Lemon Tiramisu Cake, made with a homemade or store bought Angel Food Cake. Filled and frosted with a creamy Mascarpone Lemon mixture. No eggs needed! The perfect family or get together dessert.
I think you all know how much we love lemon recipes, from cookies to a sweet bread to even a favorite Italian lemon cake. and I am happy to say so does the Italian. These past two or three weeks he has been very happy about what has been coming out of the oven or off the stove.
From Butter Tarts to Hazelnut Cream Hand pies to these Lemon glazed baked donuts and now this Lemon Tiramisu recipe.
Instead of making a Tiramisu with either Lady Fingers or a typical Italian Sponge Cake, I decided to make it with a lighter Angel Food Cake. Yes homemade and no it isn’t nearly has hard as you may think.
Recipe Ingredients
For the cake
- Flour – all purpose/plain flour or pastry flour
- Salt
- Sugar – granulated sugar or fine sugar
- Egg whites – room temperature
- Lemon juice – fresh lemon juice, room temperature
- Vanilla – vanilla extract
Lemon Syrup
- Water
- Sugar – granulated sugar
- Lemon juice – fresh lemon juice
Tiramisu Filling
- Mascarpone cheese – room temperature
- Cream – whole/heavy or whipping cream with at least 30% fat content
- Powdered sugar – also known as icing sugar or confectioners sugar
- Lemon zest
How to Make Cake Flour
For every cup of all purpose flour, remove two tablespoons and replace with two tablespoons of corn starch. Be sure to sift the flour and cornstarch together a couple of times, this way it is sure to be properly combined and lump free. Cake flour in cakes will give you a very tender texture and fine crumb, it will also help the cake to rise.
If you want, a store bought Angel Food Cake would work too and then it becomes No Bake also!
How to make Lemon Tiramisu
To make the cake – Sift together flour, salt and 1/4 cup sugar 3 times.
In a large bowl beat egg whites, lemon juice and vanilla on medium speed until soft peaks form, gradually add the 1 cup sugar (a little at a time), continue beating until stiff peaks form (don’t over beat).
Fold in flour (quarter cup at a time), gently fold until combined (do not over fold). Spoon into ungreased 9 inch tube pan. Gently cut through batter with a metal knife to eliminate air bubbles.
Bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan upside down. Remove from pan and slice in half horizontally.
Drizzle bottom half with the lemon syrup and top with half the Tiramisu filling, repeat with top half. Refrigerate for about four hours or even over night, sprinkle with white chocolate flakes and dried lemon zest if desired before serving.
To make the lemon syrup – In a small pot mix together water, sugar and lemon juice, heat on a slow boil until sugar has completely dissolved and mixture has thickened slightly, approximately 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
To make the Tiramisu filling – Gently mix together mascarpone and lemon zest, add cream and sugar and beat until thick.
Where did it originate?
The origins of Tiramisu are actually unknown as pretty well every region in Italy claims it as their invention! In fact a small dispute started between Tuscany, Piedmont, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto.
There are many stories that started on how this dessert came about, but the official version places the origin of tiramisu in the seventeenth century in Siena. Some pastry chefs, decided to prepare a dessert to celebrate the arrival of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo de Medici.
They wanted it to reflect his personality. It had to be stunning and very tasty, but they wanted simple ingredients. But most importantly it had to be rich and decadent. And that is how Tiramisu came about. And rightly named Pick me Up.
Can I add alcohol to the dessert?
Yes you can for this recipe I would use Limoncello, instead of making a lemon syrup you could combine the liqueur with a little water and wet the cake with that.
How to store the Tiramisu cake
The cake should be kept in the fridge in an airtight container or well covered with plastic wrap, it will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge.
How to freeze it
It is best to freeze the cake the same day you prepare it. Place it in a sealed freezer container to prevent freezer condensation from penetrating and ruining it. It will keep for up to 2 weeks in the freezer.
To thaw the cake in order to avoid harmful sudden changes in temperature, it must first be place in the fridge for at least a few hours and then it can be moved to room temperature.
So there you go my Canadian upbringing meets the Italian Tiramisu, you don’t always have to go by the book. Enjoy!
Lemon Tiramisu Cake
Ingredients
ANGEL FOOD CAKE
- 1 cup all purpose / plain flour or pastry flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar or fine sugar (divided)
- 8 large egg whites (room temperature)
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
LEMON SYRUP
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- juice of 2 lemons
LEMON TIRAMISU FILLING
- 1 cup mascarpone (remove from fridge 30 minutes before using)
- 1 cup whole cream
- 2 tablespoons icing / powdered sugar
- zest of 3 lemons (finely grated)
Instructions
ANGEL FOOD CAKE
If you want, a store bought Angel Food Cake would work too and then it becomes No Bake also!
- Pre-heat oven to 350° F (180° C) Ungreased 9 inch (23 centimeter) tube pan.
- Sift together flour, salt and 1/4 cup sugar 3 times.
- In a large bowl beat egg whites, lemon juice and vanilla on medium speed until soft peaks form, gradually add the 1 cup sugar (a little at a time), continue beating until stiff peaks form (don’t over beat).
- Fold in flour (quarter cup at a time), gently fold until combined (do not over fold). Spoon into ungreased 9 inch tube pan. Gently cut through batter with a metal knife to eliminate air bubbles.
- Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan upside down. Remove from pan and slice in half horizontally. Drizzle the bottom layer with the lemon syrup and top with half the Tiramisu filling, repeat with top half. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with white chocolate flakes and dried Lemon zest before serving if desired. Enjoy!
LEMON SYRUP
- In a small pot mix together water, sugar and lemon juice, heat on a slow boil until sugar has completely dissolved and mixture has thickened slightly, approximately 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
LEMON TIRAMISU FILLING
- Gently mix together mascarpone and lemon zest, add cream and sugar and beat until thick.
DRIED LEMON ZEST**
- Grate 2 or 3 lemons, place zest on parchment paper and let dry over night.
Glenna says
I want to make this but can’t find “whole cream”. Is that the same as heavy cream?
Rosemary says
Hi Glenna, yes heavy cream is the same as whole cream. I hope you enjoy it. Take care!
Helen says
Is the flour for the Angel Food Cake plain or self raising?
Rosemary says
Hi Helen, it is plain flour. I hope you enjoy it. Take care.
Rose Winter says
Curious why/how this is described as “no eggs needed,” when EIGHT egg whites are needed for the angel food cake?! I was really excited for an egg-free recipe.
Rosemary says
Hi Rose, no its the tiramisu filling that is egg free. 🙂
Francesca DelSignore says
Well- I actually just made this. The filling tastes more like just whipped cream. The cake itself had no real flavor. I’m hoping after the required 4 hours in the fridge that something wonderful happens….. Did someone from your blog actually make this?
Jo says
You mentioned white chocolate at the top of the recipe but I don’t see it in the ingredient list.
Rosemary says
Hi Jo, at the bottom of the recipe I mention that I sprinkled it with white chocolate flakes, hope that helps.
Charlotte says
What a fun twist on tiramisu! I’m a big fan of all things lemon so I’m gonna need to give this a try!
Rosemary says
Hi Charlotte, thanks, I hope you enjoy it.
Nicole says
Really delicious looking cake!
Rosemary says
Thanks Nicole.