Have you ever been faced with the ultimate dessert dilemma: do I crave a rich, dense, fudgy chocolate brownie, or a light, elegant, and creamy Tiramisu? On a cool October evening here in Heek, when comfort is a top priority, it can be a tough choice. Well, today, I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to choose. Say hello to these incredible, show-stopping, and Easy Tiramisu Brownies.
This is the dessert mashup of your dreams. We start with a base of intensely rich, fudgy, and decadent chocolate brownies. While they’re still warm, we soak them with a robust espresso and coffee liqueur mixture. Once cooled, they’re topped with a cloud of light, velvety, and tangy mascarpone cream, just like a classic Tiramisu. A final, generous dusting of cocoa powder finishes this unforgettable treat.
It’s all the sophisticated, coffee-kissed flavor of your favorite Italian dessert, combined with the crowd-pleasing, chocolatey satisfaction of a brownie. And the best part? This stunning dessert is surprisingly simple to make and perfect for preparing in advance.
The Ultimate Dessert Mashup
This recipe was born from a moment of pure indulgence and a little bit of creative fun. I wanted to take the elegant, adult flavors of Tiramisu and present them in a new, exciting, and easy-to-serve format. Turning it into a brownie bar was the perfect solution! It makes the delicate dessert much more portable and perfect for a dinner party, a special occasion, or simply an incredibly decadent weekend treat.
The secret to making this recipe “easy” is in the layers. We use a simple, from-scratch, one-bowl brownie recipe that is deeply chocolatey and fudgy. The mascarpone topping is a no-fuss, no-raw-eggs version that is light, stable, and comes together in minutes. The result is a perfectly balanced dessert where the deep, dark chocolate, the bitter coffee, and the tangy, creamy topping all play together in perfect harmony.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Recipe:
- Two Beloved Desserts in One: It’s the ultimate fusion of a rich chocolate brownie and a classic, creamy Tiramisu. What’s not to love?
- Incredibly Rich and Complex Flavor: The combination of deep chocolate, bitter coffee, a hint of booze, and tangy mascarpone cream is a truly sophisticated and addictive flavor profile.
- Looks Stunning, but is Deceptively Easy: The beautiful, distinct layers make this look like a high-end bakery creation, but the process is straightforward and beginner-friendly.
- The Perfect Make-Ahead Dessert: This dessert actually needs to be made ahead of time, as it requires several hours to chill and set. This makes it a dream for stress-free entertaining.
Ingredients & Equipment
For the Fudgy Brownie Base:
- Unsalted Butter: 115g (½ cup), melted.
- Granulated Sugar: 200g (1 cup).
- Eggs: 2 large, at room temperature.
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Backkakao): 45g (½ cup).
- All-Purpose Flour: 60g (½ cup).
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon.
- (Shortcut: A 9×9 inch brownie box mix can be used instead!)
For the Coffee Soak:
- Hot, Strong Brewed Coffee or Espresso: 60 ml (¼ cup).
- Coffee Liqueur (like Kahlúa) or Amaretto: 2 tablespoons (optional).
For the Velvety Mascarpone Topping:
- Mascarpone Cheese: 225g (8 oz), at room temperature.
- Heavy Cream (Schlagsahne): 180 ml (¾ cup), cold.
- Powdered Sugar (Puderzucker): 60g (½ cup).
- Coffee Liqueur or Amaretto: 1 tablespoon (optional).
- Vanilla Extract: ½ teaspoon.
- For Dusting: Unsweetened cocoa powder.
Helpful Equipment:
- An 8×8 inch or 9×9 inch square baking pan (
quadratische Backform). - A stand mixer or electric hand mixer.
Time Estimates
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Bake Time: 25-30 minutes
- Chilling Time: At least 4 hours (or overnight)
- Total Time: Approximately 5 hours (mostly inactive chilling time)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s assemble this dreamy, layered dessert.
Step 1: Make and Bake the Brownies Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to act as handles. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in the vanilla extract. Sift in the cocoa powder, flour, and salt. Switch to a rubber spatula and fold the dry ingredients in until just combined. Do not overmix. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist, fudgy crumbs, but not wet batter.
Step 2: Soak the Brownies While the brownies are baking, whisk together the hot coffee and the optional 2 tablespoons of liqueur for the soak. As soon as the brownies come out of the oven, use a skewer or fork to poke holes all over the surface. Immediately and slowly brush or pour the coffee soak evenly over the hot brownies. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Step 3: Make the Mascarpone Topping In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), beat the room-temperature mascarpone, powdered sugar, optional 1 tablespoon of liqueur, and vanilla extract on medium speed until smooth and combined. In a separate, clean bowl, whip the cold heavy cream until it holds stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture in two or three additions, until it is smooth and no streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 4: Assemble and CHILL (Crucial Step!) Once the brownies are completely cool, spread the mascarpone topping evenly over the surface. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This step is absolutely essential for the topping to set properly, allowing you to get clean, beautiful slices.
Step 5: Dust and Serve Just before serving, use a fine-mesh sieve to dust the top of the chilled brownies generously with unsweetened cocoa powder. Use the parchment paper handles to lift the entire block out of the pan. Slice into squares and serve cold.
Notes, Tips & Variations
- The Chill is Not Optional!: I can’t stress this enough. The brownies must be completely cool before you add the topping, or the topping will melt. And the finished dessert must be chilled for several hours for the mascarpone layer to firm up. Patience is key!
- Don’t Over-Whip: When you fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone, do it gently. Over-whipping can sometimes cause the mixture to become grainy.
- Coffee Strength: Use a good, strong-brewed coffee or espresso for the soak. The bitter coffee flavor is essential to cut through the richness of the brownie and the cream, creating that classic Tiramisu balance.
- Kid-Friendly Version: To make this without alcohol, simply omit the liqueur from both the coffee soak and the mascarpone cream. It will still be absolutely delicious!
The Best Easy Tiramisu Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
- Brownie Base:
- 115 g ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 200 g 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 45 g ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 60 g ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- Coffee Soak:
- 60 ml ¼ cup hot strong coffee or espresso
- 2 tbsp coffee liqueur optional
- Mascarpone Topping:
- 225 g 8 oz mascarpone cheese, room temperature
- 180 ml ¾ cup cold heavy cream
- 60 g ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp coffee liqueur optional
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- For Dusting: Unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Make Brownies: Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a square baking pan with parchment. In a bowl, whisk melted butter and sugar. Whisk in eggs and vanilla. Fold in cocoa powder, flour, and salt until just combined. Pour into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Soak Brownies: While brownies are hot, poke holes all over the top with a skewer. Brush or pour the coffee soak (coffee + optional liqueur) evenly over the top. Let the brownies cool completely.
- Make Topping: In a bowl, beat the room-temperature mascarpone, powdered sugar, and optional liqueur until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip the cold heavy cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture.
- Assemble & Chill: Spread the mascarpone topping evenly over the completely cooled brownies. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, until firm.
- Serve: Just before serving, dust generously with cocoa powder. Lift from the pan, slice into squares, and serve cold.
Notes
- Chilling for at least 4 hours is essential for the topping to set for clean slices.
- For an alcohol-free version, simply omit the liqueur.
- The brownies can be made with a high-quality box mix for an even easier shortcut.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I make this without the alcohol? Yes, absolutely! The coffee liqueur adds a nice depth of flavor, but the dessert is still incredibly delicious without it. Simply omit the liqueur from both the coffee soak and the mascarpone cream—no other adjustments are needed.
2. Can I use regular cream cheese instead of mascarpone? While you can in a pinch, I highly recommend using mascarpone for an authentic Tiramisu flavor and texture. Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese that is much richer, creamier, and less tangy than American-style cream cheese. Using regular cream cheese will result in a topping that is much tangier and denser, more like a cheesecake.
3. How far in advance can I make these Tiramisu Brownies? This is the perfect make-ahead dessert! You can make them a full day or even two days in advance. In fact, I think they taste even better on the second day, as the flavors have more time to meld. Just keep them covered in the refrigerator and wait to dust them with cocoa powder until right before you plan to serve.
4. Do these brownies need to be kept in the refrigerator? Yes, absolutely. Because the topping is made with fresh mascarpone and heavy cream, these brownies must be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep well for up to 4 days.
Ready for a Dreamy Dessert?
This is one of my all-time favorite dessert mashups, and it never fails to get rave reviews. It’s the perfect, sophisticated-yet-easy dessert to share with people you love. If you make it, I would be so thrilled if you left a comment and a star rating below!
For more decadent baking ideas, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram. This treat is best served chilled, with a hot cup of espresso on the side. Enjoy every single bite!