Ingredients
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2 -3 cups strong plunger espresso coffee, cooled to room temp
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3 tablespoons Tia Maria (or another liqueur, but the coffee flavour is really enhanced)
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2 eggs, separated
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1/4 cup caster sugar
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250 g mascarpone cheese
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1 cup cream (anything that will hold the peaks heavy whipping cream works fine as will anything 36% milkfat or hi)
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250 g ladyfingers (savoiardi)
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cocoa powder, for dusting
Instructions
- Put the egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl.
- Beat with electric mixers until the mixture goes pale and thick.
- Add mascarpone and beat until combined.
- It does not matter if it is marbled slightly.
- Whip the cream until stiff peaks hold, and fold gently into the egg mixture.
- I use a spatula, but you could use a metal spoon.
- Do not beat!
- Beat the egg whites to soft peaks in a perfectly clean metal bowl.
- If there is any grease, they won't whip properly.
- Make sure you rinse and dry your beaters well.
- Fold the whites into the cream.
- It is very important to retain as much air as possible.
- For serving you can use a big dish or individual glasses.
- If using a big dish: Put the coffee and liquer in a bowl.
- Dip biscuits in coffee one at a time.
- Drain well.
- Layer in your dish, covering the whole bottom.
- Place half of the mascarpone mix on top and spread out.
- Repeat with remaining biscuits and mascarpone, finishing with a creamy layer.
- Smooth surface.
- Dust with cocoa.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but it works quite well if you leave for up to 24 hours.
- If using glasses: Break the biscuits up into pieces that will fit your glasses and do the same soaking and layering as before.