tiramisu.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the mascarpone filling and adds silkiness.
- Brewed Espresso or Strong Coffee: Infuses the mascarpone filling with bold, aromatic coffee goodness.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: For dusting—gives that signature tiramisu finish!
How to Make Tiramisu Cookies
Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Sheet and Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. This simple prep step ensures your Tiramsu Cookies bake evenly and release easily, making your experience fuss-free from the start.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat together your softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is pale, fluffy, and inviting. This is the foundation of a great cookie—creaming properly incorporates air, which leads to light and tender bites.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients and Espresso
Next, beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth, then mix in the instant espresso powder. This coffee hit elevates the flavor and sets the Tiramisu Cookies apart from any ordinary cookie.
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients Separately
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Combining these before adding them to the wet mix ensures your leavening agent and salt are evenly distributed—which means uniform cookies every time.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Groups, Add White Chocolate Chips
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Overmixing can toughen cookies, so stop once the streaks disappear. Finally, fold in the white chocolate chips; they’ll sweeten and soften the cookie, echoing that mascarpone sweetness.
Step 6: Shape and Bake
Scoop out tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each. Pop the tray in the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes—keep an eye out for set edges and soft-looking centers. Resist overbaking; the cookies will continue to cook as they rest.
Step 7: Cool Completely
Let the cookies rest on the pan for 5 minutes so they set up and are easy to move, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key here—the mascarpone filling prefers a cool cookie!
Step 8: Make the Mascarpone Filling
While your cookies are cooling, whip together the mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and brewed espresso in a small bowl until completely smooth. The filling should look creamy and silky enough to spread or pipe easily.
Step 9: Assemble the Tiramisu Cookies
Pair up your cooled cookies by size, spread or pipe a generous swirl of mascarpone filling on the flat side of one, then gently sandwich with another. The two parts meld together for the ultimate tiramisu-inspired bite.
Step 10: Dust with Cocoa Powder
To finish, lightly dust the tops of your assembled Tiramisu Cookies with unsweetened cocoa powder. This simple step gives them that unmistakable tiramisu flourish and looks perfectly elegant for any occasion.
How to Serve Tiramisu Cookies
Garnishes
A graceful dusting of cocoa powder is classic, but you can also add a small chocolate curl, a coffee bean, or a light drizzle of melted chocolate for extra flair. Any of these finishing touches will take your Tiramisu Cookies to the next level—visually and flavor-wise!
Side Dishes
Serve these decadent cookies with a shot of fresh espresso, a creamy latte, or even alongside a scoop of vanilla gelato. The bold coffee flavors pair perfectly with creamy or milky drinks and desserts, turning a simple cookie moment into a real Italian-style coffee break.
Creative Ways to Present
Make dessert platters with a few Tiramisu Cookies nestled among fresh berries for a pop of color. For parties, arrange cookies on a cake stand and sprinkle extra cocoa around them for drama. Individual boxes or cellophane bags tied with ribbon turn these cookies into utterly charming edible gifts!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Tiramisu Cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Chilling helps preserve the creamy mascarpone filling and keeps the cookies fresh. Before serving, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes so the centers soften up beautifully.
Freezing
You can freeze the unfilled cookies for up to two months—just layer them with parchment paper in a container or ziplock bag. For best results, freeze the filling separately in a sealed container. When you’re ready, just thaw everything, assemble, and dust with cocoa before serving.
Reheating
There’s no need to reheat these cookies, but if you’d like to take the chill off or soften the cookies slightly, let them rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Avoid microwaving the filled cookies, as the mascarpone can become oily or separate.
FAQs
Can I use regular cream cheese instead of mascarpone?
Mascarpone gives these Tiramisu Cookies their authentic Italian flavor and luxurious texture, but in a pinch, you can substitute with full-fat cream cheese. Just know the result will be a little tangier and less silky than with mascarpone.
How strong is the coffee flavor in these cookies?
The coffee flavor is present but not overpowering, thanks to the balance of espresso powder in the dough and brewed espresso in the filling. If you’re a real coffee lover, you can enhance it even further by brushing a bit of brewed espresso on the cookie bottoms before filling.
Do I need to refrigerate Tiramisu Cookies after assembling?
Yes! Since the filling is made with mascarpone, it’s safest (and tastiest) to keep the cookies refrigerated until you’re ready to serve. Bringing them to room temperature for 10–15 minutes before enjoying yields the softest texture.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Absolutely—you can substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. The results will be just as rich and satisfying, so everyone can enjoy this riff on tiramisu!
What’s the best way to fill and assemble these cookies?
For neat and pretty sandwiches, use a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to pipe the mascarpone filling onto the cookies. This keeps things clean and lets you control the amount of filling for that perfect tiramisu cookie bite.
Final Thoughts
If tiramisu has ever been your dessert love language, you simply have to try these Tiramisu Cookies for yourself. Every bite is a little celebration of coffee, cream, and cookie magic—pure joy for bakers and tasters alike. Your kitchen is about to smell amazing, and your friends and family will be asking for these long after they’ve disappeared from the cookie jar!
Print
Tiramisu Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 12 sandwich cookies (24 individual cookies) 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the delightful combination of coffee and mascarpone with these Tiramisu Cookies. Soft and chewy espresso-infused cookies filled with a creamy mascarpone mixture, these sandwich cookies are a perfect treat for any coffee lover.
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Mascarpone Filling:
- 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon brewed espresso or strong coffee
- unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, then mix in the espresso powder until well combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Add chocolate chips: Fold in the white chocolate chips.
- Bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes.
- Cool and fill: Let cookies cool, then sandwich with mascarpone filling and dust with cocoa powder.
Notes
- For extra coffee flavor, brush the inside of each cookie with a bit of espresso before filling.
- Cookies can be assembled ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich cookie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
