This Olive Garden Tiramisu copycat recipe is an enhanced rendition of the classic Italian dessert found in Olive Gardens across America. This wonderful dessert has a creamy layer of espresso custard on top of a layer of lady fingers.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Is Olive Garden’s Tiramisu any good?
- Is Olive Garden’s Tiramisu have alcohol in it?
- Should you avoid Olive Garden’s Tiramisu if you are pregnant?
- What is a good substitute for Kahlua?
- Is Olive Garden Tiramisu Vegan?
- Is Olive Garden Tiramisu Gluten Free?
- Does Olive Garden Tiramisu have Nuts?
- Olive Garden Tiramisu Recipe {Jump to Recipe}
- How to Store Leftover Tiramisu
- Want more Copycat Olive Garden Recipes?
Is Olive Garden’s Tiramisu any good?
If you are a fan of tiramisu, you will like Olive Garden’s Tiramisu. Will it be the best Tiramisu that you have ever had? Well, no. But it is still a super solid dessert.
However, you are in luck with the recipe below. It is an enhanced version of Olive Garden’s recipe. It is restaurant-like but a step up.
Is Olive Garden’s Tiramisu have alcohol in it?
Yes, one of the ingredients is chocolate liqueur (our favorite to use is Kahlua). However, according to Olive Garden’s dessert supplier, most of the alcohol burns off during the baking process.
Should you avoid Olive Garden’s Tiramisu if you are pregnant?
Yes, you should avoid Olive Garden tiramisu if you are pregnant. However, not because of alcohol liqueur (because most of the alcohol burns off during the baking process). If you are pregnant, you should avoid tiramisu because it contains raw eggs. According to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control, eating raw eggs do carry the risk of getting salmonella poisoning.
The good news is that the recipe below DOES NOT have any raw eggs in the recipe. So if you are pregnant and are craving homemade Tiramisu, this is the recipe for you.
What is a good substitute for Kahlua?
Use coffee extract if you want to avoid the alcohol in Kahlua (or your chosen coffee liqueur).
According to FoodAlternative.com, “Coffee extract is a good substitute for Kahlua in a tiramisu recipe. Coffee extract provides the same flavor and aroma as Kahlua, but without alcohol.”
Is Olive Garden Tiramisu Vegan?
No. While Olive Garden’s Tiramisu is vegetarian, it is definitely not vegan (due to the cream and the Mascarpone cheese in the recipe).
Is Olive Garden Tiramisu Gluten Free?
No, Olive Garden’s Tiramisu NOT gluten free. This is because one key ingredient of the dessert is lady fingers (which typically contains wheat-based flour).
However, if you substitute the glutinous ladyfingers for gluten-free ladyfingers (which can be found at Whole Foods or on Amazon), you can make this Tiramisu gluten free. Just remember to be extremely cautious (and quick) while dipping the gluten-free ladyfingers in the coffee mixture since gluten-free baked goods are typical fragile. Check out this tip from an Amazon reviewer who made gluten-free tiramisu using Schär’s brand of gluten-free ladyfingers:
“I dredged [the gluten free ladyfingers] in [espresso] (did not let them sit, but dredged until dripping) and then combined/assembled the tiramisu.”
Amazon reviewer “Joyful”
Does Olive Garden Tiramisu have Nuts?
No, Olive Garden’s Tiramisu recipe does not have nuts. According to Olive Garden’s Allergen Guide, the most common allergens that are contained in Olive Garden’s Tiramisu are:
- Dairy
- Egg
- Wheat
- Gluten
- Soy
Olive Garden’s Tiramisu Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Cold Black Coffee or Espresso
- 1/4 cup Kahlua (Optional)
- 1 cup Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute: Use 8 oz. of Light Cream Cheese)
- 1/3 cup Packed Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Whipped Cream
- 20 Ladyfingers
- 1/4 cup Cocoa
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the coffee and Kahlua together to create a coffee-Kahlua mixture.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the mascarpone cheese, sugar, and brown sugar. Then beat the mascarpone mixture until it is completely smooth.
- In second medium-sized bowl, add in the whipped cream. Then use an electric mixer on high to beat the whipped cream until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the the whipped cream into the mascarpone cheese mixture.
- One at a time, dip 10 of the ladyfinger in the coffee-Kahlua mixture. Then place the ladyfinger at the bottom of an 8-inch square pan. (Tip: Make sure not to soak them too long because the ladyfingers will fall apart).Repeat until all 10 ladyfinger have been dipped and now cover the bottom of the square pan (you may need to break some of the ladyfingers so that all 10 fit).
- Spread half of the mascarpone cheese mixture on top of the ladyfingers
- With the remaining 10 ladyfingers, repeat the previous two steps to create a second layer of ladyfingers and mascarpone cheese.
- Sprinkle the cocoa onto of the tiramisu to create a fine layer of cocoa on top.
- Refrigerate the tiramisu about 1 to 5 hours to allow the flavors to mix together. Then serve!
Olive Garden Tiramisu {A Better than Copycat Recipe}
Ingredients
- 1 cup Cold Strong Black Coffee or Espresso
- 1/4 cup Kahlua (Or Coffee Liqueur) (Optional. Can also use coffee extract to avoid the alcohol in coffee liqueur)
- 1 cup Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute: Use 8 oz. of Light Cream Cheese)
- 1/3 cup Packed Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Whipped Cream
- 20 Ladyfingers
- 1/4 cup Cocoa
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the coffee and Kahlua together to create a coffee-Kahlua mixture.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the mascarpone cheese, sugar, and brown sugar. Then beat the mascarpone mixture until it is completely smooth.
- In second medium-sized bowl, add in the whipped cream. Then use an electric mixer on high to beat the whipped cream until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the the whipped cream into the mascarpone cheese mixture.
- One at a time, dip 10 of the ladyfinger in the coffee-Kahlua mixture. Then place the ladyfinger at the bottom of an 8-inch square pan. (Tip: Make sure not to soak them too long because the ladyfingers will fall apart). Repeat until all 10 ladyfinger have been dipped and now cover the bottom of the square pan (you may need to break some of the ladyfingers so that all 10 fit).
- Spread half of the mascarpone cheese mixture on top of the ladyfingers
- With the remaining 10 ladyfingers, repeat the previous two steps to create a second layer of ladyfingers and mascarpone cheese.
- Sprinkle the cocoa onto of the tiramisu to create a fine layer of cocoa on top.
- Refrigerate the tiramisu about 1 to 5 hours to allow the flavors to mix together. Then serve!
Nutrition
How to Store Leftover Tiramisu
To store any extra Tiramisu, place the remaining Tiramisu in an airtight container. Only place a single layer of the cake into the container to help make serving the cake easier and to maintain the aesthetics of the cake. Use multiple containers if needed. The Tiramisu should last at least 3 days in the fridge.
If you need to store it longer, pack it up well and freeze it. In the freezer, this Tiramisu should last about 3 months. When you are ready to eat the Tiramisu again, you can either enjoy the dessert frozen or defrost it until it is room temperature.
Want more Copycat Olive Garden Recipes?
You’re in the right place. Check out the delicious Olive Garden copycat recipes listed below:
Are you looking for more recipes from popular restaurants? We’ve got just that! Here’s our roundup of favorite copycat restaurants, from places like Texas Roadhouse to the Olive Garden.
thank you i hope your recipe is close, or just like olive gardens, my goodness its up to like $10 a slice, thats awful especially when you have several people in the house craving it,
I agree! Too $$$. And we all need cake right about now 😉