Strawberry Cheesecake Tiramisu is the divinely delicious union of two of the most loved desserts, combining elements of rich cheesecake and a beautifully layered tiramisu. Plus the fresh strawberry addition makes it an unforgettable summery dessert everyone will swoon over!
This simple, refreshing strawberry tiramisu is a chilled Italian inspired dessert that doesn’t require any baking, and can even be made without any cooking if you opt to skip the step of concentrating the fruit juice.
It’s made up of a base of store-bought lady fingers (which creates a major shortcut), and they are soaked in pomegranate juice for a bright pop of flavor and rich color. After that you get a layer of fresh juicy strawberries, and atop that is a billowy sweetened cream cheese and whipped cream layer for that indulgent cheesecake taste. These layers are repeated again for a total of six decadent, perfectly paired layers.
It’s a simple dessert to prepare yet it creates a captivating, decadent finish to any meal and an indulgent treat worthy of any celebration.
Strawberry Tiramisu Recipe Ingredients
For this dessert you just need SIX INGREDIENTS, as you can opt to skip the vanilla.
Lady fingers: These are Italian lightly sweetened, airy biscuit cookies that you can find in the baking isle or packaged cookies of the grocery store. They can also be purchased online here.
Strawberries: Use the good quality in season strawberries with natural sweetness for best results.
Pomegranate juice: I opted for this type of juice over others as it adds more pronounced flavor and more color. You can usually find it with other juices near the produce section of the grocery store.
Cream cheese: Stick with a good quality cream cheese for best results.
Sugar: This will be added to the cheesecake layer to sweeten and to the pomegranate juice to balance it’s natural tartness.
Heavy cream: Use heavy cream, not just “whipping cream” as it needs enough fat to create and hold stiff peaks.
Vanilla extract: This could even be omitted if you a 6-ingredient dessert. It just adds one more layer of light flavor.
How to Make Strawberry Tiramisu
Reduce pomegranate juice: Pour pomegranate juice into a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat. Let simmer until reduced by half, about 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in 2 Tbsp sugar until dissolved. Pour into a shallow dish and let cool completely.
Whip the cream: Pour heavy cream into a medium mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer whip until very stiff peaks form.
Mix cream cheese and sugar: In a separate mixing bowl whip cream cheese, remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and vanilla extract on low speed until combined, then increase to high speed and whip until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Blend mixtures: Add heavy cream into cream cheese mixture and blend just until combined.
Dip lady fingers: Working with one lady finger at a time dip both sides quickly into reduced pomegranate juice then transfer to a deep 9 by 9-inch baking dish. Create a layer of half the soaked lady fingers doing this, setting them side by side.
Layer tiramisu: Spread half the strawberries into a single layer over the lady fingers, then spread half the cream cheese mixture over strawberry layer.
Repeat layering: Repeat this process once more of dipping remaining half of the lady fingers and aligning in dish, then half the strawberries and remaining half of the cream cheese mixture.
Chill: Cover and chill 4 hours before serving.
How to Store Strawberry Tiramisu
Strawberry tiramisu should be stored in the fridge because of all the fresh dairy and fruit, plus you don’t want it melting and losing it’s fluff. The fridge keeps in more stabilized.
It is best served within 24 hours of preparing as the juices of the strawberries will continue to break down over time and soak into the lady fingers, after too long it may make them overly wet and soggy.
Can It be Frozen?
I don’t recommend freezing this dessert unless you want to serve it frozen, as it won’t thaw well. Just let some of the juices soak into the lady fingers for a few hours in the fridge before you do freeze it if you opt to do so.
Can I Use Other Fruit?
You can definitely use other berries in this recipe. Just keep in mind you may want to slightly mash up berries such as blueberries or raspberries before layering into the dessert. A triple berry combination would be superb or peaches/ mangoes would also be a delicious alternative.
Will Frozen Strawberries Work in This Recipe?
This tiramisu should only be made with fresh fruit. Frozen fruit would be too juicy and would end up making the lady fingers soggy.
More Italian Desserts to Make
Strawberry Cheesecake Tiramisu
The divinely delicious union of two of the most loved desserts, combining elements of rich cheesecake and a beautifully layered tiramisu. Plus the fresh strawberry addition makes it an unforgettable summery dessert everyone will swoon over!
Servings: 9
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Pour pomegranate juice into a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat. Let simmer until reduced by half, about 6 to 10 minutes. Stir in 2 Tbsp sugar until dissolved. Pour into a shallow dish and let cool completely.
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Pour heavy cream into a medium mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer whip until very stiff peaks form.
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In a separate mixing bowl whip cream cheese, remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and vanilla extract on low speed until combined, then increase to high speed and whip until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
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Add heavy cream into cream cheese mixture and blend just until combined.
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Working with one lady finger at a time dip both sides quickly into reduced pomegranate juice then transfer to a deep 9 by 9-inch baking dish. Create a layer of half the lady fingers doing this setting them side by side.
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Spread half the strawberries into a single layer over the lady fingers, then spread half the cream cheese mixture over strawberry layer.
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Repeat this process once more of dipping remaining half of the lady fingers and aligning in dish, then topping with remaining half of the strawberries, and remaining half of the cream cheese mixture.
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Cover and chill 4 hours. Optionally garnish on top with extra strawberries just before serving.
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For best results cut and serve within 24 hours (the strawberries will start to break down and the juices over time will make the lady fingers soggy).
*If you would like to make this without the step of reducing the pomegranate juice then simply use 3/4 cup pomegranate juice (rather than 1 1/2 cups) mixed with 1 Tbsp sugar (rather than 2). The flavor and color wont be as concentrated but still a tasty option if time doesn’t allow.
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