12 Tiramisu Twists So Cozy You Might Never Go Back to the Original

Tiramisu has a way of making any night feel special. Soft coffee soaked ladyfingers, cool creamy layers, and that first spoonful that makes the whole table go quiet. Now picture it with pumpkin spice, gingerbread or a hint of chai. These tiramisu twists keep everything you love about the classic and wrap it in cozy fall and holiday flavor. Best of all, most of them taste better when you make them the night before..

Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu for Fall

If fall had a dessert mascot, this would be it. Pumpkin puree and warm spices get folded into the mascarpone cream, and the ladyfingers soak in coffee with a splash of maple. One slice and it tastes like a pumpkin pie and a tiramisu fell in love. Which team are you on: (A) classic tiramisu or (B) pumpkin tiramisu?

You will need: 1 cup strong coffee (cooled), 2 tablespoons maple syrup, about 24 ladyfingers, 8 oz mascarpone, 3/4 cup pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, cocoa and cinnamon for dusting.

How to make it: Mix coffee and maple syrup in a shallow dish. Beat mascarpone, pumpkin, powdered sugar and spice until smooth. Whip the cream to soft peaks and fold it in. Dip each ladyfinger for 1 second and lay in an 8 by 8 dish. Spread half the cream. Repeat the layers. Chill at least 6 hours. Dust with cocoa and cinnamon.

Apple Cider Tiramisu

This one swaps coffee for warm spiced apple cider, so it is lighter and fruity, and kids can enjoy it too. A thin layer of cooked cinnamon apples between the layers makes every bite taste like an apple pie. It is a great choice for anyone who skips coffee after dinner.

You will need: 1 1/2 cups apple cider, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 apples diced, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, 24 ladyfingers, 8 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream.

How to make it: Warm cider with half the cinnamon. Cook apples with butter, brown sugar and the rest of the cinnamon for 6 minutes, then cool. Beat mascarpone with powdered sugar and fold in whipped cream. Dip ladyfingers in cider and layer with cream and apples. Chill 6 hours.

Gingerbread Tiramisu

Molasses, ginger and cinnamon turn tiramisu into a holiday treat that smells like a gingerbread house. You add the spices and a spoon of molasses to the coffee, then top it all with crushed gingersnaps for crunch. It is the dessert people ask about at every Christmas party.

You will need: 1 cup strong coffee, 1 tablespoon molasses, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 24 ladyfingers, 8 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 6 gingersnaps crushed.

How to make it: Stir molasses and half the spices into the warm coffee and cool. Beat mascarpone, brown sugar and the rest of the spices. Whip cream and fold in. Dip ladyfingers and layer with the cream twice. Chill overnight. Sprinkle crushed gingersnaps on top before serving.

Chai Latte Layered Dessert for Tea Lovers

Love a chai latte on a cold morning? Then this tiramisu is for you. Strong chai tea replaces the coffee, and a little cardamom in the cream makes it smell incredible. It is gentle, warming and not too sweet. Would you pick (A) chai or (B) coffee for your soak?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups strong brewed chai tea (cooled), 2 tablespoons honey, 24 ladyfingers, 8 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream.

How to make it: Brew the chai extra strong, stir in honey and cool. Beat mascarpone, sugar and spices. Whip the cream and fold it in gently. Dip ladyfingers quickly and layer in a dish with the cream, twice. Chill 6 hours. Dust with cinnamon.

Chocolate Peppermint Layers for Christmas

This is the one for chocolate lovers. Mocha soaked ladyfingers, a chocolate mascarpone cream, and crushed candy canes on top for a pretty, sparkly finish. It looks like Christmas in a dish. Add the candy canes just before serving so they stay crunchy.

You will need: 1 cup strong coffee, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 24 ladyfingers, 8 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 4 oz melted dark chocolate (cooled), 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 4 candy canes crushed.

How to make it: Whisk cocoa into the hot coffee and cool. Beat mascarpone, sugar, melted chocolate and peppermint. Whip cream and fold in. Dip ladyfingers and layer with the cream twice. Chill 6 hours or overnight. Top with crushed candy canes right before serving.

Alcohol Free Eggnog Layered Dessert

Eggnog season is short, so enjoy it in every way you can. Here store bought eggnog goes into the cream and the soak, with a little nutmeg on top. No alcohol, so the whole family can dig in. It tastes like a cozy holiday morning in a spoon.

You will need: 1 cup strong coffee, 1/2 cup eggnog for the soak, 24 ladyfingers, 8 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup eggnog for the cream, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1 cup heavy cream, freshly grated nutmeg.

How to make it: Mix coffee with 1/2 cup eggnog. Beat mascarpone, the other 1/2 cup eggnog and powdered sugar until smooth. Whip the cream and fold it in. Dip ladyfingers and layer with the cream twice. Chill overnight. Grate nutmeg over the top before serving.

Tiramisu Cups for a Party

Want a dessert that looks fancy but saves you from slicing? Make tiramisu in small cups or jars. Guests grab one, there is no mess, and they look so pretty lined up on a tray. You can mix flavors too: some pumpkin, some classic, some peppermint. Make them a day ahead.

You will need: 12 small clear cups or jars, 1 cup strong coffee, about 18 ladyfingers broken in pieces, 8 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla, cocoa powder.

How to make it: Beat mascarpone with sugar and vanilla. Whip the cream and fold it in. Put the cream in a zip bag and snip the corner. Dip ladyfinger pieces in coffee and press into each cup. Pipe cream on top. Repeat once. Chill 4 hours and dust with cocoa.

Tiramisu Cheesecake

What happens when two famous desserts meet? This. A ladyfinger and cookie crust, a coffee kissed cheesecake filling, and a cloud of mascarpone cream on top. It takes a little more time, but the first slice will make everyone at the table say wow. Who gets the first slice in your house?

You will need: Crust: 1 1/2 cups crushed ladyfingers or vanilla wafers, 5 tablespoons melted butter. Filling: 24 oz cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 2 tablespoons instant espresso dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water, 1/2 cup sour cream. Top: 4 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup cream, cocoa.

How to make it: Heat oven to 325 F. Press crust into a 9 inch springform and bake 8 minutes. Beat cream cheese and sugar, add eggs, espresso and sour cream. Pour in and bake 55 to 60 minutes. Cool in the oven with the door open. Chill overnight. Whip topping, spread and dust with cocoa.

Biscoff Cookie Butter Tiramisu

Cookie butter fans, this one is for you. Crunchy spiced Biscoff cookies replace the ladyfingers, and a swirl of cookie butter goes into the cream. It is sweet, caramel like and totally addictive. The cookies soften into a cake like layer overnight.

You will need: 1 cup strong coffee, 30 Biscoff cookies, 8 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup cookie butter spread, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, extra crushed cookies for the top.

How to make it: Beat mascarpone, cookie butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Whip the cream and fold it in. Dip each cookie in coffee for just 1 second, they soak fast. Layer cookies and cream twice in a dish. Chill overnight. Top with crushed cookies.

Strawberry Version With No Coffee at All

Not everyone loves coffee, and that is okay. Strawberry tiramisu soaks the ladyfingers in a quick strawberry syrup and layers them with fresh berries and cream. It is pink, pretty and perfect for a birthday or baby shower. Kids usually choose this one first.

You will need: 1 lb fresh strawberries sliced, 1/2 cup strawberry juice or syrup, 1/4 cup water, 24 ladyfingers, 8 oz mascarpone, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream.

How to make it: Mix strawberry syrup with water. Beat mascarpone, sugar and vanilla, then fold in whipped cream. Dip ladyfingers in the syrup and lay in a dish. Spread cream and add a layer of berries. Repeat. Chill 6 hours. Top with more berries before serving.

Tiramisu Icebox Cake for a Crowd

Hosting a big family dinner? Make this in a 9 by 13 pan and it feeds 15 to 18 people. It uses graham crackers and ladyfingers, so it is cheap and easy, and it sets up beautifully in the fridge. New to tiramisu? Learn the basics first with our easy no bake tiramisu guide.

You will need: 2 cups strong coffee, 1 box (14 oz) graham crackers or 48 ladyfingers, 16 oz mascarpone, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 3 cups heavy cream, cocoa powder, chocolate shavings.

How to make it: Beat mascarpone, sugar and vanilla. Whip the cream and fold it in. Dip crackers or ladyfingers in coffee and line a 9 by 13 pan. Spread a third of the cream. Repeat to make three layers. Chill overnight. Dust with cocoa and add chocolate shavings.

Make Ahead Tips and a Gluten Free Swap

Tiramisu is a host’s best friend because it must rest. Make it the night before so the ladyfingers soften and the flavors blend. It keeps 3 days in the fridge, covered. For gluten free guests, use gluten free ladyfingers or a soft gluten free sponge cake cut in strips. Did you know it even freezes well for up to a month?

You will need: Plastic wrap or a lidded dish, gluten free ladyfingers or sponge cake, a fine mesh sieve for cocoa.

How to make it: Assemble 12 to 24 hours ahead and cover tight. Dust cocoa only right before serving so it stays dry. To freeze, wrap well and freeze up to 1 month, then thaw overnight in the fridge. Dip gluten free ladyfingers even faster, they soak up liquid quickly.