Simple Tiramisu

1 cup of cold heavy whipping cream

8 oz mascarpone cheese

generous pinch of salt

20-40 ladyfingers (depending on how big yours are! I needed 40, mine were skinny)

1 cup brewed coffee (you can do de-caffeinated if you'd like!)

1/2 cup sugar

cocoa powder

bittersweet or semisweet chocolate

*Optional: 2 Tb coffee liqueur, amaretto, or 1 tsp vanilla

Beat mascarpone, salt, and sugar together until smooth and slightly fluffy. While beating, gradually add the cream, and beat for a few more minutes until thick and fluffy.

Using half of your ladyfingers, quickly dip each one in coffee and line the bottom of an 8 inch square baking dish. Very gently and carefully, spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers. Add another layer of coffee-dipped ladyfingers, the rest of the mascarpone, and dust with cocoa powder and optional chocolate shavings. Refrigerate overnight and serve cold.

Tips and Variations:

~ The coffee flavor was just a hair strong for me. Next time I would brush the ladyfingers with coffee instead of dipping. You can do either.

~ You can add a teaspoon of vanilla to the mascarpone, or coffee liqueur/amaretto to the coffee. I have seen recipes with both, but none with the vanilla. That's just me.

~You could add a layer of chocolate shavings and/or cocoa on top of the first layer of mascarpone