Enjoy Classic Italian Flavors in This Keto Tiramisu Recipe

Name: Enjoy Classic Italian Flavors in This Keto Tiramisu Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 295 min
Ingredients: 6 large eggs (separated); pinch of cream of tartar; 5 tablespoons powdered erythritol; 6 tablespoons coconut flour (sifted); 1/4 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; pinch of salt; 2 tablespoons butter (melted and cooled); 300 g heavy whipping cream ((1 ¼ cup)); 60 g powdered erythritol ((1/2 cup)); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 250 g mascarpone cheese ((8 oz)); 60 g brewed espresso ((1/4 cup)); 1 tablespoons granulated erythritol ((optional)); 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Craving for tiramisu but worried about carbs? Our classic Italian keto tiramisu recipe lets you indulge guilt-free. Satisfy your sweet tooth with this low carb Italian dessert.

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Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert translating to “cheer me up”—aptly describing its ability to lift spirits. The traditional recipe layers ladyfingers dipped in coffee with a mascarpone cream and cocoa powder. First appearing in 1960s Italy, it quickly gained global popularity as variations emerged. Its perfection explains its status beyond being a standard Italian classic.

But when you’re watching your carbs and sugar, tiramisu is off the table. Or is it? This keto tiramisu recipe swaps out the carb-laden ladyfingers for a keto sponge cake and replaces sugar with a low-carb sweetener. The result is a low-carb fluffier tiramisu that’s just as insanely delicious as the original. So go ahead and enjoy this classic Italian dessert guilt-free on your keto diet.

Low Carb Tiramisu Recipe

While tiramisu is traditionally made with ladyfingers and a rich mascarpone cream, those adhering to a keto or low-carb diet seeking to enjoy this classic Italian dessert, can often find Tiramisu versions using keto sweeteners and keto sponge cake.

One of the benefits of a keto diet is that you can still enjoy decadent desserts while indulging. Low-carb sweeteners can substitute regular sugar, allowing you to enjoy butter, cocoa powder and mascarpone cheese in this delicious tiramisu recipe. Making this keto dessert means being treated to it while staying within your diet, allowing you to enjoy every bite guilt-free.

Finding keto ladyfingers may be difficult, so our recipe uses a fluffy keto sponge cake that perfectly absorbs brewed espresso like ladyfingers in traditional tiramisu, eliminating any need for them.

As for Mascarpone cream, to obtain a keto cream, simply replace the sugar with a ketogenic sweetener like this one. Instead, the Mascarpone cheese is very high in fat which benefits the keto diet. Mascarpone cheese can be found in most grocery stores or homemade using heavy cream and lemon juice. This is the Homemade Mascarpone cheese recipe.

This keto tiramisu is absolutely amazing and a recipe worth repeating. Therefore, serve it, and eat a slice of Classic Italian Keto Tiramisu without feeling guilty!

Classic Keto Tiramisu Ingredients

To make this classic Italian dessert keto-friendly, you’ll need to swap out some of the traditional ingredients.

Sugar Replacement

The most obvious substitution is replacing the sugar. Use a keto-approved sweetener like monk fruit, stevia, or erythritol instead of regular sugar. These have almost no carbs but provide the sweetness you need. In this recipe I mainly used powdered erythritol. You can buy it directly online, or you can opt for your favorite granulated sweetener from those I have indicated above, and pulverize it with a common blender.

NOTE – If you don’t use erythritol as the sweetener, please refer to the sweetening power indicated on the package of the selected sweetener in order to determine the appropriate amount for this recipe.

Keto Tiramisu Base

Ladyfingers are out, so you’ll need a low-carb sponge cake or other cake base. In this recipe we will make a keto sponge cake from scratch. This keto pound cake or this keto nut-based cake also work well.

Keto Mascarpone Cream

Mascarpone cheese is naturally low in carbs, so you can keep it in. However, double check that there are no added sugars. Some brands do add sugar, so compare nutrition labels. For an alternative, you can use a mixture of cream cheese, heavy cream, and sour cream.

Espresso or coffee

To soak the cake layers, brew some espresso or very strong coffee. This adds flavor to the tiramisu without significantly impacting the carb count. You can also use coffee extract for an intense coffee flavor in each bite.

Cocoa powder

For topping and garnish, use unsweetened cocoa powder. Just a light dusting will do – you don’t need much to make it look authentic.

How To Make The Classic Italian Keto Tiramisu

How to Make Low Sponge Cake

Prepare a 20cm (8-inch) round cake pan by lining it with parchment paper. For this recipe, I used this 20cm non-stick springform pan. This step prevents sticking and makes it easier to remove the cake after baking. Preheat the oven to 170 °C (ca 350 °F) and get the rest of the ingredients ready while the oven heats up.

Separate the egg whites from the yolks, putting the whites in a clean, dry bowl. Add a bit of cream of tartar to the whites and beat them with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. This process helps incorporate air for a light and fluffy texture.

In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they become light and fluffy. Then, add your choice of sweetener, coconut flour, baking powder,vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Combine until fully blended.

Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the yolk mixture in 3 times, to preserve as much air as possible. Then add in the melted butter, folding carefully.

Pour the prepared batter into the cake pan evenly and bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool completely in the pan before flipping it onto a wire rack. Once cooled, use a paring knife to loosen the edges and remove the parchment paper.

How to Make Low Carb Mascarpone Cream

While the cake is cooling, prepare the filling. In a large bowl, add 1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, powdered erythritol, and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, whip the ingredients until soft peaks form. Then add the mascarpone cheese and continue whipping until stiff.

Assemble Your Keto Tiramisu

To assemble the tiramisu more easily, I used the cake pan used for the sponge cake. Carefully slice the cake horizontally into two even layers using a long serrated knife, and place the first layer of sponge cake on the base of the mold.

Drizzle half the espresso mixture over the bottom half of the cake.

In a separate small bowl, mix together the brewed espresso and the sweetener (optional). Drizzle half the espresso mixture over the bottom half of the cake. Spread half of the mascarpone cream over the espresso layer and place the top half of the cake over the mascarpone layer.

Drizzle the remaining espresso mixture over the top cake layer. Spread the remaining mascarpone cream over the assembled cake.

Cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before dusting the top with unsweetened cocoa powder. Now you can slice and serve you delicious classic Italian keto Tiramisu.

Dust the top with unsweetened cocoa powder.

How To Store The Low-Carb Classic Tiramisu

To store Tiramisu, you should cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator. It’s best to consume Tiramisu within 2-3 days to ensure its freshness and flavor.

You can also freeze your tiramisu as long as you do so within one day of preparing it. This helps prevent excessive bacterial growth, which can still proliferate slowly in the freezer. Thoroughly cover it with at least a couple layers of transparent plastic wrap or in an airtight container and carefully note the freezing date. It can be stored for approximately one month.

When ready to enjoy, place it in the refrigerator 4 hours before. Be sure not to thaw at room temperature and consume within 12 hours of thawing. You can also freeze it in single servings so you only take out what you need. Remember that you cannot freeze the same product twice. Some find the taste is the same when frozen, others prefer it, while some do not like it at all. Taste preferences can vary greatly depending on personal preference and the recipe used.

Tips for Making the Best Classic Italian Keto Tiramisu

Brew strong coffee

Espresso or French-pressed coffee provides the bold flavor needed for tiramisu. Brew the coffee, let it cool, and use it to soak the keto sponge cake layers. For extra flavor, add a bit of coffee liqueur to the brewed coffee.

Sweeten carefully

Keto sweeteners like monk fruit or stevia have an aftertaste, so use them sparingly in the mascarpone filling and cocoa dusting. Taste as you go, and stop when it’s just slightly sweet. The coffee and mascarpone provide plenty of richness on their own.

Chill before serving

Allow at least 4 hours for the tiramisu to chill in the refrigerator before serving. This allows the flavors to develop as the keto sponge cake soaks up the coffee and mascarpone. Dust with cocoa powder just before serving for the most appealing presentation.

Make it your own

Once you’ve mastered the basics, experiment by adding your own touches like a splash of almond extract in the mascarpone, a layer of sugar-free chocolate shavings, or a drizzle of low-carb chocolate sauce. Keto tiramisu also pairs well with a glass of dry red wine or coffee with heavy cream.