Cooking is another form of creative release for me and any chance I get I am always searching for new recipes to try, and new foods to torture, expose my family to. Two out of three of my children are always willing to experiment with a new taste, however the men in our family (big and small alike) are by far much less daring.
One thing they do love me for, however, is my insatiable love for dessert. I am definitely a chocolate lover and can make a mean apple pie from scratch, thanks to hours in the kitchen spent observing my mother when I was little.
My brother and his wife recently celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary, and on the day of their wedding we ate the most delicious tiramisu for dessert. While this dessert is typically one of my go-to favorites, I have never tried making it myself.
Then, a few weeks ago, while shopping at my husband’s grocery store (he manages a local Aldi) I saw these Priano brand Lady Fingers for $0.99 – #gottaloveit #lowpricesrule – and scooped up a package to try making this delicious dessert. I tend to offer up a home-baked treat as a gift on many an occasion, so what better way to say “Happy Anniversary” to this lovely couple than taking them tiramisu!
My kids were home this week on a 4-day teacher’s convention break, so I had some helpers for this recipe. Special thanks to my sous chefs, Olivia & Sofia, for assisting me with mixing & the camera while their little bro was taking a nap! I love having my kids alongside me in the kitchen – aprons on, sleeves rolled up, making memories. I used to teach kids cooking classes a the local YMCA, and I do miss it. It’s a wonderful way to bond with children.
Everything I needed to make this recipe, I was able to purchase from Aldi. Aside from being my husband’s place of employment, Aldi really has become my favorite place to shop for our weekly groceries. I estimate it saves our family over $300 a month shopping there vs. any other local Pick n Save or Piggly Wiggly grocery store. And I love how Aldi keeps expanding their “special buy” items each month, to include more specialty items that are offered at an attractive lower price.
Here is the recipe:
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Specially Selected mild premium roast coffee
- 3 cups water
- 1 T. Bridge Road Chardonnay (optional)
- 1/3 cup O’Donnell’s Irish Cream
- 1/3 cup Happy Farms heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup Baker’s Corner granulated sugar
- 6 Goldhen large eggs, yolks only (using an egg separator makes this process easy peasy!)
- 8 oz. Happy Farms cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 T. Friendly Farms sour cream
- 8 oz. Friendly Farms whipped topping
- 30 Priano Lady Fingers
- 2 t. Baker’s Corner baking cocoa
Instructions
- Brew the coffee using 3 cups of water. Cool completely.
- In a double boiler over medium-high heat, whisk together the wine, Irish cream, cream, sugar and egg yolks. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture reaches about 173 degrees.
- Place top pot in an ice bath. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture over the ice bath until thick and cooled.
- (Get yourself a cute little helper in the kitchen like I did and this process goes much faster!)
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth; add sour cream.
- Beat in the egg mixture until smooth and creamy.
- Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.
- Dip the lady fingers in the coffee and place in the bottom of an 8×8 inch pan. Pour half the mixture on top of the lady fingers. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. of cocoa. Then repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Enjoy!
Once I had the coffee brewing, I started separating my eggs. Typically I do this using the “old-fashioned” back & forth in the shell method, but I wanted to make sure no whites ended up in my yolks. I have this awesome egg seperator that hooks right onto the edge of my bowl and helps get the job done.
Moving on, in a double boiler over medium-high heat, I whisked together the wine, Irish cream, cream, sugar and egg yolks until the mixture reached about 173 degrees.
Place top pot in an ice bath. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture over the ice bath until thick and cooled.
(Get yourself a cute little helper in the kitchen like I did and this process goes much faster!)
Next, in a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth; add sour cream. Beat in the egg mixture until smooth and creamy.
Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Do not overmix, this needs to be gently stirred in.
Dip the lady fingers in the coffee (which I placed in a shallow baking dish) and place them in the bottom of an 8×8 inch pan. Pour half the mixture on top of the lady fingers. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. of cocoa. Then repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
I’m happy to say this was a welcomed treat that brought a smile to my brother & sister-in-law’s faces. And now I can check tiramisu off my “recipe-to-tackle” bucket list!
Thank you! I have been looking for this recipe for a while and finally stumbled upon your page. Loved this recipe when I used it years ago and have never seen the lady fingers sold again at aldi so the recipe was gone to me. Thank you for taking the time to record it!