This is my Italian friend’s family recipe. I have had the finished product (super delicious) and can’t wait to try the recipe myself!
One of the tricks is to use Savioardi Cookies instead of ladyfingers that a lot of generic recipes call for. You can find this at Italian specialty shops. We found the below in Chelsea Market’s Buon Italia.

Tiramisu
Ingredients:
Organic Eggs – 4 to 5 (seprate yolk and whites; use organic eggs since the eggs are not cooked in this recipe)
Mascarpone Cheese – 2-3 containers (Italian brands)
Sugar
Salt
Cocoa powder
Savioardi Cookies (found in Italian specialty shops – see pic below; my friend does not allow substitution for ladyfingers)
Coffee
Brandy or Rum
Directions:
- Beat egg yolks and mascarpone together in a bowl. Add a few tablespoons of sugar (this is by eye so not sure of how much).
- Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt.
- Pour egg whites into the bowl of mixed yolks and mascarpone.
- Make coffee (somewhat strong) and pour in some liquor. Let the coffee cool enough so that the cookies don’t disintegrate when you dip them.
- Start layering the tiramisu, alternating cream with wet cookies. To wet cookies, dip them in the coffee-liquor mix.
- Top off with cocoa powder. Let sit in fridge for several hours, preferably overnight.