Fig Tiramisu (Easy No-Bake Dessert)

Name: Fig Tiramisu (Easy No-Bake Dessert)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 12 fresh figs; 12 ladyfingers; 11.8 oz (335 g) mascarpone cheese; 4 eggs; 1/3 cup + 1 teaspoon (80 g) granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon Marsala; 1 pinch of salt; 2/3 cup (155 ml) cold espresso; 1 tablespoon Marsala; 1 teaspoon cocoa powder (optional)

Modified: Aug 22, 2026 · Published: Aug 7, 2021 by Irina Totterman · This post may contain affiliate links · 44 Comments

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Quick Summary: Fig tiramisu is a no-bake, 15-minute Italian dessert that layers espresso-dipped ladyfingers, whipped mascarpone cream, and fresh figs in individual glasses. This single-serving verrine version skips long chilling, so you get all the classic tiramisu flavor with fresh figs in a fraction of the time.

What is fig tiramisu?

Fig tiramisu is a fruit-forward take on the traditional Italian tiramisu, where fresh figs join the classic layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream. Instead of one large dish, this version is built in individual glasses, making it a verrine-style dessert that is easy to serve and portion.

The figs add natural sweetness and a soft, jammy texture that pairs with the espresso and creamy mascarpone. Because the recipe is no-bake and skips hours of chilling, you can put it together in about 15 minutes and enjoy it the same day.

Why you'll love this recipe

No-bake and quick. The whole dessert comes together in about 15 minutes with no oven and no baking.
Fresh, seasonal figs. Ripe figs add natural sweetness and a soft, jammy texture that pairs with coffee and mascarpone.
Single servings. Layered in individual glasses, these cups are easy to serve, portion, and make ahead for a party.
Make-ahead friendly. Assemble them a few hours in advance, so there is nothing left to do when guests arrive.

Ingredients

For ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.

Figs: Choose fresh, clean, dry, seasonal figs with smooth skin. Look for fruit that's soft to the touch but not mushy.

Mascarpone cheese (Italian cream cheese) is an essential ingredient of tiramisu. To twist a classic, replace mascarpone cream with fruity yogurt or plain yogurt mixed with jam.

Eggs: Use pasteurized eggs at room temperature to make tiramisu. Or pasteurize eggs yourself: it only takes 13 minutes from start to finish.

Attention: since this tiramisu recipe is made with raw eggs, it isn't recommended for kids, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Please use whipped heavy cream to avoid raw eggs in the dessert.

Sugar: The recipe calls for regular granulated or caster sugar.

Espresso: Use cold espresso coffee or decaf coffee if you want to avoid caffeine in your tiramisu.

Marsala: Use a traditional sweet Marsala wine or replace it with alternatives.

Ladyfingers (also known as Savoiardi biscuits) are classic dessert stars. Make sure to purchase the crispy-style Italian cookies from Forno Bonomi, Balocco, or Matilde Vicenzi, which are good brands to choose from.

Pro tip: These gluten-free ladyfingers work perfectly if you want to make gluten-free tiramisu cups.

Unsweetened cocoa powder is optional and is used to decorate fig tiramisu.

Fig tiramisu cups dusted with cocoa powder.

Equipment

To make fig tiramisu at home, gather these basic kitchen tools before you start:

egg separator
medium mixing bowls
electric mixer
shallow plate
pastry bag
bent spatula
serving glasses

How to make fig tiramisu

Step 1. To make mascarpone cream, separate egg whites from yolks with an egg separator.

Step 2. In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and mascarpone cheese with an electric hand mixer until smooth.

Step 3. Add one tablespoon of Marsala and whisk again (photo 1).

Step 4. Whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt in a separate bowl until soft peaks form. Gently add to the mascarpone mixture using a rubber spatula (photo 2).

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

Step 5. Pour strong coffee (cold espresso) on a shallow plate and add the remaining tablespoon of Marsala wine.

Step 6. Dip ladyfinger halves quickly in the coffee mixture, one at a time, and place them in the bottom of six glass cups.

Step 7. Pipe half of the mascarpone cream between the cups with a piping bag or spoon, then place 8 quarters of fresh figs into each cup (photo 3).

Step 8. Cover with another layer of ladyfingers dipped in coffee (photo 4).

Step 9. Spread another layer of the remaining cream and even the top of the dessert with a bent spatula. Cover the cups with plastic film and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Cups with mascarpone cream, ladyfingers, and figs.

PHOTO 3

Tiramisu cups with with mascarpone cream, ladyfingers, and figs.

PHOTO 4

To serve, remove the cups from the fridge, peel the plastic wrap, and even the cream with an offset spatula. Sprinkle with a little bit of unsweetened cocoa powder. Use a decorating stencil if desired.

Three fig tiramisu cups on a serving platter.

Expert tips

Don't oversoak ladyfinger halves. Dip cookies in a cold espresso mixture and count to 2 or 3.
Use simple shot glasses, martini glasses, cocktail glasses, wine glasses, little jars, small bowls, or any cups you have on hand.
Sprinkle the top layer with grated dark chocolate or mini chocolate chips, if desired.

Recipe variations

Ladyfinger substitutes: Replace ladyfinger biscuits with shortbread cookies reduced to large pieces with a food processor, madeleines or financiers cut or broken into pieces, or gingerbread loaf sliced or cut into small cubes. Discover more ladyfinger substitutes.

Fruits: Use seasonal fruits like strawberries, peaches, nectarines, or cherries instead of fresh figs.

Alcohol: Replace traditional Marsala with another kind of alcohol, such as Madeira or sweet sherry, Amaretto, dark rum, brandy, Porto, limoncello, cherry, raspberry, or plum liqueur diluted with cold water, or diluted vanilla extract.

Tiramisu without alcohol: Make fig tiramisu without alcohol if you want to serve the dessert to kids. Dip ladyfingers in alcohol-free espresso, or use pink champagne biscuits of Reims dipped in orange juice. Or dip biscuits in a mix of equal parts maple syrup and water.

Dried figs: When fresh figs are out of season, soak dried figs in warm water, orange juice, or Marsala until soft, then slice. They add a sweeter, jammy layer.

Honey or balsamic finish: Drizzle the figs with a little honey or a balsamic glaze before layering to deepen their flavor and add a touch of tang.

Spiced or ricotta cream: Stir a pinch of ground cardamom or cinnamon into the cream, or replace part of the mascarpone with ricotta for a lighter, less rich filling.

Storing & freezing

Store fig tiramisu cups wrapped in plastic film in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Can you freeze fig tiramisu? You can freeze tiramisu cups covered with plastic wrap for up to two weeks. To thaw, bring your tiramisu to the fridge for about 2 hours. Then, sprinkle with cocoa powder and serve.

Recipe FAQ

What does tiramisu mean?
Tiramisu means "pick me up" or "cheer me up" in Italian, a fitting name for a coffee-based dessert. The word likely refers to the energizing mix of espresso, sugar, and cocoa.

What is in tiramisu?
Classic tiramisu is made with Italian ladyfingers, eggs, sugar, mascarpone, Marsala, coffee, and cocoa powder. Some recipes also add whipping cream for a lighter texture.

What makes a good tiramisu?
Good tiramisu comes down to quality ingredients. Choose Italian-style ladyfingers, real espresso, fresh eggs, and full-fat mascarpone, and avoid over-soaking the ladyfingers so they hold their shape.

Should you use soft or hard ladyfingers for tiramisu?
Use hard savoiardi biscuits rather than soft ones. Hard ladyfingers soak up the coffee without falling apart, giving the dessert structure. Italian brands like Forno Bonomi or Balocco work well.

Can you use dried figs instead of fresh figs?
Yes. When fresh figs are out of season, soften dried figs in a little warm water, orange juice, or Marsala, then slice them. Dried figs are sweeter and chewier, so use a bit less sugar in the cream.

What can you use instead of ladyfingers in tiramisu?
You can replace savoiardi with Italian pavesini biscuits, shortbread cookies, speculoos, pound cake, or sponge cake cut into strips (read about ladyfinger substitutes).

Can kids eat fig tiramisu?
This recipe contains coffee and Marsala wine, so it is not ideal for young children. To make a kid-friendly version, use decaffeinated coffee and skip the alcohol.

Love easy and quick desserts? Try these next!

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Recipe card

The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.

The recipe was originally published on September 11, 2019. It has been revised to include improved content and photos.

About Irina Totterman

I'm Irina, an experienced home baker with over 30 years of expertise and the blogger behind Baking Like a Chef (since 2018), where I share baking recipes, tips, and tricks. My recipes have been featured in the renowned French Chef Simon and Le Journal des Femmes.