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No Bake Shortbread Tiramisu Dessert – this easy no bake tiramisu recipe uses shortbread cookies soaked in espresso! It’s topped with a sweetened cream cheese or mascarpone filling that everyone loves. It’s the perfect easy dessert recipe.
EASY Tiramisu Dessert
We all love Tiramisu, right? It’s one of my most-loved desserts, and this no bake shortbread tiramisu dessert uses SHORTBREAD cookies, which makes it even better.
While this isn’t a classic tiramisu recipe, it’s an easy no bake dessert lasagna that starts with shortbread cookies and has the most flavorful creamy filling. You will LOVE this recipe, I promise.
Table of Contents
Ingredients Needed
I discovered how much y’all loved tiramisu when I posted my mousse recipe a few years ago. That one is still always in my top referred and I think it’s because it’s so pretty and tasty but also because of how EASY it is. Now, most people will say, but “Dorothy, you be crazy. Tiramisu is always easy to make!” and I agree on that point. But it’s NOT always easy to find the ingredients you need to make a traditional tiramisu.
Cookies: Instead of the traditional lady fingers for this no bake tiramisu, I used Walkers Shortbread cookies. I always have them on hand (the fingers are my favorite ones) and not just because I work with them. I crave their shortbread on a regular basis, and it’s available pretty much everywhere that sells cookies, right in the cookie aisle. When you’re buying shortbread, you want to eat the best, and that’s Walkers.
Cream Cheese: Instead of the pricey and elusive mascarpone cheese, I use cream cheese. I know that’s not “authentic” but really, I can’t taste much of a difference.
Whipped Cream: For the fluffy body of the dessert.
Sugar: For sweetness
Rum and Vanilla Extract: for that traditional Tiramisu flavor
Coffee: Also for that traditional flavor you’d expect from Tiramisu
How to make my Tiramisu Dessert
You can whip up no bake shortbread tiramisu in no time at all, and the longer it chills the better. The cookies are soaked in coffee so they get soft and the espresso flavor really comes through in every bite.
1. Cookies: Stir espresso powder into hot water. Dip each cookie completely in the espresso, submerging it and allowing it to sit for a couple of seconds. Arrange in an 8×8″ baking dish. Set aside.
2. Make Filling: Beat cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar and both extracts. Beat until smooth.
3. Make Whipped Cream: Beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form (using a hand or a stand mixer). Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
4. Assemble: Spread cream cheese mixture over the top of the shortbread cookies in the pan. Finely grate chocolate over the top evenly or dust with cocoa powder.
Just make sure to make this easy no bake dessert for a party so you don’t eat it all. It’s easy to do…you’ve been warned! 🙂
Tips and FAQ
- Use any shortbread cookie shape you like! I like how it’s easy to arrange the rectangles.
- Can you substitute Mascarpone for the cream cheese? Yes you can.
- Be sure to chill it for a few hours so the cookies get soft.
- Can you substitute whipped topping for the whipped cream? Yes you can.
- Instead of rum extract, add 1 tablespoon Kahlua or other coffee liqueur instead.
- You can dust with cocoa powder or chocolate shavings. Make chocolate dust shavings with a microplane and a semi-sweet baking bar.
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No Bake Shortbread Tiramisu Dessert
Ingredients
- 2 5.3 ounce packages Walkers Shortbread Fingers (16 cookies)
- 6 ounces 3/4 cup (178ml) hot water
- 3 heaping teaspoons instant espresso powder see note
- 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (170g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon rum extract optional
- 1 cup (237ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1 ounce baking chocolate semi-sweet or 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Stir espresso powder into hot water. Dip each cookie completely in the espresso, submerging it and allowing it to sit for a couple of seconds. Arrange in an 8×8″ baking dish. Set aside.
- Beat cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar and both extracts. Beat until smooth.
- Beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form (using a hand or a stand mixer). Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
- Spread cream cheese mixture over the top of the shortbread cookies in the pan. Finely grate chocolate over the top evenly or dust with cocoa powder.
- Chill at least 2 hours before serving but up to 8 hours. Store covered in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
This post has been sponsored by Walkers Shortbread. All opinions are 100% my own.
Last Updated on April 15, 2021
wow what an excellent replacement I am making this weekend – Thank you very much – Good bye LADY FINGER
I have made this twice, within the last month, and my husband and I absolutely love it. I actually switched out the whipping cream for about 2 cups of whipped topping and the last time I made it I added 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa to the cream cheese/powdered sugar mixture. It was delicious. This dessert has become one of our new favorites.
I’m so glad you like it!
I am definitely going to try this recipe!! And I totally agree about the Walker’s Shortbread. I can honestly say it might be the closest in taste to my great grandmother’s recipe from Scotland.
I thought every tiramisu recipe need mascarpone cheese 😮 although sometimes I can’t find it in the supermarket. Thank you so much for the post! Gonna try it soon!
Thank goodness an easy way. Lady fingers used to be easy to find. Last time I made tiramisu I had to search every where and that is why I stopped making but seeing this recipe I will give it a try again as the cheese is easy to find. Thanks for posting.
I live in KC MO and finally the sun was out today all day. We have had fog and cloudy days for quite awhile. We could use some of your rain.
Yum, this looks great! Since I’m not a coffee fan, I think I’d soak the shortbread in chocolate milk…lol
We love tiramisu, but I don’t love the work in making it. Love this quick and easy version that is ready in no time! Perfect “fancy” treat for those busy days!
It has been cloudy and rainy here in Northern California for WEEKS <– Same in SoC al. I think the drought is over. My god..it's just…been so.much.rain. Not good for my mood or my food photography 🙂
This looks awesome and I do love mascarpone cheese but this is so much easier…and cheaper!
Oh jeebus this might be my new favorite thing.
LOL it sure is mine!
I’ve heard about all the crazy rain you guys have gotten in Northern California. Hope there are lots of sunny skies ahead. Loving this tiramisu with shortbread. I have a bad habit of overdunking ladyfingers so this is definitely a better option for me!
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