Easy Limoncello Tiramisu with Lemon Curd

Make this luscious, Easy Limoncello tiramisu with Lemon Curd! It is a delicious and easy dessert that combines creamy mascarpone cheese, whipped cream, fresh lemons, lemon curd, lemon liqueur and ladyfingers. It is perfect for summer and special occasions.

If you love tiramisu, you will adore this lemon tiramisu. This recipe is a delicious twist on the classic Italian dessert. Instead of coffee and cocoa, it uses limoncello and lemon curd for a bright and zesty flavor.

Limoncello is a sweet and tangy lemon liqueur from Italy. It adds a memorable, boozy and zesty flavor to the creamy mascarpone cheese and the soft ladyfingers. It's light, refreshing and perfect for summer. To top it off, you can make this heavenly, crowd-pleasing dessert in less than 30 minutes!

For more tasty tiramisu recipes, try my Easy Lotus Biscoff Tiramisu (Speculoos Tiramisu), Easy Tiramisu Cake with Ladyfingers and Easy Alcohol Matcha Tiramisu.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

• This easy Limoncello tiramisu with lemon curd is a cooling and refreshing summer dessert.
• It is easy to make and does not require any baking.
• This easy limoncello tiramisu with lemon recipe curd is egg-free.
• It can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to three days.

Easy Limoncello Tiramisu with Lemon Curd Ingredients

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Filling

• Mascarpone cheese: Make sure it is at room temperature. This will ensure that it mixes well with the other ingredients and give the filling a smooth and creamy texture.
• Limoncello: I used Italian Limoncello but you can use any other lemon liqueur of your choice.
• Lemon juice: Use fresh lemons for the best flavor.
• Lemon zest: Grate lemon zest to intensify the lemon flavors in this limoncello dessert.
• Heavy whipping cream: Use full-fat heavy cream for a delicious creamy flavor and texture. Low-fat cream may not hold shape.
• Lemon curd: It is important to use good-quality lemon curd for the best flavor and texture.
• Sugar: To sweeten the filling.
• Salt: To balance out the sweetness.

For Dipping

• Sugar: To sweeten the syrup.
• Lemon juice: Squeeze juice from a fresh lemon.
• Limoncello:
• Ladyfingers: Select good-quality ladyfingers.
• Water: To dilute the syrup.

Decoration

• Lemon curd: Feel free to decorate with more lemon curd. If you want a creamier tiramisu, skip the lemon curd and decorate with lemon zest instead.
• Lemon slices: I like to add lemon slices to the corners.

Tips and Substitutions

• Room temperature: Make sure the mascarpone is at room temperature for ease of mixing.
• Heavy cream: The cream must be cold for stiff peaks to form when mixing.
• Limoncello: This lemon-flavored liqueur adds a nice kick to the dessert. If you don't have any limoncello on hand, you can substitute it with another lemon liqueur or lemon extract. You can also make your own limoncello at home by infusing lemons, vodka, sugar, and water.
• Water: The syrup's water helps dilute the sweetness and acidity of the lemon juice and limoncello. You can replace the water with lemonade or lemon soda if you want a more intense lemon flavor. However, be careful not to add too much sugar to the syrup, as these drinks are already sweetened.
• Ladyfingers: These are soft and spongey biscuits that soak up the syrup and create the tiramisu base. Make sure you dip them quickly in the syrup, as they can become too wet and mushy if you leave them for too long. This will affect the texture and stability of the tiramisu when you cut and serve it.
• Alcohol-free: If you prefer a non-alcoholic version of this dessert, you can simply omit the limoncello and use more lemon juice and zest to enhance the flavor. Alternatively, you can use lemon extract instead of limoncello in the mascarpone mixture.
• Gluten-free: If you have a gluten intolerance or allergy, you can still enjoy this dessert by using gluten-free ladyfingers. You can find them in specialty stores or online or make your own with almond flour, eggs, sugar and baking powder.

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe, you might also want to try some of these variations:

• Limoncello raspberry tiramisu: This is a fruity and colorful dessert version. You can add some fresh raspberries to the mascarpone filling and sprinkle more berries on top of the tiramisu. The raspberries will add a burst of sweetness and tartness to the creamy and tangy dessert.
• Alcohol-free lemon tiramisu: If you want to make this dessert without any alcohol, you can simply skip the limoncello and follow the rest of the recipe. You will still get a delicious lemon flavor from the lemon juice, zest and curd.
• Egg-free recipe: This recipe does not use any eggs in the mascarpone filling, which makes it safer and easier to prepare. However, if you prefer a more traditional tiramisu filling, you can also whisk some egg yolks with sugar and limoncello over a double boiler until thick and pale, then fold them into the mascarpone cheese.

How to Make Easy Limoncello Tiramisu with Lemon Curd

1. Add mascarpone cheese, limoncello, lemon curd, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a large bowl.
2. Mix until well combined and smooth.
3. In another bowl, add heavy or whipping cream and sugar.
4. Whisk with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 3-5 minutes.

5. Gently fold a quarter of the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture.
6. Then, repeat with the remaining whipped cream. This will make the filling light and fluffy. Set it aside for later.
7. To make the syrup, combine sugar, lemon juice, limoncello and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
8. Quickly dip both sides of a lady finger biscuit into the lemon syrup, but don't soak them for more than 20 seconds or they will become too soggy.

9. Grab a deep dish and start assembling the tiramisu. Arrange the dipped ladyfingers in a single layer on the bottom of the dish, making sure they are touching each other.
10. Spoon half the creamy filling over the ladyfingers.
11. Spread it evenly with a spatula or a knife until smooth.
12. Drizzle some lemon curd over the filling for an extra burst of flavor. You can skip this if you prefer a milder lemon flavor. Repeat steps 5-7 with another layer of ladyfingers, filling and lemon curd. Refrigerate the tiramisu overnight for at least 4 hours to let the flavors meld together.

13. Enjoy this delicious and tangy easy limoncello tiramisu with lemon on a hot summer day, at Christmas, or on any other special occasion. You can also garnish it with lemon slices, fresh berries, or mint leaves.

If you love this spin on this classic Italian dessert, try my yummy creamy matcha tiramisu!

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