Christmas Tira Misu

Tira Misu originates in Lombardia, a northern province of Italy. It's especially delicious during the holiday season!

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

6 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 pound Mascarpone cheese or 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1-1/4 cups whipping (heavy) cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup brewed espresso or very strong coffee, chilled
2 tablespoons rum
1/2 cup cranberry liqueur or Chambord
2 packages (3 ounces each) ladyfingers
1 tablespoon baking cocoa

Method:

Beat egg yolks and sugar in a 2-quart saucepan until well blended. Beat in the milk. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly; reduce the heat to low. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from the heat. Pour into a medium bowl; place plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard mixture. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled.

Add the cheese to the custard mixture. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth; set aside. Beat whipping cream and vanilla in chilled medium bowl on high speed until stiff; set aside. Mix together the espresso, rum and cranberry liquor.

Separate the ladyfingers horizontally, brush with espresso mixture (do not soak). Arrange half the ladyfingers in a single layer in an 8 x 10 baking dish non-stick spray.  Spread half of the cheese mixture over the ladyfingers; spread with half of the whipped cream. Repeat the layers with the remaining ladyfingers, the cheese mixture and the whipped cream. Sprinkle with cocoa. Refrigerate at least 4 hours but no longer than 24 hours to develop flavors. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Note: A sponge cake, cut into 10 rows by 3 rows, can be substituted for the ladyfingers.

Gail Greco is the food editor of Carefree Cooking; a field editor for Romantic Homes magazine; and a contributor to many other publications.  She has authored more than 15 books on cooking, decorating, and home lifestyle.

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