Easy Lemon Tiramisu with Limoncello

Easy lemon tiramisu, an Italian layered dessert where sponge biscuits are soaked in limoncello then layered with lemon curd and thick mascarpone cream. Not only does this easy no bake dessert taste amazing, but it’s pretty enough to serve at any party or family gathering.

Our easy lemon tiramisu is a beautiful layered lemon dessert is a real favourite, then again I love all lemon desserts. This one is super simple to make, limoncello tiramisu is less about cooking and more of an assembly job.

I like uncomplicated desserts like this that are packed full of flavour but don’t need you to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare. This no bake lemon dessert is a recipe that you will keep coming back to again and again and can be easily doubled up to feed larger numbers.

Lemon tiramisu is one of those desserts that once layered in a glass, looks pretty impressive. A great make ahead dessert that will look at home on any dinner party table, but is just as good enjoyed outdoors on a sunny day.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Taking only 20 minutes to prepare, this is an impressive looking dessert that takes very little effort, but tastes amazing.
• Prepare the dish earlier in the day, then cover and place in the fridge to chill, ready to serve straight from the refrigerator later.
• Feed a crowd as this recipe can be easily doubled or quadrupled depending on numbers.

What is tiramisu?

Traditional Italian tiramisu is a layered dessert, flavoured with coffee. The sponge fingers are dipped in coffee and then layered with a creamy whisked egg, sugar and marscarpone cheese mixture and topped with a dusting of cocoa powder.

We have taken this traditional Italian dessert and replaced the coffee with the fresh and zesty flavours of lemon and limoncello. Our recipe takes inspiration from a delicious layered lemon dessert that I enjoyed whilst holidaying in Positano on the Amalfi coast.

What is limoncello?

Limoncello is a lemon flavoured Italian liqueur. It is mainly produced in Southern Italy around the Bay of Naples, along the Amalfi coast and the Sorrentine penisula.

Limoncello is great served chilled on its own, but can also be a great addition to cocktails.

How to make lemon tiramisu

• Look out all your ingredients and add the lemon zest to the mascarpone cheese.

• Separate the egg whites and yolk into 2 separate bowls.
• Pour half the caster sugar into the bowl with the egg whites and the remaining caster sugar into the egg yolks.

• Whisk the egg whites until they form still peaks, set aside.
• Whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar together until the mixture thickens and becomes pale.

• Now add the mascarpone cheese to the egg yolk mixture and whisk again until well combined. Stir in the grated lemon zest.
• Using a metal spoon, add the egg whites to the mascarpone mixture and gently fold through. Do not be tempted to beat the mixture in as you want a light an airy texture.
• Pour the water into a shallow dish, adding the limoncello and lemon juice.

• Spoon 2 tablespoons of the lemon marscapone cream into each glass and spread out. Followed by a spoon of the lemon curd.
• Dip a sponge finger quickly into the limoncello, break it up to fit the glass and place on top of the lemon curd, with the sugary side facing up. Repeat this process for the remaining glasses.

• Now add another dessert spoon of the mascarpone cream on top of each sponge finger and gently spread out. Followed by the lemon curd and another sponge finger.
• Finish each dessert glass with a spoon of mascarpone cream on top.
• Place the glasses into the fridge to chill and set for 3 hours.

Making one dish rather than individual servings

This dessert can also be layered up in one dish rather than individual dishes as we’ve done here. This is ideal if you don’t have individual bowls, are serving larger numbers, or if you are providing dessert for a party and need to transport it easily.

Just follow the same assembly instructions but layer up in a larger serving dish as shown below.

How to make lemon tiramisu with no alcohol

If you want to make lemon tiramisu without adding any alcohol that’s no problem. For an alcohol free version, substitute the limoncello liquer with 1 teaspoon of lemon extract. This will give the depth of lemon flavour without the added alcohol.

Limoncello tiramisu recipe substitutions and variations

• Limoncello is an Italian lemon flavoured liqueur which flavours this no bake lemon dessert. Substitute the liqueur for some lemon extract for an alcohol free version.
• Lemon zest and juice flavours both the mascarpone cream and also the sponge fingers. I love the flavour of lemon so have used 2 lemons, you can reduce or increase this amount depending on the strength of lemon flavour that your prefer.
• Trifle sponge fingers/ladyfinger sponges are readily available in most supermarkets. You can substitute with a plain cake, something like a madiera cake or pound cake. However, ladyfingers are light and therefore make for a lighter dessert, they easily absorb the limoncello without the dessert becoming too heavy.
• Mascarpone cheese has a lovely thick texture without too much flavour, this allows the other flavours to come out in this dessert.
• Lemon curd really amps up the lemon flavour in these desserts. You can make your own, but for ease I always buy a good quality shop bought lemon curd.
• Garnish with fresh berries, eg raspberries or blueberries, for a pop of colour to the finished dessert.

Can I made limoncello tiramisu ahead of time?

This is a great make ahead dessert as limoncello tiramisu needs time in the fridge to set and for all the flavours to meld together.

Layer up the desserts earlier in the day, cover each glass and place in the fridge for at least 3 hours to set, or until you are ready to serve. No need to come to room temperature either, serve this Italian lemon dessert straight from the fridge!

Serving suggestions:

• Go all out on lemon flavour and serve these layered desserts with our Lemon Butter Biscuits on the side.
• I like to serve this type of dessert layered up in a regular drinking glass, one with a bit of height so that you can see the layers.
• If you don’t have glasses layer the whole dessert into a ceramic dish, you can then spoon the dessert into individual bowls (see images above).
• This is a beautiful dessert, serve it with a family lunch or dinner at the weekend
• Pretty enough to serve at a dinner party with friends. It’s light and the perfect end to a meal.
• Layer it up in a jam jar, pop the lid on and place it in the fridge. Then enjoy outdoors for a summer barbecue or packed into the cool bag for a picnic sweet treat.

Useful hints and tips

1. Feeding a crowd? No problem, this lemon tiramisu recipe can be doubled or trebled depending on the number of diners.
2. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 1-2 days, after that the layers will bleed into each other and the dessert will become soggy.
3. Great layered dessert for vegetarians as it requires no gelatin to set the layers.
4. For a gluten free alternative replace regular lady fingers for a gluten free variety.
5. Allergy advice: soy free and nut free. For comprehensive and detailed allergy advice go to Allergy UK.

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Additional no bake dessert recipe suggestions

If you like this no bake lemon dessert recipe then try some of our other simple no-bake dessert recipes:

• Traditional Scottish Cranachan with Scottish Raspberries
• Strawberry Eton Mess with Scottish Strawberries
• 4 Ingredient Strawberry Mousse
• No Bake Lime & Ginger Cheesecake
• Lemon Posset
• Lemon Panna Cotta with Raspberry Jelly
• Vanilla Panna Cotta with Orange Jelly

For more inspiration have a read of our No Bake Desserts post which contains helpful hints and tips as well as a great selection of our favourite no bake dessert recipe.