tiramisu

American  

[tir-uh-mee-soo, ‑mee-soo] / ˌtɪr əˈmi su, ‑miˈsu /

Or tiramisù

noun

1. an Italian dessert with coffee and liquor-soaked layers of sponge cake alternating with mascarpone cheese and chocolate.

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tiramisu British  

/ ˌtiːrəmiːˈsuː /

noun

1. an Italian dessert made with sponge soaked in coffee and Marsala, topped with soft cheese and powdered chocolate

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Etymology

Origin of tiramisu

< Italian tiramisù, equivalent to tira pick + mi me + sù up

Explanation

Tiramisu is a creamy, indulgent Italian dessert flavored with coffee and cocoa powder. If you're making lasagna for your friends, you might want to serve tiramisu for dessert. A good tiramisu is impressive, but it's a no-bake dessert that's not difficult to make. Ladyfinger cookies are soaked in coffee (and sometimes rum or liqueur), then layered with a sweet cream made from mascarpone cheese, and cocoa powder is sprinkled on top. The name is from the Italian phrase tirami su, literally "pick me up," and the dish was probably invented in the 1960s.

Example Sentences

Servers in traditional red clothing were seen bustling between colourfully adorned tables, where attendees dined on dishes including Beijing roast duck, pork buns and tiramisu.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Asked what made a good tiramisu, Carnevale said: "A very good coffee, a nice and firm cream, and also a lot of passion".

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

I sneak over to Leo’s Restaurant & Bar before it closes for the afternoon, for some tiramisu.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

Selvaraju’s Cardamom Orange Tiramisu does exactly that: adds an “Indian flair” to classic tiramisu.

From Salon • Oct. 21, 2025

I reluctantly lift my chocolate decadence to trade for his tiramisu.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson