Creamy apple tiramisu. A wonderful applesauce dessert with ladyfingers, mascarpone, cinnamon, and cream.

A delightfully creamy and aromatic apple tiramisu made with apple sauce, mascarpone, and cinnamon. And the best thing about it? You can prepare everything in about 15 minutes! A dessert worthy for company, but perfect for any day of the week as well.
I have made 12 jars of applesauce last week. And I could make at least 30 more, but there is no way I can find more room for the jars in my freezer.
There are so many apples growing in the trees in all the gardens and fields around here, there are always plenty, but I have never seen so many as this year. I have even heard of two apple trees breaking because they were so overloaded with fruit.
So, I have been making tons of applesauce, apple cakes, apple pies, apple muffins, and apple desserts, like this apple tiramisu. I have even used apples in my cooking, we had some great savory apple dishes these days, something like this vegan apple curry, for instance.
And if you like tiramisu, you could also try these Tiramisu Cups.
Ingredients
Applesauce:
- I use homemade applesauce most of the time because I always seem to have a jar or two in the fridge or in the freezer.
- However, rest assured that you can definitely make this recipe with bought applesauce.
- I would not choose a very sweet store-bought variety, actually, if you could find unsweetened applesauce would be best. My homemade applesauce is rather tart and that is the way we like it best.
- Sweetened store-bought applesauce tends to be too sweet, that is why if I used that I would start with less sugar in the mascarpone applesauce mixture and only add more sugar after tasting the mixture, if necessary.
- Of course, if you would like the dessert to be sweeter than this, just add a bit more sugar and make it just the way you want it. This is an easy, forgiving recipe, you don't have to be exact. This is not a cake, so exact measurements are quite unnecessary.
- If you happen to have only 200 ml cream instead of a whole cup is fine, if you add a bit more applesauce or sugar is fine as well. Also, you could add more cinnamon or lemon juice to suit your taste.
Dairy:
- Mascarpone and heavy/double cream.
- You could even replace half of the mascarpone (some people are not so keen on it) with yogurt or Greek yogurt to make it a bit lighter or replace it completely with full-fat cream cheese, Philadelphia style.
- The taste will definitely be a bit different then, but totally delicious as well. I know because I've done it. 🙂
How to make it?
- Start by beating the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Set it aside.
- Mix the mascarpone shortly to help it become smoother, but don't overdo it. I find that if you beat mascarpone too long it will become runny and that would not be suitable for this apple cinnamon dessert.
- Once the mascarpone is less stiff, fold in the applesauce and the sugar. If using sweetened applesauce, add less sugar at first, incorporate it well, taste the mixture, and add more sugar to taste. Just keep in mind that the ladyfingers are very sweet as well and a less sweet mascarpone applesauce mixture would balance that sweetness a little.
- Add the cinnamon and the freshly squeezed lemon juice, stir well, taste again and add more cinnamon or lemon juice if you find it necessary.
- Place half of the ladyfingers into a rectangular glass or ceramic casserole dish. My dish measures 30x22 cm/ 12x9 inches. But that is really not to be followed exactly. If your casserole dish is a bit larger or a bit smaller it will be OK, use as many ladyfingers as they fit in the dish in a single layer.
- Sprinkle the ladyfingers in the casserole dish with half of the milk which you have previously mixed with cinnamon. Top the soaked ladyfingers with half of the mascarpone applesauce mixture, cover this mixture with the remaining biscuits and sprinkle those with the remaining cinnamon milk.
- Cover the casserole dish with cling film and refrigerate for several hours, preferably overnight. Sprinkle the applesauce dessert with more cinnamon and some crushed ladyfingers (if you happen to have one or two leftover, if not, it's OK) just before serving.
- The apple tiramisu keeps well in the fridge for at least two days.
More apple desserts:
Rhubarb Crisp with Apples and Oatmeal
Apple Tiramisu (Applesauce Dessert Recipe)
Ingredients
- 250 ml/ 8.4 fl.oz/ 1 cup heavy/double cream
- 250 g/ 8.8 oz/ 1 cup mascarpone
- 200 g/ 7 oz/ 1 cup applesauce Note 1
- 50 g/ 1.7 oz/ ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon divided + some more to sprinkle
- 200 ml/ 6.7 fl.oz/ ¾ cup full-fat milk
- about 30 ladyfingers Note 2
Instructions
- Whip the heavy/double cream until stiff.
- Mix the mascarpone until smooth, but don't overdo it or it will become too runny.
- Fold in the applesauce, sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and lemon juice. Fold in the whipped cream carefully.
- Place half of the ladyfingers into a rectangular dish of about 30x20 cm/ 12x8 inches, a bit larger or smaller is OK.
- Mix the milk and the remaining ½ teaspoon cinnamon together and sprinkle half of this mixture over the ladyfingers.
- Spread half of the applesauce mascarpone mixture on top and add the rest of the ladyfingers. Sprinkle them with the rest of the milk and add the remaining applesauce mascarpone mixture over them.
- Cover the dish with cling film/plastic wrap and place the apple tiramisu in the fridge. Leave it overnight.
- Sprinkle with some more cinnamon and one or two crushed ladyfingers before serving.
Notes
- I use homemade applesauce, which is rather tart. If buying applesauce try to find an unsweetened sort or at least one that is not overly sweet. If the applesauce is very sweet, add less sugar to the mascarpone applesauce mixture and increase the quantity only after tasting and only if absolutely necessary (keep in mind that the ladyfingers are very sweet as well).
- According to the size of your casserole dish use more or fewer ladyfingers as required to fill the dish.
Anca says
This sounds really delightful. It's also lovely that you have a lot of apples from friends.
angiesrecipes says
It looks like a wonderful dessert!
Priya says
Tiramishu is my all time favorite dessert you know 🙂 how are you btw??
Adina says
I am fine, thanks for asking Priya. We're going on holiday on Sunday, so there is lots to do before we live, but I can't wait for it. I am so ready for holiday.:)
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
What a delicious sounding fall dessert.
grace says
i've never really liked coffee-flavored desserts, but tiramisu is always so tempting. THIS is perfect! 🙂