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Individual Tiramisu Parfaits

posted by Liz Berg on April 19, 2020 (updated 10/27/22)

Individual Tiramisu Parfaits are a multi-layered version of the classic Italian dessert. An easy, luscious no-bake recipe that will have everyone swooning after their first bite. And as a bonus, no one has to share!!

This Easy Tiramisu Recipe is flavored with coffee, Kahlua, and Frangelico for a trifecta of deliciousness! Plus the creamy mascarpone and eggs give a rich, dreamy mouthfeel that can’t be rivaled!

Tiramisu Parfait in a glass with a red handled spoon.

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Must Make

2 How to Make

3 Frequently Asked Questions

4 You May Also Like:

5 Individual Tiramisu Parfaits

Why You Must Make

You get your own, personal tiramisu that you don’t have to share!
Served in a glass, all the delicious layers are visible, making a pretty presentation.
With a double dose of liqueur, it’s one of the tastiest tiramisus you’ll ever eat!

I was watching an episode of The Chew a few years ago. A mother and daughter had a Tiramisu showdown. The mom shared her traditional Italian version and her daughter showcased a more modern twist.

I recreated the winner’s updated, easy tiramisu recipe. Using the harder, more cookie-like ladyfingers, called savoiardi, was new for me. I tend to go for the soft spongecake like ladyfingers. I also loved her addition of Kahlua and Frangelico liqueurs. Plus the daughter’s layered presentation was definitely more enticing than the typical dish of tiramisu sprinkled with cocoa powder.

Two tiramisu parfaits and a red handled spoon with a spoonful of tiramisu.

How to Make

There are four components of a traditional tiramisu: the sponge cake or ladyfingers, the soaking liquid, the mascarpone cream, and the chocolate topping. Since this parfait recipe is served in pretty glasses, it’s nice to double the layers of traditional tiramisu.

Layer half of the crushed, hard Savoiardi ladyfingers soaked in milk, Kahlua, coffee, and sugar among glasses.
Next, layer half of the creamy mascarpone cream mixture over the ladyfingers.
Then repeat both layers before finishing off with a dusting of cocoa powder, although grated chocolate is a terrific alternative, too!

Two tiramisu parfaits and a cocoa duster

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Tiramisu?

You may have eaten this Italian classic dessert when dining out, but do you know what tiramisu means in Italian? According to my Food Lover’s Companion, it translates to “carry me up” or “pick me up.” Often, the assumption is that the “up” is heaven!
Traditionally, tiramisu is made of ladyfingers soaked in a marsala and coffee mixture, then layered with mascarpone cream and topped with grated chocolate or cocoa. It’s also referred to as an Italian trifle, though purists feel tiramisu is much lighter than a trifle.

What Is a Parfait?

Now that you know what makes up a tiramisu, you might wonder what makes a dish a parfait. Well, parfaits are served in tall and narrow-footed “parfait glasses,” to showcase a beautiful dessert.
In the US, parfaits mean an ice cream sundae, layered with whipped cream, nuts, and even a cherry topper. In France, parfait translates to perfect and refers to a frozen custard often flavored with fruit. Now nearly any dessert can be a “parfait” if served in a tall-footed glass.

How Do You Make a Safe Tiramisu?

You may know that eating raw eggs puts you at risk for a foodborne illness called salmonella. Hunt down some pasteurized eggs that are gently heated to 140 degrees before being packaged to kill any bacteria. Pasteurized egg whites are harder to whip, but be patient. You do not want to feed uncooked eggs to those with compromised immune systems, the very young, or the elderly. Or try my Tiramisu Recipe that’s made without raw eggs.

How Do You Pasteurize Eggs at Home?

If you have a burner that can keep your water at 140º for 3 minutes, you can pasteurize your eggs at home. This must be done with a very accurate thermometer as over 142º can cook the eggs. And a lower temperature will not kill salmonella. I have done this using my Instant Read Digital Thermometer (affiliate link).