This tiramisu latte is heaven in a cup. It’s creamy, rich, and addictive thanks to the indulgent mascarpone cream top and milky iced latte underneath. Imagine tiramisu in liquid form, and this is what you get! Perfect for days you want some decadence and deliciousness!

Here’s how to make this delicious tiramisu latte at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s a coffee dessert in a drink!
• Easy to make at home and satisfy your tiramisu craving.
• A unique cafe-style drink to make at home!
• It tastes incredible.

What is Tiramisu?

Tiramisu—meaning “pick me up” from Italian—is a classic layered dessert that originated in northern Italy, most likely the Veneto region around Treviso in the late 1960s or early ’70s. It features espresso-soaked ladyfingers (savoiardi) arranged between a silky mascarpone cream made with egg yolks, sugar, and often a splash of liqueur, all dusted with cocoa powder.

It’s popular for its irresistible flavor and for how easy it is to make at home. You don’t need to bake anything, and it takes less than an hour to make. Tiramisu balances bitter, sweet, creamy, and slightly alcoholic notes and is such an addictive dessert.

What is a Tiramisu Latte?

This tiramisu latte is an iced latte with a sweet mascarpone cold foam cream top, dusted with cocoa powder to mimic the dessert. It also has a little bit of vanilla to give it that cake-like flavor, and it’s one of the best creamy lattes I’ve ever made.

It’s such a treat, and perfect for when you’re craving tiramisu but can’t be bothered to make a whole dessert. It’s also the perfect opportunity to create a layered espresso-based coffee with milk on the bottom, the espresso, and then the creamy mascarpone top!

What Does a Tiramisu Latte Taste Like?

This tiramisu cream latte tastes like heaven. Seriously. It tastes like the best parts of tiramisu: the mascarpone cream and coffee with a hint of vanilla. It also tastes similar to a coffee cheesecake or custard, but less eggy or cheese-like.

The cream gives it a dessert-like feel, and it’s definitely more on the milky end, so if you’re a coffee purist or like a stronger, more bitter coffee, then this isn’t for you.

How to Make Mascarpone Cream

Mascarpone is one of the main components of tiramisu, and the showstopper in this tiramisu latte. It’s rich, creamy, slightly sweet, and gives the heavy cream an amazing, silky texture.

I prefer making the cream into a cold foam so that it’s a little looser and not as thick, so when you make this cream, add 2 tbsp of milk to thin it out. All you have to do is add mascarpone cheese to a sweet cream cold foam, whip it, and you have a delicious mascarpone cold foam!

If you want a thicker cream, whip the mixture until it’s thick and fluffy. For a thinner, cold-foam-like texture, whip the mixture until it’s light and fluffy but still pourable.

Does This Tiramisu Latte Have Alcohol?

While the classic tiramisu has alcohol in it, this latte does not. Although if you really want to get that authentic flavor, you can add a little splash of Marsala wine, rum, or brandy. The alcohol adds a little sweetness and spice that complements the dessert well!

You can also use non-alcoholic versions for the same flavor, or substitute it with vanilla and almond extract. I think this drink tastes delicious without the alcohol, so it’s definitely not necessary.

Do I Need Espresso?

Espresso is the best coffee type for this drink because it’s concentrated, so it balances the creaminess well. But there are several espresso substitutes you can use in case you don’t have an espresso machine.

My favorite espresso replacement is using an Aeropress, which is a portable pressurized coffee maker that can get you a strong coffee close to an espresso (sans crema). The maker will run you about $40.

You can also use cold brew or coffee concentrate, as well as instant espresso powder. These might have a unique aftertaste, but they’re concentrated and taste like coffee!

Marscarpone Cheese Substitute

What makes marscarpone great in Tiramisu is that it’s thick and makes the whipped cream extra dense and delicious. Mascarpone can be a little hard to find, so you can use heavy cream and cream cheese as a replacement. Since cream cheese doesn’t have as much fat as mascarpone, use less cream cheese and more heavy cream in your mix.

Mascarpone cheese is actually very similar to cream cheese! It’s a soft, slightly sweet Italian cheese made by curdling cream with acid to get a luscious spreadable cheese! It’s slightly sweet, milky, and perfect for tiramisu and other cheese-based desserts.

You can also try using clotted cream if you have it, but it may alter the flavor and texture slightly.

How to Make Tiramisu Latte

Ingredients:

• Marscapone Cream
• 1 tbsp mascarpone cheese
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp sugar
• Tiramisu Latte
• 1 cup ice
• 1-2 shots espresso
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ tsp vanilla bean paste, vanilla syrup, or extract
• A dusting of cocoa powder

Tiramisu Latte Recipe

1. Add mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, milk, and sugar to a cup or bowl, then whip for 5 – 10 seconds with a handheld frother until soft and fluffy but still pourable.
2. Brew 1-2 shots of espresso using your favorite beans and method.
3. Add ice, vanilla bean paste, milk, and espresso to a glass, then top with the mascarpone cream. Garnish with a dusting of cocoa powder.
4. Mix and enjoy!

Tiramisu Latte Variations

The classic tiramisu latte is delicious, but here are some variations to try if you have dietary restrictions, don’t like coffee, or just want another creative recipe:

• Matcha tiramisu latte: Don’t like coffee but love matcha? You have to try this recipe with matcha! Swap out the espresso for whisked matcha.
• Make it vegan: Instead of heavy cream and milk, use soy, coconut, or oat cream and milk. There are also vegan heavy cream and lactose-free milk alternatives. Vegan mascarpone isn’t a popular product yet, but you can use vegan cream cheese as a close replacement! You can also use tofu or coconut cream to emulate the thickness.
• Make it decaf: If you want this later in the day, use decaf coffee for a caffeine-free treat!
• Thai tea tiramisu: Don’t like coffee or matcha? Try this latte with Thai tea! Swap out the espresso for Thai tea concentrate.

Other Creamy Latte Recipes

This tiramisu latte is creamy and indulgent—definitely a once-in-a-while treat. Coffee pairs so nicely with creamy flavors, since it’s so bold and bitter by itself. For other delicious drinks, here are some other creamy latte recipes to try:

• Banana cream latte
• Blueberry cold foam latte
• Tres leches latte
• Salted honey cold foam cold brew
• Vietnamese salted coffee
• Biscoff cream latte

Tips:

• Use Room Temperature Cheese: Take the mascarpone cheese out of the fridge, scoop a tablespoon, and let it sit on the counter for 5 – 10 minutes. Let it come up to room temperature so that it is softer and easier to blend into your heavy cream!
• Garnish with Lady Finger: If you want that extra cake flavor, serve this drink with a lady finger or two. It’s delicious when you dip the biscuit into the cream, so you get the full experience.
• Use 2 Espresso Shots: Since this drink has heavy cream, cheese, and milk, it can be very creamy and milk-forward. To balance out the creaminess, use 2 espresso shots instead of one so that it’s still bold and creamy.
• Omit the Milk: In the same wavelength as the previous point, if the milk and cream are too heavy, then omit the milk. Instead of an iced latte base, you can brew a pour-over or cold brew and use that as the iced coffee base. The cream will still sit on top, but it will be less milky and more refreshing.