Go Back

Decadent Cherry Amaretto Tiramisu

This Decadent Cherry Amaretto Tiramisu is a luscious twist on the classic Italian dessert. Layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers, velvety mascarpone cream, rich cherry compote, and a hint of almond-flavored Amaretto liqueur come together for a boozy, fruity, ultra-creamy indulgence. Perfect for dinner parties, holidays, or whenever you want to wow your guests with a no-bake treat.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 5 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian-American fusion
Servings 10 generous portions
Calories 380 kcal

Equipment

  • Hand or stand mixer
  • Mixing bowls
  • 9x9 or 8x11 inch baking dish (glass preferred)
  • Small saucepan
  • Fine mesh sieve (for dusting cocoa)
  • Silicone spatula
  • Spoon or pastry brush

Ingredients
  

For the Cherry Compote:

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cherries (pitted)
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

For the Mascarpone Cream:

  • 16 oz mascarpone cheese (cold)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp Amaretto liqueur

For Assembly:

  • 1½ cups strong brewed espresso or coffee (cooled)
  • ¼ cup Amaretto liqueur
  • 24–30 ladyfinger biscuits (savoiardi)
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder (for dusting)
  • Shaved dark chocolate or sliced almonds (optional garnish)

Instructions
 

Make the Cherry Compote

  • In a small saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, and lemon juice.
  • Simmer over medium heat until cherries are softened and syrupy (8–10 mins).
  • For thicker compote, dissolve 1 tsp cornstarch in 1 tbsp water and stir in.
  • Let cool completely.

Prepare the Mascarpone Cream

  • In a bowl, beat cold mascarpone with Amaretto until smooth.
  • In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
  • Gently fold whipped cream into mascarpone mixture using a spatula. Do not overmix.

Coffee-Amaretto Soak

  • Combine cooled espresso and Amaretto in a shallow bowl.

Assemble the Tiramisu

  • Quickly dip ladyfingers into the coffee-Amaretto mix (1–2 seconds per side) and layer in the bottom of your dish.
  • Spread half the mascarpone cream evenly over the soaked ladyfingers.
  • Spoon half of the cherry compote across the layer.
  • Repeat with another layer of soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream, and remaining cherry compote.

Chill & Set

  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Finish & Serve

  • Before serving, dust generously with cocoa powder.
  • Add optional garnishes like shaved chocolate or sliced almonds.

Notes

  • Make-Ahead Friendly: Best made a day in advance for ideal texture and flavor melding.
  • No Amaretto? Substitute almond extract (½ tsp) for similar flavor—use with care as it’s potent.
  • Ladyfinger Tip: Use firm, dry savoiardi—not soft sponge cake-like ones—for the best structure.
  • Cherries: Dark sweet cherries or tart cherries both work—adjust sugar to taste.
  • Presentation Tip: For a modern touch, assemble in individual glasses for a dinner party wow-factor.
Keyword amaretto tiramisu, boozy tiramisu, cherry almond tiramisu, Cherry tiramisu, chocolate cherry dessert, mascarpone cherry trifle, no-bake dessert