Cranberry Orange Tiramisu (Print Version)
A festive Italian-inspired dessert layering tart cranberry compote, zesty orange-soaked ladyfingers, and silky mascarpone cream for a refreshing holiday treat.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cranberry Compote
01 - 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
04 - 1 tsp orange zest
→ Mascarpone Cream
05 - 1 cup heavy cream, cold
06 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
07 - 8 oz mascarpone cheese, chilled
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Assembly Components
09 - 24 ladyfinger biscuits (savoiardi)
10 - 1/2 cup orange juice
11 - 2 tbsp orange liqueur (optional)
12 - Orange zest, for garnish
13 - Fresh cranberries, for garnish
14 - Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Combine cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook until cranberries burst and mixture thickens, approximately 8–10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
02 - Whip heavy cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl until soft peaks form. In a separate bowl, beat mascarpone and vanilla extract until smooth. Gently fold whipped cream into mascarpone mixture until fully incorporated and uniform.
03 - Combine orange juice and orange liqueur in a shallow dish. Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the liquid without soaking. Line bottom of a 9x9-inch dish with half the ladyfingers. Spread half the mascarpone cream over ladyfingers, then spoon half the cranberry compote over cream. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients.
04 - Cover dish and refrigerate for minimum 4 hours, preferably overnight for optimal texture. Before serving, garnish with orange zest, fresh cranberries, and dust with powdered sugar if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The tart cranberry cuts through the rich mascarpone perfectly, so every bite feels balanced instead of overwhelmingly sweet
- You can assemble it the night before and wake up to dessert done, which is honestly the best gift you can give yourself during the holidays
02 -
- The ladyfingers should be quick dipped like a light kiss, not submerged until they are soggy and falling apart
- Mascarpone can curdle if you overmix it or add cold ingredients too quickly, so fold everything gently
03 -
- Zest your oranges before juicing them because it is nearly impossible to zest a squeezed citrus half
- If your compote seems too thick, add a splash more orange juice while still warm