Terrific Tiramisu Dessert

Ingredients

1 16 oz container mascarpone cheese
(What I usually do is substitute with the following: 2 8 oz pkg cream cheese softened, *delete salt; in step 1, in a large bowl, with mixer at medium speed beat cream cheese and 3 tablespoons milk until smooth and fluffy. *Increase confectioner’s sugar for cheese mixture to 2/3 cup)
½ teaspoon salt*
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
3 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup espresso (recipe calls for coffee-flavored liqueur but I prefer espresso)
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1 oz squares semi-sweet chocolate, grated
1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoon instant espresso-coffee powder (This isn’t too hard to get. Your supermarket may carry it in their Italian section)
2 3-4 ½ oz pkgs Ladyfingers – a cookie of sorts. (The Italians call them Savoiardi. There are some American ones but they are not as good. Mushy, not crunchy. Try and get an Italian brand.)
Directions

1) In a large bowl, with wire whisk or fork, beat mascarpone (or cream cheese mixture), salt, ½ cup sugar, 3 tablespoons espresso, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2/3 of grated chocolate (set aside remaining chocolate for top of dessert).

2) In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat 1 cup heavy or whipping cream until stiff peaks form. With rubber spatula or wire whisk, fold whipped cream into cheese mixture.

3) In small bowl, stir instant espresso-powder, remaining 1/3 cup espresso, remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (if you use liqueur, then add 1 tablespoons water).

4) If ladyfingers are sliced, separate them in half. Line 2 ½ quart glass or crystal bowl with one-fourth of ladyfingers; drizzle 2 tablespoons of espresso mixture over them. Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture over ladyfingers. Repeat with ladyfingers, espresso mixture, and cheese mixture to make two more layers.

Drizzle remaining espresso mixture on ladyfingers. Sprinkle remaining grated chocolate over top of dessert. Reserving one tablespoon for garnish.

5) In a small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat remaining ½ cup cream and remaining 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar until stiff peaks form.

6) Spoon whipped cream mixture into decorating bag with large star tube. Pipe large rosettes on top of dessert. (This is ideal, however my cake-decorating bag is in storage so I just use a plastic bag with a pin prick in it and make attractive blobs instead.)

7) Sprinkle reserved grated chocolate on whipped-cream rosettes. Refrigerate until chilled and flavors are blended (at least 2 hours).

Serve and enjoy.