Tiramisu Cheesecake

When you want your cake and eat it too, make this tiramisu cheesecake. It’s hands-down the best cheesecake there is. This cake is so creamy and luscious, all your problems will be forgotten with the first bite.

My indecisive nature is usually causing me more harm than good. I can spend all day shopping only to return home empty-handed and then drag my husband back to the store to help me choose.  That being said, picking a restaurant for a dinner out is an absolute nightmare and deciding on a menu item is even worse.

Same problem with blogging. I couldn’t decide what I am most passionate about, thus I’m doing it all.  So I’m cooking, writing, photographing, crafting, gardening, etc. all while holding a day job at the office and being a wife, daughter, mom, grandma, and a dog owner as well. Whew, no wonder I’m chronically exhausted! they say that indecisiveness is the killer of inspiration, but I don’t always agree.

Look at this tiramisu cheesecake!

Because I’m so indecisive, I was contemplating which one of my two most favorite cakes to bake for my birthday. Then a light bulb came on in my head: bake both as one. Double the love! Make the tiramisu cheesecake! I’m sure I wasn’t inventing the warm water but hey, I didn’t have to decide!

Note: best to make a day ahead and if you have no time – no problem! I have the best no bake tiramisu cheesecake recipe too, that I know you will love!!!

INGREDIENTS:

For the Coffee Mixture (for dipping ladyfingers):

1/2 cup Hot Water

2 tablespoons Sugar

1 tablespoon Instant Espresso or strong  Coffee

2 tablespoons coffee-flavored Liqueur

For the Cheesecake:

1 tablespoon Hot Water

1 tablespoon Instant Espresso or strong Coffee

2/3 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

24 Ladyfingers, divided

3 (8 oz.) packages full-fat Cream Cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup Cornstarch (cornflour, for my European friends)

1 1/3 cups Sugar

2 large Eggs

1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract

For the Tiramisu:

1 1/2 cups cold Heavy Whipping Cream

2 tablespoons Sugar

1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract

1 (8 oz.) carton Mascarpone Cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Coffee Mixture:

Combine the water and espresso in a small saucepan until dissolved.

Next, add the sugar and coffee liqueur. bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and let simmer for 3 minutes, uncovered, stirring a few times.

Cheesecake:

Stir the water and instant coffee together in a small cup until dissolved.  Let cool. Stir coffee into the heavy cream. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

First, generously butter the bottom and sides of an 8 or 9-inch springform pan (oddly, mine is 8 1/2-inch). Dip 12 ladyfinger cookies into the coffee mixture just long enough to get them wet, do not soak them! Arrange the ladyfingers on the bottom of the pan. (break or cut the last one to fit and fill the gaps). Wrap the outside of the pan with aluminum foil, covering the bottom and extending up the sides.

Next, in a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat one package of the cream cheese, 1/3 cup of the sugar, and the cornstarch on low speed until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beaters with a spatula as needed.

Blend in remaining cheese, one package at a time.

Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined.

Beat in the remaining sugar and vanilla and beat on medium speed just until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in the heavy cream mixture until blended; take care not to over whip!

Spoon the batter into a springform pan. Place the pan in a large shallow pan containing hot water that comes about halfway up of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes – the outside of the cake will set but the center will still be loose.

Remove the cake from the water bath and let cool in the pan, on a wire rack, for 2 hours. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely cold, preferably overnight or at least 4 hours.

Top the cold cheesecake, still in the pan, with a layer of 12 ladyfingers dipped in the coffee mixture. Transfer the cake to the freezer until completely frozen, 3-4 hours or overnight.

Line cake pan with lady fingers dipped in coffee. 

Tiramisu:

In a medium-size bowl, whip the cream with the mixer on high speed until it thickens and soft peaks begin to form. With the mixer still running, add the sugar and beat until the stiff peaks form. Do not over mix! Beat in vanilla.

Gently fold in the mascarpone with a rubber spatula.

Assemble:

Remove the cake from the freezer and let it stand at room temperature about 10 minutes. Spoon the 2/3 of the mascarpone mixture on the top of the cheesecake and even out with a frosting spatula. Since the cheesecake is still very cold, the mascarpone cream will set fast.

Release and gently remove the sides of the springform. Spread the remaining mascarpone cream around the sides of the cake.

Lastly, sprinkle with cocoa powder or chocolate curls to decorate.

Refrigerate at least 2 hours, until the mascarpone layer is cold and cheesecake layer has defrosted.

Slice cake with a sharp straight-edge knife cleaning it with a paper towel between each slice. Keep leftover cake covered in a refrigerator for up to one week or freeze for up to one month

Recipe adapted from Tiramisu Cheesecake

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