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This Tiramisu Cake recipe features layers of fluffy vanilla cake infused with coffee and a delightful mascarpone cream cheese frosting. Easy & delicious!
This tiramisu cake is inspired by my classic tiramisu recipe. Instead of Lady Fingers, it’s made with layers of vanilla cake infused with coffee and cream cheese frosting. It’s so easy to make, using a vanilla cake mix, and it tastes so good.
Why You’ll Love This Tiramisu Cake Recipe
Here are a few of the reasons why I love this cake.
- Super easy. This cake begins with vanilla boxed cake mix, which keeps the ingredient list short and saves time on measuring and mixing ingredients. The coffee mixture and frosting are simple too.
- Incredible tiramisu flavor. The vanilla cake layers are infused with coffee and the frosting is a thick cream cheese and mascarpone frosting, offering all the classic tiramisu flavors in one cake.
- Light, fluffy, & moist. The vanilla cake layers bake up nice and fluffy. They’re moist too and the coffee only adds to that. Paired with the creamy frosting, it’s the perfect combination of flavors.
If you love this, try my tiramisu ice cream too!
What You’ll Need
This recipe combines your typical cake ingredients with standard tiramisu ingredients.
- Vanilla cake mix – Starting with a box vanilla cake mix helps keep this recipe super easy.
- Whole milk – 2% would work as well.
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs – Large eggs, not medium or extra large.
- Ground coffee
- Boiling water – For the coffee.
- Mascarpone cheese – Helps to lighten and sweeten the cream cheese frosting.
- Cream cheese – Softened so that it’s easy to mix.
- Powdered sugar – Sweetens the frosting.
- Vanilla extract
- Heavy whipping cream – Stabilizes the frosting.
- Cocoa powder – For a chocolatey finish.
How To Make Tiramisu Cake
Here’s an overview of how to make this tiramisu layer cake. Scroll down to the recipe card for the printable version of the instructions.
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray the cake pans with nonstick baking spray.
- Make the batter. Beat all of the cake ingredients until well combined and smooth.
- Bake. Divide the batter evenly into the 3 cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
- Level the cakes. Place the cakes onto cake boards. Use a cake leveler to remove any domes so that the layers are even.
- Make the coffee mixture. Whisk the ground coffee and boiling water together. Transfer to a squeeze bottle.
- Make the frosting. Beat the frosting ingredients together until combined and creamy with stiff peaks.
- Assemble. Drizzle the coffee mixture over the top of the cake layers. Let soak for 30 minutes. Spread a cup of frosting evenly on one cake layer. Top with a second cake layer, top with another cup of frosting, and the final cake layer. Transfer the remaining frosting to a piping bag and frost the entire cake, using a frosting smoother to level it out.
- Decorate. Sift cocoa powder on top of the cake then pipe dollops of frosting on top. Place chocolate-covered espresso beans into the dollops of frosting if desired.
Tips & Tricks
Here are a few tips to help you make the best tiramisu cake.
- Don’t overbake. To ensure that each cake layer is nice and moist, you want to be sure to not overbake them. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out without any wet crumbs.
- Level the cakes. Once the cake layers have cooled, use a cake leveler (or knife) to cut off the tops or any domes that appeared during baking. This helps to ensure that each cake layer lays flat.
- Let the coffee soak in. After you remove the tops of the cakes and pour the coffee mixture over the top, let it soak in for 30 minutes or so. This really gives it time to infuse the coffee flavor throughout the cake.
- Try it with coffee liqueur. If you want a slightly boozy twist on this cake, replace the coffee mixture with your favorite coffee liqueur.
Proper Storage
Store leftover tiramisu cake in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep it covered tightly with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container.
More Cake Recipes To Try
- Butterfinger Poke Cake
- Molten Lava Cake
- Best Carrot Cake Recipe
- German Chocolate Cake
- Better Than Anything Cake
- Hot Milk Cake
Tiramisu Cake
This Tiramisu Cake recipe features layers of fluffy vanilla cake infused with coffee and a delightful mascarpone cream cheese frosting. Easy & delicious!
Servings: 8
Ingredients
Vanilla Cake Ingredients
- 2 – 15.25 Box vanilla cake mix
- 2 C Whole milk
- 1 C unsalted butter
- 6 large eggs
- Pam baking spray
Coffee mixture
- 1/4 C ground coffee
- 1 C boiling water
Cream cheese frosting Ingredients
- 6 oz Mascarpone cheese
- 16 oz cream cheese , softened
- 1/2 C unsalted butter softened
- 6 C powdered sugar
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 5-7 TBSP heavy whipping cream
- ¼ C cocoa powder
Instructions
Cake Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray the cake pans with the pam baking spray, set aside
- Using a standing mixer, beat until combined and smooth all ingredients for the cakes
- Divide the batter between the 3 cake pans
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
- Allow to cool completely
- Remove cakes from cake pans and place onto the cake boards
- Using the cake leveler, remove the top of the cakes to make the layers even
Coffee Mixture Directions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the ground coffee and boiling water
- Pour into a squeeze bottle
Frosting Directions
- Using a standing mixer, beat together the cream cheese, mascarpone
- cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream until combined and creamy with stiff peaks
Building the cake directions
- Drizzle the coffee mixture onto the top of the cake layers
- Allow to soak for 30 minutes
- Using 1 of the cake layers, scoop 1 C of the frosting onto the top of the cake layer and smooth evenly
- Place the second cake layer onto the top of the first layer of frosting
- Scoop 1 C of frosting onto the second layer of cake and smooth evenly
- Place the last cake layer on top
- Scoop 1 C of frosting into the piping bag
- Using the remaining frosting, frost entire cake
- Smooth the frosting with a frosting smoother
- Using a sifter, sift cocoa powder onto the top of the cake
- Pipe dollops of frosting onto the top of the cake
- Place chocolate covered espresso beans onto the top of the frosting dollops
- Cut and enjoy!
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Calories: 5061kcal | Carbohydrates: 1007g | Protein: 58g | Fat: 95g | Saturated Fat: 55g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 8079mg | Potassium: 1024mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 564g | Vitamin A: 1814IU | Calcium: 2656mg | Iron: 22mg
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