If you’re ready to try something new, this strawberry shortcake tiramisu blends the classic flavors of strawberry shortcake with the creamy goodness of tiramisu. It’s a no-bake recipe that’s perfect for warm days.
This recipe solves soggy layers, thick filling issues, long prep times, and unstable structure, offering quick preparation and fresh strawberry flavor without baking challenges.
I’ve had my fair share of dessert fails, especially when I wanted to impress family on busy weeknights. This recipe helps avoid the usual issues with soggy layers or overly thick fillings. You won’t be left worrying about how it will turn out!
What makes this dish great is that it takes about 25 minutes to prepare, plus some chill time, but the results are worth it. You’ll end up with light layers of whipped cream and strawberries that are simply irresistible.
If you want another fruity treat, check out my Strawberry Shortcake Cake Roll for a fun twist!
Table of contents
Dietary Considerations
- This recipe is not gluten-free due to the inclusion of ladyfinger cookies containing wheat flour.
- The recipe contains mascarpone cheese and heavy cream, so it is unsuitable for vegan diets.
- The recipe is not dairy-free because mascarpone cheese and heavy cream are essential ingredients.
- This recipe does not meet keto or low-carb diets due to sugar and ladyfinger cookie carbohydrate content.
- The recipe is nut-free as there are no nut ingredients used in this recipe.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Rich Creamy Layers Treat yourself to layers of whipped cream and cream cheese that offer a smooth, luscious texture. Each spoonful melts away seamlessly, making every bite feel special.
- Bright Fruit Flavors Fresh strawberries mixed with a splash of lemon juice create a vibrant topping that cuts through the richness. This adds a refreshing, tangy twist that balances out the creaminess beautifully.
- Make-Ahead Convenience With just 25 minutes of prep time, this no-bake dessert can be whipped up in advance and chilled overnight, allowing its flavors to develop. It’s a stress-free option for parties or gatherings.
- Fun Layering Options Use ladyfingers for traditional layers, or switch it up with pound cake if you’re feeling creative. This flexibility lets you customize the dessert to fit your taste or the season.
How to Make Strawberry Shortcake Tiramisu
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cool Time: 6 hours
- Cook Time: None
- Total Time: 6 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious no-bake strawberry shortcake tiramisu with layers of cream and fresh strawberries.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pint (approximately 2 cups or 300 g) sliced fresh strawberries
- 3 tablespoons (38 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 8 ounces (227 g) cream cheese, softened, full-fat recommended
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) strawberry preserves, melted
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) whipped cream, homemade preferred
- 1 package (approx. 24 ladyfingers or 200 g) ladyfingers
- ¼ cup (60 ml) orange juice
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries, granulated sugar, and fresh lemon juice. Toss gently to mix. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes uncovered. This resting period allows the strawberries to release juice and develop a syrup that enhances the berry flavor. The strawberries should become juicy and slightly softened.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth and no lumps remain. In a separate bowl, whisk the whipped cream (preferably homemade and chilled) with pure vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture; do this gently and slowly to maintain airiness and lightness in the filling. The resulting texture should be smooth, fluffy, and silky.
- Step 3: Pour the orange juice into a shallow dish. Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the orange juice, about one to two seconds per side, ensuring they are moist but not soggy. Use fresh and dry ladyfingers for the best texture. Lay the dipped ladyfingers immediately into the serving dish to avoid over-soaking.
- Step 4: Begin by laying a snug layer of soaked ladyfingers evenly on the bottom of the serving dish. Spread a layer of the cream cheese and whipped cream filling evenly over the ladyfingers. Top the cream with a layer of the macerated strawberries, including some of the syrup for moisture and flavor. Repeat layering with ladyfingers, cream, strawberries, and whipped cream until all ingredients are used, packing layers tightly to maintain structure and an appealing presentation. Each layer should be laid with care to avoid collapsing or uneven texture.
- Step 5: Cover the assembled tiramisu with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, ideally overnight. The chill time allows flavors to meld and the dessert to firm up for easier slicing. For faster service, the dessert can be frozen; wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 hours, preserving texture and flavor.
- Keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain firmness without sogginess.
- Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and place inside a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
- If the cream cheese filling is lumpy, blend it with a hand mixer for 2 minutes before folding in whipped cream to ensure smoothness.
- To prevent ladyfingers from becoming soggy, dip them quickly (no more than 2 seconds) in orange juice.
- If layers tend to collapse, layer gently every 1 inch of filling instead of overpacking; this supports better structure.
- When strawberries release excess liquid, drain them in a fine mesh sieve for 10 minutes before layering to avoid watery filling.
- If the tiramisu does not set after initial chilling, refrigerate for an additional 2 hours for better firmness.
- Garnish with fresh mint leaves or a light dusting of cocoa powder for visual appeal.
- Pair with a fruit salad or a small serving of vanilla yogurt to balance richness.
- Consider serving in parfait glasses or layering in individual cups for portion control and presentation.
- For alternative serving, add a graham cracker crust to make a layered dessert bar.
- Top with dark chocolate shavings or a drizzle of balsamic reduction and finish with a dollop of whipped cream for additional flavor depth.
- Use ripe, fragrant strawberries that are bright red and sweet for optimal flavor.
- Full-fat cream cheese enhances richness and texture in the filling.
- Pure vanilla extract is preferred over imitation to deepen the flavor without artificial notes.
- Ladyfingers should be crisp and dry; fresh or soft ladyfingers soak too quickly and weaken texture.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice is recommended for balanced acidity versus bottled versions.
- Orange juice is used for soaking ladyfingers; it can be substituted with apple juice or coffee for variation if desired.
- Ladyfingers can be substituted with pound cake or angel food cake to vary texture and flavor.
- Strawberry preserves may be homemade or store-bought according to availability.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Ingredient Notes
- Vanilla extract: Use high-quality, pure vanilla extract for deep flavor. Avoid imitation; it won’t replicate the richness needed for your tiramisu.
- Mascarpone cheese: This creamy cheese gives a luscious texture. Look for fresh mascarpone; it should be smooth and spreadable, not grainy.
- Heavy cream: Opt for good quality heavy cream to whip it up, creating airiness. Make sure it’s cold for better whipping results.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar works best for sweetness. Adjust if you like it less sweet, but don’t skip; it balances the flavors beautifully.
- Ladyfinger cookies: Buy crisp, dry ladyfingers. They’ll soak up your coffee better. Fresh ones become too soggy too quickly, ruining the texture.
- Fresh strawberries: Look for ripe strawberries, bright red with a fragrant smell. They should be sweet and juicy to complement the tiramisu perfectly.
- Coffee: Brew strong coffee for flavor depth. Use freshly brewed if you can; instant coffee doesn’t give the same robust taste for soaking.
Recipe Tips
- If your cream cheese filling is lumpy, blend it with a hand mixer for 2 minutes until smooth before combining with whipped cream.
- When your ladyfingers are too dry, quickly dip them in orange juice for no more than 2 seconds to keep them moist but not soggy.
- If your layers collapse, gently layer with filling every 1 inch to avoid overpacking, which can cause the structure to weaken.
- When your strawberries release too much liquid, drain them in a fine mesh sieve for 10 minutes before layering to prevent a watery filling.
- If your tiramisu doesn’t set after chilling, refrigerate for an additional 2 hours, allowing it more time to firm up before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with fresh mint leaves or a sprinkle of cocoa powder for added depth. Pair with a side of berry salad or vanilla yogurt for balance.
Use to make parfaits or layer in cups for individual servings. Add to a graham cracker crust for a layered dessert bar.
Top with dark chocolate shavings or a drizzle of balsamic reduction. Finish with a dollop of whipped cream for added richness.
Recipe variations
- You can use pound cake slices instead of ladyfingers for strawberry shortcake tiramisu. Add 2 teaspoons of melted strawberry preserves within the cream cheese filling. Either fresh or frozen strawberries work fine. If serving 32 people, double ingredient amounts precisely.
- You can add a teaspoon of almond extract to the cream cheese mixture for a subtle nutty flavor. Add ¼ cup orange juice to soak the ladyfingers lightly. Either apple juice or strong coffee can replace orange juice. For smaller servings of 8, halve each ingredient accordingly.
- You can swap whipped cream with mascarpone cheese folded into the cream filling. Add 3 tablespoons granulated sugar to taste for extra sweetness in the strawberries. Either granulated sugar or brown sugar works well here. When making 24 servings, multiply ingredient quantities by 1.5 times.
- You can experiment by layering sliced peaches with strawberries for a fruity twist. Add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to brighten the fruit flavors. Either pound cake or angel food cake cubes can replace ladyfingers. Scaling up to 40 servings requires almost triple the base recipe ingredients. This strawberry approach pairs nicely with 3-Ingredient Peach Cobbler.
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How to Store?
To keep your strawberry shortcake tiramisu fresh and delicious, follow these storage tips:
Room Temperature: Store strawberry shortcake tiramisu in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 hours to maintain texture and flavor.
Refrigeration: Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days, ensuring layers stay firm without becoming soggy.
Freezing: Wrap tightly with plastic wrap, place in a freezer container, freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
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If you enjoyed this Strawberry Shortcake Tiramisu or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I appreciate taking time to read about this recipe, thank you!
