Cakes Desserts

Easy Tiramisu

January 19, 2012

Tomorrow is National Coffee Break Day, although with my mean iced coffee addiction, I celebrate every day! I like to drink coffee hot or iced and I like to cook and bake with it. One of my all-time favorite desserts is tiramisu. A few months back, I hosted a dinner party and served Easy Tiramisu. It was easy enough, but I used coffee that was way too dark and bitter, and it made for quite an embarrassing finish to dinner. I was thrilled when the nice folks at Starbucks sent me a package of their new lighter Blonde Roast in the Veranda Blend. Did I brew a cup of coffee? Nope. I immediately thought of my tiramisu oops and made another one using the Blonde Roast VIA packet!

Easy Tiramisu

So, how’s it taste?

Whoo hoo! Hello tasty, delicious, not-at-all bitter tiramisu! I’ll admit I was a little nervous making batch #2 because Starbucks coffee has always been way too dark for me, even the medium roasts. I expected their Blonde Roast would still be too much. I’m happy to report that there’s finally a coffee for me at Starbucks. The Blonde Roast was just enough coffee flavor to make Easy Tiramisu a hit. I didn’t want the coffee to compete with the insanely decadent mascarpone filling, it needed to compliment it. It’s not too sweet and has a subtle hint of the brandy. Paired with delicate ladyfingers in coffee and a light dusting of chocolate, it’s heaven. It took me minutes to put this dessert together and the hardest part was waiting on it to set in the fridge. I halved the recipe to make a smaller one and it worked great. The full recipe serves four, but it’s really big servings, so you could probably get six total.

To make sure I wasn’t crazy in liking the new Blonde Roast, I brewed some for a nice cup of coffee. Again, I’ll admit, I was nervous I’d hate the cup of coffee and only really liked it in dessert. As it was brewing, it smelled awesome. It smelled like coffee that I would want to drink. I enjoyed it…a lot. I couldn’t believe this was from Starbucks.

Starbucks Blonde Roast Veranda Blend

Disclosure: Starbucks sent me free samples of their new Blonde Roast Veranda Blend coffee, but I was not compensated for this post. All opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Starbucks wants you to enjoy their new Blonde Roast Veranda Blend, too! TWO lucky winners will each receive a Starbucks mug, sample bags of Blonde Roast Veranda Blend, and a pack of VIA Ready Brew Veranda Blend. You can make this Easy Tiramisu or try these Espresso Caramel Bars! Once you try the new Blonde Roast, share your experience on twitter using the hashtag #StarbucksBlonde.

To enter: All you need to do is comment on this post and tell me how you take your coffee. Black, with cream and sugar, in a dessert…? This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.

Optional entries: For up to two additional entries, do one or both of the following and leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

1. Follow @sohowsittaste on Twitter and tweet the following: “I can’t wait to try the new @Starbucks Blonde Roast! Win a cool mug and samples from @sohowsittaste! http://bit.ly/zj8jo5 #StarbucksBlonde”

2. Like So, How’s It Taste? on Facebook and include your first name and last name initial in the comment so I can verify.

I’ll randomly select the winner on Wednesday, January 25th at noon Central. Please make sure you enter a valid email address as an alternate winner will be chosen if I don’t hear from you within 24 hours. Good luck!

Congratulations to Jamie (comment #43) and Aubrey (comment #5)!
You’ll both enjoy Starbucks Blonde Roast in a snazzy mug very soon!
Winners chosen using Random.org

Thanks to everyone who entered!


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Yield: 4 servings

Easy Tiramisu

Ingredients:

1 Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Veranda Blend packet
1 cup boiling water
2/3 cup mascarpone cheese
2/3 cup heavy cream
3 tbsp. brandy
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup sugar
12 store-bought ladyfingers (about 6 oz.)
1 oz. semisweet chocolate, shaved or grated

Directions:

1. Mix the Starbucks VIA packet and boiling water until dissolved. Refrigerate until cool.

2. With an electric mixer, whisk together the mascarpone, heavy cream, brandy, vanilla, and sugar until soft peaks form.

3. Place the ladyfingers in an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch glass loaf pan so they fit snugly, trimming the ends if necessary to fit. Pour the Starbucks VIA in a shallow bowl. Briefly dip the ladyfingers in the coffee, one at a time, coating both sides. Do not fully submerge or you'll soak up too much of the coffee.

4. Line the bottom of the pan with half the ladyfingers. Spoon half the mascarpone mixture on top. Layer with the remaining ladyfingers and the mascarpone mixture. Smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle with chocolate.

5. Cover the dish and refrigerate until set, at least one hour or up to overnight.

slightly adapted from Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home

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  • Michelle Porter January 19, 2012 at 10:33 am

    I take my coffee with whole cream and “real” sugar.

  • Michelle Porter January 19, 2012 at 10:33 am

    I follow you on twitter

  • Michelle Porter January 19, 2012 at 10:34 am

    I like you on facebook.
    Michelle P.

  • Michelle Porter January 19, 2012 at 10:35 am

    I follow you on twitter and tweeted the message.

  • aubrey January 19, 2012 at 10:39 am

    Skim milk & splenda
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

  • aubrey January 19, 2012 at 10:40 am

    I like you on FB
    Aubrey A
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

  • amy (fearless homemaker) January 19, 2012 at 10:52 am

    i take my coffee with lots of cream, no sugar. =)

  • Shannon January 19, 2012 at 11:45 am

    Well, I don’t drink coffee but I do like to incorporate it into some baked goods!

  • Susan in the Boonies January 19, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    I like my coffee with cream and sugar: all doctored up, if you please!

  • Susan in the Boonies January 19, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    I tweeted your tweet and, of course, I follow you on Twitter.
    https://twitter.com/#!/BoonieSooze/status/160068547232530432

  • Susan in the Boonies January 19, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    I have liked you on Facebook. I am Susan W.

  • Tessa January 19, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    I like my coffee creamy with a hint of peppermint!

  • amy marantino January 19, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    black with splenda, or in ice cream.

  • Tessa January 19, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    I follow you on Twitter and retweeted!

  • Erin @ One Particular Kitchen January 19, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    I put condensed milk in mine — cream and sugar in one step!

  • Kim January 19, 2012 at 4:42 pm

    decaf with french vanilla creamer

  • Corisa January 19, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    I love to drink my coffee flavored with pumpkin flavoring or gingerbread! Whole milk and one splenda please !

  • Lisa January 19, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    I usually do milk and sugar or Splenda, but sometimes I’ll use a flavored creamer instead 🙂

  • Amanda Thompson January 19, 2012 at 7:41 pm

    I take my coffee with a {large} splash of half & half!

  • Wehaf January 19, 2012 at 8:45 pm

    I love coffee ice cream!

  • Dee January 20, 2012 at 1:25 am

    I love my coffee with skim milk and sugar 🙂

  • Dee January 20, 2012 at 1:25 am

    I like you on fb as Dee G

  • Dee January 20, 2012 at 1:36 am

    I follow you and tweeted 🙂 https://twitter.com/#!/DeeGee13/status/160264189343055872

  • tiffany January 20, 2012 at 8:51 am

    I like my coffee with a little bit of cream and sugar.

  • Lynne January 20, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    I like my coffee with extra cream.

  • Judy January 20, 2012 at 5:33 pm

    I definitely like my coffee in a dessert. Tiramisu or mocha icing on a cake – yummy.

  • Beth January 21, 2012 at 6:31 am

    I’m really commenting because I want a piece of the tiramisu. It looks awesome! Once I’m back on my feet, I’m making it!

    But…since I’m commenting, I might as well enter the contest too, right? 😉

    I take my coffee every which way. Cream, sugar, no cream, no sugar, just cream, just sugar, in desserts, even in savory dishes!

  • Jenny January 21, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    I love my coffee with skim and splenda!

  • Jessica Macpherson January 21, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    I pour some french vanilla cream in the bottom, pour the coffee on top for instant mixing, and mmmm!

  • Jessica Macpherson January 21, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    I like you on facebook!

  • Jessica Macpherson January 21, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    Annnd I tweeted!

  • Carolyn g January 22, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    I like mine with cream and one packet of Splenda!

  • Carolyn g January 22, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    liked you on FB – carolyn g

  • Heather January 22, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    I’m a total wuss & cannot drink coffee without hazelnut creamer! I am dying to try this tiramisu recipe!

  • Bonnie Morse January 22, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Skim and one sugar! Just discovered your blog today – looks like some good recipes!

  • Leslie W January 23, 2012 at 11:24 am

    I like my coffee only in ice cream but I may just have to try this recipe. Sounds really delish!

  • Leslie W January 23, 2012 at 11:29 am

    like So how’s it taste on FB Leslie W

  • lizzy January 23, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    I like my coffee every way, but usually I will just drink it black.

  • lizzy January 23, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    I follow you and tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/LizzyAllen123/status/161646050602516482

  • lizzy January 23, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    I follow you on facebook. Lizzy A.

  • Julie L January 24, 2012 at 10:09 am

    my husband likes his black with a dab of creamer thanks

  • Julie L January 24, 2012 at 10:10 am

    like u on fb Julie A SCott Laws

  • Jamie January 24, 2012 at 10:41 am

    I love my morning coffee with French Vanilla cream and sugar! Hey with this name, this could be my new signature blog coffeee. 😉

  • Sherrie January 24, 2012 at 11:18 pm

    I luv coffee with flavored cream (Hazelnut or French Vanilla) It gets me through the day!

  • Sherrie January 24, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    I follow on twitter @catlady90005

  • Sherrie January 24, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    tweeted:

    https://twitter.com/#!/catlady90005/status/162042148554944512

  • Madeline January 25, 2012 at 8:56 am

    I like my coffee black (or with Bailey’s every once and while). I would love to try baking with coffee, I have never done it before!

  • Madeline January 25, 2012 at 8:57 am

    I follow on Twitter @Munchin_Mitten

  • Traciwilbur January 25, 2012 at 9:16 am

    I like my coffee in dessert. Occasionally I will drink iced coffee, but haven’t grown to like the flavor of hot coffee. Perhaps this new roast is perfect for me!

  • Traciwilbur January 25, 2012 at 9:19 am

    Follow & tweeted!

  • Traciwilbur January 25, 2012 at 9:20 am

    I like you on FB – traci w

  • Christopher Sorel January 25, 2012 at 9:55 am

    black please

  • Christopher Sorel January 25, 2012 at 9:57 am

    follow on twitter and https://twitter.com/#!/cjsorel/status/162202191682215936

  • Christopher Sorel January 25, 2012 at 9:57 am

    follow on facebook christopher s

  • The Mighty Rib January 25, 2012 at 11:36 am

    With that new Bliss creamer.