Tiramisu is a classic, but I always found it in need of a flavor punch. I’ve never been a fan of mascarpone cheese. It’s wonderful in hot dishes, but the fat content never seems to melt in the mouth the way I’d like it too, so I opt for American-style cream cheese. In this recipe, we really amp things up and add chocolate fudge to drive home the chocolate flavor. I hope you try this recipe and love it. Let me know how it turns out!
Serves 12
Makes 1 9 by 13 pan
Active time: 20 minutes
Inactive time: 6-24 hours
Best made a day in advance
Coffee soak
3 cups cold brew coffee
2 Tbsp. instant coffee
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Cream layer
1 cup pumpkin purée, fresh or canned
1 cup brown sugar
16 oz. soft cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 Tbsp. bourbon
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
Store-bought ladyfinger cookies, roughly 30-35 cookies needed for a two-layer pudding
1 cup hot fudge sauce, warmed and pourable, but not scalding hot
1/2 cup cocoa powder for dusting center and top of the finished pudding
Prepare the coffee soak in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer, cream the pumpkin, brown sugar, and cream cheese until smooth. Slowly stream in whipping cream. Add bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Beat on medium speed until whipping cream begins to thicken, leaving you with medium peaks. Do not overmix. Set aside.
Prepare your station: coffee soak and a plate of cookies, cream, warm fudge, and a 9 by 13 pan. Dunk a ladyfinger cookie into the coffee, then count to 1, flip, count to 1, and remove. Lay it quickly into the bottom of the 9 by 13 pan. Repeat until the bottom is covered. Pour half of the pumpkin cream over top the soaked cookies. Drizzle fudge over, then add a dusting of cocoa. Create a second layer on top of the fudge: soaked cookies, remainder of the pumpkin cream, and finish with a dusting of cocoa powder. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours; overnight is best. Enjoy!
