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