Tiramisu cupcakes soaked in coffee syrup and topped with soft and dreamy mascarpone cream.
Over the past two years, I have changed from someone who could barely look at tiramisu to someone who makes (and then eats) it like crazy. And I don’t only mean traditional tiramisu, but also tiramisu cakes, cupcakes, truffles, and doughnuts. Anything and everything tiramisu is my new thing, and that especially goes for these cupcakes! These is one of the best desserts I’ve tried lately, and believe me, I’m always trying new things!
These simple vanilla cupcakes are soaked in a coffee syrup to resemble coffee-soaked ladyfingers. Make the syrup beforehand so it can cool to room temperature, then brush it on the warm cupcakes. If you forget to do it before the cupcakes have cooled, you can reheat the syrup and then brush it on. The idea is simple—either add a cool syrup to warm cupcakes, or warm syrup to cool cupcakes. That way, the cakes effortlessly absorb the perfect amount of syrup.
The frosting is very similar to a no-bake tiramisu filling like this one. It’s obviously my favorite part of the cupcake with its cloud-like and creamy texture and amazing mascarpone flavor.
I like to keep the cupcakes chilled because of the delicate frosting and serve them within 24 hours, but any leftovers will keep for 2 more days.
For even better cupcakes, you’re more than welcome to fill them with chocolate ganache.
If you like tiramisu, you must try my perfect recipe for tiramisu, or the quicker no-bake version.
- 1⅓ cups (185 g/6.5 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder or instant coffee powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick/115 g) butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (100 g/3.5 oz) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 g/3.5 oz) brown sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 large eggs , at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
- ¼ cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder or instant coffee powder*
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon marsala or coffee liqueur such as Kahlua , optional but so good!
- 3/4 cup (170 g/6 oz) mascarpone cheese
- 1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar , sifted
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder or instant coffee powder*
- 1½ tablespoons coffee liqueur
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) heavy cream
- Cocoa powder , for dusting
- To make the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, coffee/espresso powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Reduce mixer speed to low and add half of the dry ingredients, beating just until combined. Add milk and beat until combined. Add the other half of the dry ingredients and beat slowly only until combined. Do not over mix—the less you mix, the lighter the cupcakes will be.
- Divide batter evenly between cups, filling about ¾ full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow pan to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove cupcakes and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
- To make the soaking syrup: Mix the coffee/espresso powder and sugar in hot water and mix until dissolved, then add liqueur. Allow to cool.
- While cupcakes are still warm, poke the tops with a fork or toothpick a few times. Brush with coffee syrup, allowing it to soak in. Use all the syrup evenly over cupcakes.
- To make the frosting: In a large bowl whisk together mascarpone, sugar, espresso powder, and liqueur. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture in 2 additions. Use immediately to frost cupcakes.
- Chill cupcakes until ready to serve. Just before serving, dust frosting with cocoa powder.
- Cupcakes can be kept tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
* Instant coffee has a subtler flavor than espresso powder, so if you use it, you may want to add more for a stronger coffee flavor.
32 Comments
Laila
August 18, 2016 at 4:54 amYo Shiran, this sounds awesome, you always have great combinations 🙂 Just wondering – for the frosting, is liqueur optional or a must, and if so, is there a non-alcohol based substitute?
Shiran
August 18, 2016 at 4:59 amHi Laila! Thank you 🙂 Definitely not a must although it’s really good 🙂
Francesca
August 18, 2016 at 11:27 amThese look incredible — a perfect Italian and American hybrid dessert! I love the idea of soaking the cupcake in the coffee liqueur to imitate the coffee soaked ladyfingers. Another great recipe, thanks so much for sharing!!!
Gib
August 20, 2016 at 12:13 pmSuch a clever idea!
robert_foster
August 24, 2016 at 8:17 pmYou re a life saver! I finally found a recipe that doesn t call for alcohol! My guy friend wants me to make him Tiramisu Cupcakes for his birthday and we are both underage for drinking and he loves this type of cupcake! Thank you soooo much. ^.^
Shiran
August 25, 2016 at 4:45 amThank you so much! Happy birthday 🙂
Noorsia
September 19, 2016 at 1:46 amHi Shiran. Can I know what kind of Marsala I should use since I can’t use the Coffee liqueur – Khuala? Thanks.
Shiran
September 19, 2016 at 9:47 amI use sweet Marsala, but dry Marsala is fine as well.
Rosemary
October 1, 2016 at 2:55 amHi Shiran, I’m very eager to try these cupcakes, and am wondering if I could use coffee pod coffee for the espresso coffee powder as I have never seen coffee powder before. Thanks
Shiran
October 5, 2016 at 5:51 amHi Rosemary, this is what you can do; Omit the coffee powder from the cupcake recipe. Use 1/4 cup strong coffee/espresso instead of water+coffee powder. Use coffee syrup for the frosting – about 1-2 tablespoons. Don’t add too much liquid so it won’t ruin the texture.
Jen
October 15, 2016 at 9:52 pmMade these tonight for a friend, and they were so freaking tasty! I’m always a little skeptical of trying out new recipes without reviews and/or ratings, but took a chance with these. I’m so glad that I did, just the right balance of coffee and Kahlua flavor. I will definitely be making these again! 🙂
Shiran
October 19, 2016 at 5:52 amI’m so glad you like it Jen, thank you so much! 🙂
Sara
October 30, 2016 at 3:36 pmI NEVER comment on recipes online. But this was THAT good. If you love coffee/tiramisu, this will blow you away! I received lots of compliments.
NB: don’t be scared to generously soak the cupcakes – I did brush them with the coffee syrup but with caution. Next time, i’ll brush the cupcakes generously, as the soak really does transform the cupcake!
THANKS!!!! X
Shiran
October 31, 2016 at 6:44 amSara, thank you so much for your comment! I’m so glad to hear that you like them so much. They are one of my favorite cupcakes!
Svenja M.
March 20, 2017 at 4:44 amHi Shiran,
wow! I’ve made these yesterday and boy, do they taste awesome! They’re just like Tiramisu, but as a cupcake (stating the obvious, duh). I was surprised as to how easy it was to make them and how well the flavor profile worked. We don’t keep any liqueur in the house, but I did find a bit of rum, so I used that and I really liked how it turned out. These will definitely become a staple.
Thank you for the recipe!
Shiran
March 20, 2017 at 5:30 amYes! It’s hard to explain just how good they are. Thank you so much!
Ella
August 21, 2017 at 5:08 pmHi, Shiran! My mom loved this recipe when I made it. My only problem is that I over whipped the marscapone not knowing that it could be over whipped. This saddened me all though my family thought the cupcakes were delicious. I wish there would have been a warning to not overwhip the marscapone. But otherwise, the cake was delicious!
Shiran
August 23, 2017 at 5:44 amHi Ella, mascarpone doesn’t break down as fast as whipped cream, so as long as you mix it just until it’s smooth and blended, it should be fine. I’m glad it was delicious though!
Miri
September 23, 2017 at 9:01 pmAll your recipes are so delicious! This one is my favorite cupcake recipe to date!
I’m finally beginning to love baking; thank you!
Shiran
September 24, 2017 at 9:01 amThank you so much Miri!
Megan
June 16, 2018 at 1:29 pmcan u use cream cheese instead of mascarpone?
Megan
June 16, 2018 at 1:49 pmI really want to make these cupcakes! But I don’t have any mascarpone cheese in my fridge. Is there any substitute for mascarpone cheese you could think of?
Shiran
June 17, 2018 at 3:45 amFor the best flavor I recommend using mascarpone cheese, but it’s possible to use cream cheese instead. Use the same amount of full-fat block cream cheese (not spread), at room temperature.
Hithin
June 23, 2018 at 2:24 pmThe tastiest cupcakes ?
I just loved this recipe….?
Rachel
August 12, 2018 at 1:23 amIf you had the chocolate ganache as a filling at what point would you soak the cake with the syrup?
Shiran
August 12, 2018 at 10:05 amHi Rachel. Soak the cakes before you add the filling. If you hollow out the center of the cupcakes, then do that first, then soak the cake with syrup, and then fill with the filling.
Jess Stevens
November 12, 2018 at 3:58 pmIs it possible to freeze the cupcakes after making them and soaking them and then taking them out and frosting them a few days later??
Kazee
November 13, 2018 at 3:02 pmCan we freeze the cupcakes after making them and soaking them? And then ice them a few days later?
Shiran
November 13, 2018 at 3:18 pmYes you can. Thaw them before frosting them.
Jessica Lyth
May 12, 2019 at 3:15 amHi, I’m planning on making these and taking to work for a birthday. Would I be able to make the frosting the night before, put in a piping bag in the fridge and pipe at work the next day? Just it says to use immediately and didn’t know if there was a specific reason for this? Thanks 🙂
Anna-Catherine
November 21, 2018 at 4:53 pmThese cupcakes look pretty awesome, and the reviews are glowing, so I’d love to make them (and I’m sure my family would love to eat them), but I personally don’t like coffee. I love tiramisu, but I always make strawberry. I’m wondering if the recipe would translate to strawberry. I could make strawberry cupcakes or fill vanilla cupcakes with strawberry filling. I could try to make a soaking syrup out of strawberry puree. What do you think would be best?
Victoria
June 24, 2019 at 12:04 pmSuch a great recipe!! I was pressed for time so I used boxed French vanilla cake mix, added espresso, and kahlua before baking. Then followed the recipe – was amazed at how tasty it was! I also refrigerated the frosting for 10 minutes before piping on to cupcakes to make them presentable.
Thanks for the recipe!