CHOCOLATE CAKE TIRAMISU

Tiramisu holds a special place in my heart. I always have place for tiramisu even if its after a heavy meal. For years, I thought that this dessert is too complicated to make at home. Ameretto, Ladies Fingers and all the other ingredients, which need to shopped specially. So i always thought that its easier to order a serving when we are out for Italian dinners.

We have even had dessert outings, after a homely dinner at home, just for Tiramisu. Till I thought enough as enough. There should a  hack for it. And there was. I was watching an old episode featuring Martha Stewart's cooking on some random channel. Thats when she showed a recipe to use old chocolate cake, and give it a new lease of life. Yes, you guessed it right. Tiramisu it was. Let me clarify that this is no way the original Tiramisu recipe. But it doesn't shy away from packing a punch. 

The ladies finger in the iconic recipe is replaced by slices of cake. You can either use Chocolate or simple pound cake. Martha Stewart had used Pound Cake, but I used some marbled Chocolate Cake, which my hubby had picked up from Costco. Cakes from Costco are usually nice, but this one in particular wa very dry. So the idea of rehydrating it with some rum and coffee and layering it with decadent Mascarpone Cheese sounded like a great idea for my foodie loving soul. And its an easy desert to serve up at any Fall party that you might be hosting at home. 

Recipe Inspiration: Martha Stewart 's POUND CAKE TIRAMISU 

Martha's version called for a touch of rum and loads of espresso, but I had to make mine booozey. So in came the Rum. For the extra Rum, the inspiration was INA GARTEN'S TIRAMISU RECIPE. 

For me the biggest challenge in this recipe was to find some good Mascarpne Cheese. As they say, when you need something, your grocery store, will suddenly run out of it. All plans were made to make this desert for a party I was hosting at home for my extended family here in KC. But Mascarpne Cheese was nowhere in sight, till the last minute. A quick stop at the local Sprouts at the day of the party saved the day. The huge display of Cheese from the local farmers almost stole my heart. And I wanted to bring the entire cheese stand home, if I could. So i had to remind myself that I was in there for some Mascarpone Cheese. 

Rather than a large dessert, I had five individual servings in ramekins, so that everyone could nibble on theirs with some coffee as the fun rolled onto the night.

CHOCOLATE CAKE TIRAMISU - POUND CAKE TIRAMISU : 

Ingredients: 

Heavy Cream: 1 cup 

Mascarpone Cheese: 1 lb tub 

Chocolate Cake or Pound Cake: 1/2 loaf . I had used marbled 

Dark Rum: 1/2 cup

Espresso: 1/2 cup

Confectioners Sugar: 1/4 cup 

Cocoa powder: for dusting 

Shaved chocolate:  1/4 cup 

Procedure: 

 I had half a loaf of Chocolate marbled cake. I cut it into slices to fit into the the ramekins. 

I had a tub of fresh Mascarpone Cheese. I whipped it with the heavy cream, 1/4 cup espresso and 1/4 cup dark rum and confectioner's sugar. I used a normal whisk, but if you have a mixer, use it by all means. Mine had conked off.

It was time build up the layers. Mix up the remaining 1/4 cup rum and 1/4 cup espresso in a bowl. Place a slice of cake in the ramekin. Pour  the coffee- rum mixture to moisten the cake. You could also dip the cake and then place it in the ramekin.

Then add a dollop of the cheese-cream-coffee-rum-sugar mixture  and smooth it out with a spatula.
Do this for all your ramekins. Or you could also do a single serving in a larger bowl. Top the cheese mixture withs have chocolate.

Repeat the layers, till you have filled the ramekin. For the final topping of the cheese mixture, I used a piping bag and a Wilton Star Tip .

I took a normal strainer and dusted some cocoa powder as the final touch. Please excuse my super chipped nails. I was due for a manicure the very next day. yes, I hosted a party at home, with chipped nails. But the food I served was tasty, so I am sure my guests remember that, rather than the chopped nails.

So go ahead and give it a try. And don't forget to let me know, how you enjoyed it. feel free to make individual servings or a large serving. You can skip the rum if you are teetotaler , but dint skimp on the strong espresso. 

Bon Apppetit !!!