Tiramisu Layer Cake by Lisa Valmorbida

Ingredients

The Mascarpone Gelato:

120 g caster (superfine) sugar
50 g dextrose
15 g skim milk powder
3 g carob bean powder
485 g milk
125 ml pouring (single/light) cream
25 g filtered water
25 g egg yolk
150 g mascarpone

The Tiramisu Layer Cake:

500 ml freshly brewed espresso coffee
500 ml sweet sherry
200 g savoiardi (lady fingers)
100 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)

Method

To make the mascarpone gelato, put the sugar, dextrose and skim milk powder in a bowl and mix to combine. Put the carob bean powder in a separate bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the sugar mixture and mix together well.

Add the milk, cream, water and egg yolk to a large heavy-based saucepan over a medium heat and whisk to combine. Whisk in the carob bean powder mixture and continue to heat, whisking in the sugar mixture as you go, until it hits 85°C (185°F).

Remove the pan from the heat, add the mascarpone and blend with a hand-held blender until smooth, then pour into a suitable lidded container and leave to cool in the freezer for 1 hour, or until the mixture drops to 4°C (39°F). Turn on your gelato maker so it begins the freezing process.

Pour the mixture into your gelato maker. Once the mixture reaches –4°C (25°F) or is the consistency of soft-serve ice cream (this should take about 30–45 minutes) detach the canister or scoop the gelato into a pre-cooled lidded container. Place the gelato in a freezer for 30 minutes to harden further.

To make the tiramisu layer cake, pour the freshly brewed coffee into a bowl together with the sherry and leave to chill for 1 hour, or until the mixture drops to 4°C (39F).

Place 6 scoops of gelato onto a pre-cooled 29 x 20 cm (11 ½ x 8 in) shallow glass tray and spread it with a palette knife to form an even layer.

Place the chilled coffee and sherry mixture in a shallow bowl. Submerge the savoiardi biscuits briefly in the liquid, then layer them side by side on top of the gelato to cover completely, being careful not to leave any gaps.

Grate a layer of chocolate over the biscuits. Repeat the layers again, adding scoops of the remaining gelato on top to finish.
If you like, use a spoon to mess up the top layer of gelato to make peaks, then transfer to the freezer and leave for at least 1 hour to harden.

When ready to serve, remove from the freezer and grate over a final layer of chocolate to finish, if you like.

Credits: This is an edited extract from Pidapipo by Lisa Valmorbida published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $40 and is available in stores nationally.