Tiramisu

/ˌtɪrəmɪˈsu/ noun

Definition

An Italian dessert made with layers of coffee-soaked ladyfinger cookies and a creamy mixture of mascarpone cheese, eggs, and sugar, dusted with cocoa powder. It requires no baking and is served chilled.

Etymology

From Italian 'tiramisù,' literally meaning 'pick me up' or 'lift me up,' referring to the energizing effects of the coffee and sugar. The dessert was invented in the Veneto region in the 1960s, making it relatively modern compared to other classic Italian desserts.

Kelly Says

Tiramisu is one of the youngest classic Italian desserts, invented only in the 1960s at a restaurant in Treviso, yet it has become perhaps the most internationally recognized Italian dessert. The key to authentic tiramisu is using genuine mascarpone cheese and strong espresso - the coffee should be bitter enough to balance the rich, sweet cream layers.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.